Bud9 as crab

General Fruit Growing
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To replace a flowering crab, I was thinking of using Bud 9, not as rootstock, but as the tree itself. It has been called red-leafed paradise. What I haven’t been able to find is a description of its blossoms – color and abundance. Fruit is not an issue, but I’ve seen no description of Bud 9’s fruit either. Anyone have answers?

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http://articles.extension.org/pages/61154/apple-rootstock-info:-b9

https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail.aspx?id=1240806

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I personally dont find Bud9 root stock all that attractive. Plenty of other red leafed apple trees that make a prettier tree in my opinion. Many of those have showier blossoms as well.

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You will have to stake an own-root Bud 9 tree, just as you have to stake a scion variety on Bud 9. That would detract from it for me, for ornamental use.

I staked my one tree on Bud9 with one of those flimsy green plastic coated 8’ stakes when I first planted it. This year the stake was clearly not strong enough, and I had to go back in and put in a t-post. The tree was wobbling around in the wind.

I have a JF Schmidt Royal Raindrops crab. It is a nice crab, but patented, so it is more expensive. Nice tree. If only most of our fruiting apples varieties had its branch structure.

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Thanks for the responses. The chief advantage of the Bud9 for me is that I have Bud 9 available due to failed grafts.

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