Thunderchild Flowering Crab vs Debbies Gold Apricot - TreeTime.ca

Thunderchild Flowering Crab vs Debbies Gold Apricot

Malus x adstringens Thunderchild

Prunus × Debbies Gold

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Thunderchild Flowering Crab
Debbies Gold Apricot

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.

Debbie’s Gold Apricot is a cold-hardy variety known for its firm, sweet, and aromatic fruit. The white to pink flowers bloom several days later than other varieties, making them less susceptible to spring frosts. Their orange-yellow, freestone apricots ripen from late July to mid August and are well-suited for fresh eating, baking, canning, and preserves.

Debbie’s Gold Apricot is generally considered to be partially self-pollinating, but planting with another variety for cross-pollination can increase yields.

Note: While the bloom time is later than other varieties, the flowers are still vulnerable to spring frosts, which can reduce or eliminate the fruit crop.

Thunderchild Flowering Crab Quick Facts

Debbies Gold Apricot Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Growth form: upright to spreading
Spreading: suckering - low
Suckering: none


Foliage: dark purple leaves
Fall colour: dark red
Flowers: dark pink blossoms
Flowers: white to pink
Bloom time: early to mid spring
Fruit: small red pomes that hang through the winter
Fruit: freestone apricots
Berries: small red pomes that hang through the winter
Fruit size: 3-4cm in diameter
Flavor: sweet, aromatic
Harvest: mid to late summer
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no