Malus 'Raspberry Spear'

Raspberry Spear Crabapple

Botanical Name: Malus 'Raspberry Spear'
Family: Rosaceae
Origin: Cultivar selection (USA); genus native to the Northern Hemisphere
Plant Type: Deciduous tree

Overview

A slim, columnar crabapple tailor-made for Adelaide and South Australian gardens where space is tight. Deep pink buds open to bright magenta flowers in spring, then the tree carries purple-red fruit that persist into late autumn/winter. Clean, dark-purple foliage holds colour through summer, bronzing with orange tints into autumn—perfect for avenues, driveways and vertical accents.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 5–6 m H × 2–2.5 m W (tightly columnar)
• Growth Rate: 30-45 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Glossy dark-purple to green in summer; older leaves bronze with orange tints in early autumn (new growth emerges deep purple)
• Flowers: Deep pink buds → bright magenta blooms in mid–late spring; lightly fragrant
  
• Seasonal Interest: Spring blossom → summer dark foliage → bronzy/orange autumn tones + persistent red fruit → sculptural winter column
• Wildlife Value: Attracts bees (spring blossom) and birds to the small, persistent maroon–deep red fruit
• Tolerance: Frost hardy; heat & urban-tolerant; wind-tolerant; suits varied soils if well-drained. Coastal: sheltered inner-coastal sites only (avoid frontline salt/wind
• Planting Density: Avenue/specimen: 2–3 m apart for a formal line (1.5–2 m for a tight screen)
• Pet Friendly: Generally regarded as non-toxic; note that fallen fruit may attract wildlife

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun for best flowering and fruiting
• Soil: Moist, well-drained loam/sandy loam/clay loam; mulch to conserve moisture
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8-12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10-14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry.
• Maintenance: Minimal—winter prune to keep a single leader and remove crossing wood; thin or remove persistent fruit if desired for tidiness
• Lifespan: 25-50 years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate & Mediterranean SA; excellent in Adelaide streetscapes and courtyards
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral, tolerates mildly alkaline if drainage is good

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Slim avenues/driveways where width is limited
• Formal screens and courtyard accents without overshadowing
• Small-space feature tree with four-season appeal

Why You Will Love It

‘Raspberry Spear’ delivers the classic crabapple show—mass spring blossom, dramatic purple foliage, autumn colour and festive red fruit—in a super-slim footprint that suits modern South Australian blocks. It’s tidy, disease-resistant and reliable in Adelaide’s climate, turning tight spaces into year-round statements.