How Many Years Can a Crabapple Tree Generally Live? A Full Analysis of Its Lifespan

Since ancient times, the crabapple tree has been a frequent subject in the words of scholars and literati, and it has great ornamental value. Moreover, the flowers borne by the crabapple tree are even more breathtakingly beautiful; the crabapple tree is usually likened to a “fairy among flowers”, and paired with peonies, osmanthus and other flowers, it is praised for conveying the meaning of jade hall wealth and honor. So how many years can a crabapple tree live?

1. How Many Years Can a Crabapple Tree Live?

The age of a crabapple tree is not merely a dozen or so years. The Malus robusta 'Balen' in Huailai, Hebei, has low requirements for soil and climate and can easily survive for more than 100 years under ordinary management. A Chaenomeles speciosa tree at the Zhangjialou Nursing Home in Jiaonan City, Shandong, blooms in full glory every year, and its tree age is already more than one hundred years. Beijing has 6 ancient Malus micromalus trees with a tree age of more than 200 years. One of them is at the former residence of Song Qingling. The ancient and famous tree numbered “A1—0018” at Zhenzhu Spring in Jinan is a Malus micromalus planted in the Song Dynasty, and it has now exceeded a thousand years.

2. Pruning Time and Methods for Crabapple Trees

Spring and autumn are very suitable for pruning crabapple trees. Spring temperatures are suitable, growth is fast, and it is good for branches to sprout again. Autumn happens to be when growth has just slowed, so pruning at this time has less impact. Summer and winter are not very suitable, and are not very good for growth recovery. The plant's branches need pruning, removing bad branches and thinning out the plant. Pruning is needed before and after flowering to accumulate nutrients and promote flowering.