Thunderchild Flowering Crab vs Hedge Rose - TreeTime.ca

Thunderchild Flowering Crab vs Hedge Rose

Malus x adstringens Thunderchild

Rosa rugosa x Rosa woodsii (Improved hybrid developed by PFRA)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Thunderchild Flowering Crab
Hedge Rose

Thunderchild Flowering Crab is a hybrid crab apple known for its attractive and fragrant dark pink blossoms and deep purple mature leaves.

Tree farmers will find this hybrid appealing as a pollinator for other apples, while home growers will enjoy the red pome's ability to attract flocks of Cedar Waxwings in the early spring.

This species is reportedly resistant to fireblight.

Hedge Rose is a long-lived, fast-growing shrub. It bears similar flowers to the Alberta Wild Rose. Birds will love its deep red rose hips. Hedge Rose will thrive in a wide variety of soils and is a tall rose forming a useful hedge.

Excellent for shelterbelts, ecobuffers, and wildlife habitat plantings. Continuous flowering makes it attractive to pollinators. Many song and game birds utilize this tree for food and habitat.

In use since the early 1900s, this hybrid was originally developed at the PFRA's Indian Head Agroforestry Center.

Thunderchild Flowering Crab Quick Facts

Hedge Rose Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: high


Foliage: dark purple leaves
Fall colour: dark red
Flowers: dark pink blossoms
Flowers: pink or crimson
Fruit: small red pomes that hang through the winter
Fruit: red hips
Berries: small red pomes that hang through the winter
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


In row spacing: 0.3 m (1.0 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)