Donald Wyman Crabapple
Beginning of floweringMalus 'Donald Wyman'
Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · introduced
Last updated
Malus 'Donald Wyman' (Rosaceae) is a deciduous ornamental crabapple cultivar that forms a broad, rounded tree to about 20 feet tall and wide. Single white flowers open from pink buds in profusion in spring, followed by persistent glossy red fruit (about 3/8 inch) that holds through winter and feeds birds.
Donald Wyman performs best in full sun on well-drained soil. Bloom begins around 197 GDD (base 50 F) with full bloom near 251 GDD. It is widely considered one of the most disease-resistant crabapple cultivars and is valued for its four-season interest: spring flowers, summer foliage, persistent red fruit, and clean branching habit in winter.
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. Donald Wyman Crabapple has passed beginning of flowering (1143 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 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Kent / Auburn | 2,089 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Seattle / UW | 2,063 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Olympia / Tumwater | 2,025 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Tacoma / Puyallup | 1,993 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Bellingham / Whatcom | 1,972 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Sequim / Rain Shadow | 1,906 | Beginning of flowering | — | — |
| Stage | GDD32 | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| ● Beginning of flowering BBCH 61 NOW | 1143 | Late April (Puget Sound); among the earlier crabapple bloom thresholds in the recommended set |
| Full bloom BBCH 65 | 1130 | Late April to early May (Puget Sound) |
Source: OSU phenology catalog (OSU: weather.cfaes.osu.edu) 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 (4)
Donald Wyman is a proven crabapple performer over decades and a legitimate candidate for Puget Sound landscapes where space accommodates the 17-22 ft spread. The persistent bright red fruit extends ornamental value through winter and provides important late-season forage for cedar waxwings, robins, and overwintering thrushes — fruit hangs through January in mild Puget Sound winters and only drops after birds clear it. Genuine amber-gold fall color adds a third season of interest that many crabapples lack. The two regional caveats are real and worth flagging: (1) fire blight susceptibility — Missouri Botanical Garden, MSU, and JFS all note this; spring pruning is specifically contraindicated, so plan pruning windows for late winter (February in Puget Sound) before bud break and before warm humid bloom-period bacterial activity; (2) scab susceptibility is moderate in maritime PNW conditions despite better Michigan ratings — expect some defoliation in cool wet spring years. Bloom timing is mid-season, synchronizing nearly exactly with 'Snowdrift' and overlapping with mid-blooming fruiting apple cultivars like Gala and Honeycrisp. Donald Wyman is one of only two crabapples that Morton Arboretum recommends as a single-cultivar pollinizer choice for home orchards (the other being 'Sargent'). The spread typically exceeds height, producing a broader rounded profile than upright cultivars like 'Adirondack' — important to factor into site planning. Combined with 'Adirondack' (late bloom), 'Donald Wyman' covers the early-to-mid bloom window for extended apple pollination.
— Chris Welch, ISA Certified Arborist