Malus transitoria ‘Schmidtcutleaf’
The Golden Raindrops® is probably my favorite flowering crab tree. It is considered a clean tree with excellent disease and insect resistance. The flower emerges from a pink bud to a pure white flower, completely covering the tree relatively late in the season. The fruit is tiny and bright yellow. It is quite a spectacle, especially in close quarters. The leaves are probably the most unusual, with the early shoot leaves deeply cut or lobed, almost hawthorn-like, thus the cultivar name. Fall color is mostly yellow with occasional edges of red, if you look close. In good years in the Pacific Northwest, some trees have leaves with a full purple hue. The younger trunk bark is a shiny orange-brown, clean and smooth.
Arborists should like this tree for its balanced, open, branching, and predictable form when grown from a tall whip in a skilled nursery. Some crabs can be erratic and dense, but not so with the Golden Raindrops®, with its straight limbs and open structure. Give it room to grow though. Although listed as a tree with upright form, the tree will probably become more round with age. For street tree use, require limbs starting at 5′ or more and do not place them near a drive lane. Wider planting strips and corner accent peninsulas would be ideal.
Check your local State Research and Extension office for results of growing trials they may have conducted. Golden Raindrops® was rated one of the best crabs for scab resistance here in the Skagit Valley, Mount Vernon, Washington. Please let me know your experience with this tree.
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Jim Barborinas
Owner of Urban Forest Nursery, Inc.
ISA Certified Arborist #0135
ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist #356
15119 McLean Rd.
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
jim@urbanforestnursery.com
Wondering how Golden Raindrops® Flowering Crab performs as a small ornamental or street tree?
Here are some common questions people ask about this tree:
Golden Raindrops® is a compact ornamental, typically reaching 15–20 feet tall with about a 15-foot spread. Its growth is moderate, establishing steadily without spreading too widely for urban or yard spaces.
This cultivar combines elegant form with reliable performance. It produces abundant white flowers in spring from pink buds, followed by small golden-yellow fruit that adds color into fall and attracts birds. Its deeply cut leaves give it refined texture, and it’s highly disease resistant.
Yes — its compact size and upright, balanced habit make it excellent for narrow streets, boulevards, patios, or smaller yards. It provides seasonal interest without overwhelming hardscapes or nearby structures.
Absolutely — white spring flowers, summer foliage, golden-yellow fruit in fall, and subtle leaf color changes make this tree engaging across the seasons, keeping streets and landscapes visually appealing year-round.
Plant in full sun with well-drained soil for the best flowering and fruit. Once established, it’s low-maintenance and resilient. Providing good spacing and airflow helps keep it healthy and attractive in urban settings.