Gladiator Crabapple tree Pros and Cons, Growth Rate, Care, Problems

The Gladiator Flowering Tree is a novel addition to the tree world; it is a highly hardy, narrowly upright to the columnar decorative tree with spectacular pink flowers, followed by tiny purple fruit and deep burgundy-purple foliage all season. In mid-spring, the branches of the Gladiator Flowering Crab are mostly covered with beautiful clusters of fragrant pink flowers. These flowers come out of rose flower buds before the leaves. The burgundy spring growth of its deep purple leaves is a visual treat. The sharp, attractive leaves change color to golden in the fall. 

Gladiator crabapple Tree Pros and Cons

Gladiator Crabapple is a beautiful ornamental tree with vivid pink blooms and little reddish-purple fruit on an erect crown. The bronze-purple leaves of this plant are glossier and deeper than those of Purple Prince, and they maintain their lush appearance throughout the season. Gladiator Crabapple is the perfect ornamental tree for areas with limited space, such as beneath power lines, as a tiny boulevard tree, or when planted in a row for a screen. The burgundy-colored foliage provides contrast and color throughout the season.

Many pests, including fruit tree red spider mites, aphids, woolly aphids, and caterpillars, damage this tree. This tree is also vulnerable to diseases like apple canker, fireblight, powdery mildews, apple scab, and honey fungus.

Gladiator Crabapple Tree Growth Rate

When fully grown, this kind of crabapple tree reaches a height of around 20 feet and a spread of roughly 10 feet. In ideal circumstances, it is anticipated to survive for at least 40 years and develops at a medium rate.

This tree needs full sunlight to flourish. It grows best in moderate to moist conditions. It possesses a high tolerance for smog and even survives in densely populated areas. This particular type is the product of hybridization between different species.

Gladiator Crabapple Tree Care

The Gladiator Crabapple Tree is an easily cultivated shrub that thrives in most fertile soils, however, it prefers a moisture-retentive, well-drained loamy soil. In general, it does best in soils with a lot of clay. It enjoys full sun but it can thrive in moderate shade, however, with less fruit.

The fruit is an excellent source of food for wildlife, particularly birds. These plants thrive with only a few inches of soil moisture. To provide the best care, watering is mostly done once or twice a week throughout the active growing season.

These plants require constant watering, similar to a bluegrass lawn, to ensure that the root system never dries to depth during the active growing season, and also require winter watering to prevent root desiccation and plant death.

It possesses a medium rate of growth and, in a perfect world, survives for at least 40 years. It grows best in moderately moist conditions and should not be allowed to become dry. 

Gladiator Crabapple tree Problems

This kind of crabapple is a round-shaped deciduous tree. It develops oval-shaped, reddish-purple leaves that eventually turn dark green. Some of these trees die if they are overwatered. This particular kind of crabapple is prone to developing honey fungus, fireblight, powdery mildews, apple scab, and apple canker. Some pests, such as aphids, woolly aphids, and caterpillars, also restrict the development of these trees.