'Coralcole' not very inspiring out of bloom, with some leaf disease problems in addition to the foliage being dull-looking. Am seeing spots on opening leaves of 'Lollizam' at outlets here also - scab (if that's what it is) is prevalent in my area, if a cultivar is not resistant it is liable to be a bust. The "zam" in 'Lollizam' (Lollipop is a selling name) is from Zampini of Lake County [wholesale only] Nursery, Perry, OH. They have a whole series of dwarf flowering crabapple trees. Although 'Lollizam' is all I am noticing at outlets here, maybe another one of their introductions is on the retail market back there - or will be next year.

Does anyone have recommendations for cheering up a crabapple tree ('malus' spring snow)? We've had one since spring 2004 and the leaves have always looked droopy (rather pathetic). In 2004 & 2005 the tree had white flowers. In 2006, due to a winter drought, it barely leafed and had no flowers. So far this year about 3/4 of the tree has leaves (the bare branches look like they will eventually sprout leaves). Any advice welcome! Thanks. LaurieDutch

Thanks, Ken. I apologize for the ambiguity as I am a new homeowner. I'll try to provide more helpful information. I live about 15 minutes south of Cincinnati, OH. No, we didn't have a drought last summer. The two most significant weather occurences we suffered were: remnants of Hurricane Ike last fall and a severe ice storm in January. By all outward appearances, neither episode impacted my other young trees. The crabapple did appear to get off to a successful start this spring, sprouting lots of green leaves and berries, but then suddenly took a turn for the worse. I've taken pictures, but I can't figure out how to post them within this message. Do you know how? Again, thank you for your time.

I don't think so......see no spines and most in the trade here stay shrub height and aren't trained to tree form. I have an atrosanguinea crab.........similar flower. Not typical to see a few fall blooms, but not really rare either. We had bizarre weather last winter over large swaths of the U.S. I have lyonia shrub in full bloom now, it is NOT a fall bloomer.