Coral Spear Crabapple
Full bloomMalus 'JFS GM272MX'
Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · introduced
Last updated
Quick Facts
Bloom Infection Window
Spring Emergence / Primary Infection
Pupation
Phenological Calendar
As of May 13, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 1906.2 to 2098.2 GDD₃₂. Coral Spear Crabapple has passed full bloom (1305 GDD₃₂).
Regional Season Tracker
GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of May 13, 2026| Station | GDD₃₂ | Current Stage | Next | To Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah / East King | 2,098 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Kent / Auburn | 2,089 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Seattle / UW | 2,063 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Olympia / Tumwater | 2,025 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Tacoma / Puyallup | 1,993 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Bellingham / Whatcom | 1,972 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Sequim / Rain Shadow | 1,906 | Full bloom | — | — |
| Stage | GDD32 | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning of flowering BBCH 61 | 990 | Late April (Puget Sound) |
| ● Full bloom BBCH 65 NOW | 1305 | Late April to early May (Puget Sound) |
Source: HortGuide regional interpretation based on Morton Arboretum bloom timing About GDD₃₂ →
Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of May 13, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through May 29, 2026, then climate normals.
Diseases: Regionally Documented (3)
Diseases: Other Associations (1)
Pests: Regionally Documented (3)
Coral Spear™ is one of the newer J. Frank Schmidt narrow-columnar crabapple introductions for tight urban planting situations — the 8 ft mature spread fits sidewalk planting strips, narrow yards, and street- tree settings where typical 15-20 ft spread crabapples cannot be accommodated. The cultivar offers pink flowers that hold their color through the bloom period (most pink crabapples fade toward white as flowers age) combined with disease resistance rated Excellent across all four major diseases per JFS. For PNW urban-tree applications and high-density residential plantings, the Spear™ family (Coral Spear, Ivory Spear, Raspberry Spear) addresses the narrow-vertical design niche better than older columnar choices like 'Red Barron' or 'Marilee®'. Sourcing note: recently introduced JFS cultivars are available primarily through wholesale and design-grade nurseries; retail availability in PNW has been growing. Cross-reference with sibling Spear™ cultivars: 'Ivory Spear' (similar size, white flowers), 'Raspberry Spear' (similar size, purple foliage with magenta flowers).
— Chris Welch, ISA Certified Arborist