Unique Features: The Purple Spire crabapple was introduced through the ‘Agriculture Canada’ program and has extra cold hardiness. It grows slowly to moderately, into a tall, narrow columnar structure, and is usually grown with a low canopy (only about 1’ of trunk showing). It has moderate to good disease resistance. If you start with a younger tree and prune it to a 3’ to 4’ canopy, the tree will have a more formal look.  The clusters of spring flowers are pink to reddish-purple. As the flowers finish the foliage is green with deep purple variegation. By midsummer the foliage is dark purple with a green under cast, and holds until fall when the leaves have more of a reddish color.  The ½’’-¾’’ red to purple fruit persists until midwinter and is enjoyed by birds.