'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.

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.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I'm just not ambitious and disciplined enough to maintain that many fruit trees on the parking strips, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the 'Royal Raindrops' crabapples will be approved. I may just plant one Crape Myrtle closer to the south side of the house to get more reflected heat. Thanks gardengal for the info on the 'Royal Raindrops' leaf color. I was hoping it would be more green. Our neighbors have two huge purple-leaf plums, and I wasn't that excited about that many purple-leafed trees around the house. I actually attended Arthur Lee Jacobson's talk at the NW Flower and Garden Show this year. He recommended Malus Tschonoskii crabapples, but WSU put it on their Discard list due to "ornamental only for its narrowly upright form, no showy flowers or fruit". I really want dark-pink spring flowers. Gardengal, do you know how showy the spring flowers are on the 'Royal Raindrops' you planted for your client? Also, Arthur Lee Jacobson doesn't have any info on the 'Royal Raindrops' since they're so new, but Urban Forest Nursery, which specializes in street and landscape trees, recommends it. Urban Forest Nursery Royal Raindrops Flowering Crab profile