Small deciduous tree 15 to 18 feet high and 12 feet wide, often grown with multiple trunks. Prolific white flowers in spring are followed by bright red fruits a half inch in diameter that persist through the winter.
Crabapple is a popular ornamental tree planted for its showy flowers and fruits. The cultivar Red Jewel was introduced in 1971 by Bill Collins of the Cole Nursery Company in Circleville, Ohio. Red Jewel was registered as a trademark in 2011, so the correct cultivar name is 'Jewelcole.' Red Jewel was named for its abundant and persistent red fruits. Though crabapples are generally susceptible to apple scab, cedar-apple rust, powdery mildew, and fire blight, Red Jewel is known as a disease-resistant selection and comes highly recommended by horticultural trials. Crabapples include about 25 species native to the temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, and have been cultivated for centuries. Crabapples tend to be cross-fertile and hybridize freely. Many selections are made from open pollinated seedlings, making parentage difficult to ascertain. Taylor's Encyclopedia of Garden Plants lists Malus Red Jewel as a cultivar of Malus floribunda. However, the exact parentage of Red Jewel is unknown.