Perfect Purple Crabapple
Full bloomMalus 'Perfect Purple'
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. Perfect Purple 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)
Perfect Purple is positioned in JFS literature as the cold-hardy purple-foliaged choice for North and Intermountain regions — in maritime Puget Sound (Zone 8b) that extreme cold hardiness is largely surplus to need, and the cultivar's only Fair ratings on scab and fire blight per JFS are a meaningful regional liability. For PNW purple-foliage crabapple selection, 'Purple Prince' (Excellent scab, Good fire blight) or 'Royal Raindrops' (Excellent scab, Good fire blight, plus distinctive cutleaf foliage) are stronger choices in nearly every scenario. Perfect Purple is most defensible for PNW sites at higher elevations (Cascade foothills above 1,500 ft) or sites with documented occasional Zone 6-7 winter cold events where the extreme hardiness becomes relevant. Otherwise, the alternatives are simply better-suited. Where Perfect Purple is already planted, accept moderate scab pressure in cool wet spring years and prioritize late-winter pruning to reduce fire-blight wound entry.
— Chris Welch, ISA Certified Arborist