Prairiefire Flowering Crabapple

Prairiefire Flowering Crabapple

Scientific Name
Malus ‘Prairifire’
Order
Rosales
Family
Rosaceae
Type
Tree
Endangered Status
n/a
Number of Recorded Individuals at the Zoo
134

Prairiefire flowering crabapple sets itself apart from other crabapple trees with its spring-blooming, magenta and red flowers that bloom among purple-hued foliage. In the fall, small, fuchsia crabapple fruit emerges as its leaves age to a dark green and then orange. This cultivar is a complex hybrid introduced by the University of Illinois. It prefers medium moisture, well-drained, acidic soil in full sun and can be effective as an individual planting or in small groups. The crabapple fruit serves as a food source for a variety of birds.

Native Range
From cultivation
USDA Hardiness Zone
4–8
Average Mature Height
20 feet
Flower Color
Pink
Flowering Months
April–May
Supports
Birds and small mammals

Second Saturday Garden Tours

Join fellow nature lovers for a free, guided tour of Lincoln Park Zoo’s diverse plant life and ecosystems. During each tour, a zoo horticulturist will point out interesting species in bloom, answer questions from guests, and discuss the horticulture program’s past, present, and future.

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Closeup of leaves on a tree

An Accredited Arboretum

In 2019, Lincoln Park Zoo earned Level II arboretum accreditation in recognition of the Horticulture staff’s ongoing effort to identify, label, and monitor the more than 330 species of trees, shrubs, and woody plants represented across the 49-acre park.

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