Pink Sparkles® Pink Flowering Crabapple

Pink Sparkles® is the trade name for ‘Malusquest’, a compact, upright flowering crabapple with a broadly spreading crown. Red buds open to fragrant pink flowers in spring, followed by dark-green foliage and glossy red fruit that can persist into late winter. ## Selection and size The plant patent records the cross ‘Jewelcole’ × ‘Prairifire’ and resistance to several common crabapple diseases. Iowa State lists this selection at about 15 feet tall by 12 feet wide; mature size can vary with rootstock. [The plant patent](https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP12482P2/en), [Iowa State’s crabapple guide](https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/recommended-crabapples-midwestern-landscapes) and [Trees and Shrubs Online](https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/malus/malus-cultivars-l-m/) document the cultivar. ## Site and display Plant in full sun and well-drained loam, with room for an upright, spreading crown and good air movement. Its pink spring bloom and persistent red fruit bring seasonal color; a compatible crabapple or apple flowering at the same time can improve fruit set. ## Maintenance Water consistently during establishment and deeply during prolonged dry weather. Prune selectively to remove dead, crossing or crowded branches while retaining a balanced framework. Monitor for apple scab, fire blight, cedar-apple rust and mildew; the cultivar has documented resistance, but resistance does not make it immune.