Lollipop Crabapple

Full bloom

Malus 'Lollizam'

Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · introduced

Last updated

Quick Facts

Height
8-10 ft (J. Frank Schmidt Crabapple Chart: 10 ft; Proven Winners: 8-10 ft; Bountiful Gardens: 8 ft)
Spread
8-10 ft (J. Frank Schmidt: 10 ft; Proven Winners: 8-10 ft; spread approximately equals height in the characteristic ball form)
Growth Rate
Slow (dwarf genetics produce naturally slow growth; tree reaches mature size in 15-20 years and stays compact thereafter) (source: proven winners)
Light
Full Sun (Best Flower Production And Disease Resistance); tolerates Light Afternoon Shade With Reduced Flowering (Source: Proven Winners; Missouri Botanical Garden)
Soil
Well Drained; Tolerates A Wide Range Of Soil Textures (Source: Proven Winners)
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
Zone Zones 4–8 (J. Frank Schmidt Crabapple Chart; Proven Winners)
Bloom Time
Late April to mid-May (Puget Sound); mid-season blooming (source: HortGuide regional interpretation based on Morton Arboretum bloom timing)
Fall Color
Yellow to yellow-bronze; not a primary ornamental feature (source: hortguide editorial based on cultivar descriptions)
Origin
Cultivar; bred and selected by Jim Zampini at Lake County Nursery
Watch for this season
Fire BlightHigh

Bloom Infection Window

Powdery MildewModerate

Spring Emergence / Primary Infection

Codling mothModerate

Pupation

Phenological Calendar

As of May 13, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 1906.2 to 2098.2 GDD₃₂. Lollipop 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); mid-season blooming
● 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)

Lollipop® is the standard recommendation for dwarf formal crabapple use in Puget Sound landscapes — the only common crabapple with a genuinely dwarf genetic habit producing a naturally symmetrical 8-10 ft rounded ball without staking, pruning, or top-grafting. The cultivar fills a design niche no typical Malus can occupy: small residential courtyards, planter boxes (large containers), paired entry specimens, formal hardscape compositions, narrow planting strips, and patio-side spaces where typical 15-25 ft crabapples would overwhelm the scale. The combination of dwarf form, fine-textured small leaves, fragrant white bloom, tiny red persistent fruit, and good-to-excellent disease resistance (part of Lake County's ZAM disease-resistant series) makes Lollipop a defensible default for these constrained spaces. Container culture is feasible in large planters (24-36 inch diameter minimum) provided regular irrigation and seasonal feeding. The naturally symmetrical ball form requires minimal pruning, which simplifies maintenance for property managers and homeowners who would otherwise need to shape upright crabapple cultivars. Cross-references with 'Coralcole' (similar 15 × 15 ft top-grafted compact form) and 'Sargent Tina' (5-6 ft natural dwarf — even smaller for the most constrained spaces) for the full dwarf-crabapple decision tree.

— Chris Welch, ISA Certified Arborist

Data Maturity
Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.