Choose Purple Spire® Crabapple when you need a narrow flowering tree with dark foliage for a tight line or entrance. The tradeoff: it is not evergreen, so screen value drops after leaf fall.
Buy This If
You need height without much spread.
You want purple foliage, not green.
You like spring flowers and small fruit.
Skip This If
You need evergreen screening.
You dislike fruit drop.
Deer feed heavily in your yard.
PGNE Report Card
Category
Grade
Why
Landscape Impact
A-
The upright shape, pink bloom, dark foliage, and fruit give it more presence than most narrow ornamental trees.
Growth Rate
B+
It grows at a useful pace, but it will not give instant screening the way a larger evergreen can.
Maintenance
B-
Plan on light pruning, cleanup from fruit, and basic monitoring for common crabapple issues.
Deer Resistance
C-
Deer readily browse and rub young trees like this, so protect it while it establishes where pressure is heavy.
Small Space Fit
A
Its narrow habit makes it a strong fit where a round or spreading flowering tree would crowd walks, drives, or fences.
Screening Value
B-
It can soften views during the growing season, but it is deciduous and not the answer for winter privacy.
Our Experience
At PGNE, we would use this as a tight-space ornamental first and a screen second. If winter privacy matters, pair it with evergreens instead of relying on it alone.
Plant Facts
Mature Height
17.5 ft
Mature Width
6 ft
Hardiness Zones
3a-8a
Spacing
7 ft
Sun
Full Sun
Moisture
Average to moist
Growth Habit
Upright, narrow columnar
Customers Usually Ask
Does it make fruit?
Yes, it produces small ornamental crabapples that can attract wildlife and may create some cleanup.
Can I plant it along a fence?
Yes, that is one of its better uses, as long as it has room for air movement and maintenance access.
Is it a privacy tree?
Only seasonally; it narrows and softens a view but does not block like an evergreen.
CLEARANCE
We grow and source ornamental trees selected specifically for New England performance — not just appearance, but reliability, structure, and long-term success in local conditions.
We use your zone to show which plants are hardy where you live.
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Jonathan Berenson
Showed up on time and planted it perfectly. I indicated a light we had to illuminate it and they placed it for optimal lighting. Worked fast and left a clean worksite. First rate!
Installation Service
Anonymous
They delivered three trees: a big linden, a big poplar and a little spice bush with install on the big trees. The install guys were great and professional and fast. All the trees looked good with minimal damage.
Northern Spicebush
Joseph Sico
I went up there today from Quincy MA to pick up two Blue Wichita Junipers and they were absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Chris and everybody from Pro Growers of New England!
Wichita Blue Juniper
Aileen Maconi
The plants are beautiful and all 13 were consistent in height and width. And at a fraction of the cost of other garden centers. Having the team that delivered them do the planting was one of the best values I can think of. They did a great job from start to finish and even helped me with my watering system which they didn’t have to do!
I couldn’t be present when the tree was planted. I was very happy with the tree. It was planted correctly and at the proper height. As an arborist I see trees improperly planted frequently. Thank you!
They're very "leggy" right now but that's not unexpected in the fall. Otherwise, they look healthy, and we're looking forward to seeing them next year.
