Tree ID

[DTro]

We received a small decorative bush from one of my wife's co-workers who was dividing a bunch of his perenials. We put it next to the house as we liked the contrasting color.

Fast forward 5 years and the thing is now about 12ft high and about 7ft wide. In the spring it has dark crimson leaves and bright pink flowers. Currently it has a dark green leaf and bunches of fruit about the size of a large blueberry and red in color. I tasted one of them and it tasted like a bitter apple similar to a crab apple taste.

I'm pretty sure it's not a crabapple.

Any thoughts?

Also is this thing OK right next to the house?

[Powerstroke]

Could you get a photo? I'm trying to imagine something with a large fruit from a large shrub. To be totally honest it sounds to me like a dwarf crabapple. They say dwarf and people think they will never grow large, but they will if not pruned regularly.

Without a picture it is difficult to ID, but it really does sound like a crab. There are so many cultivars nowadays it is very likely.

[DTro]

Here are some pics, could it be a sandcherry?

[LABS4ME]

it's a flowering crab 'Malus Sp.'... it's definitley not a sandcherry.

Good Luck!

Ken

[Powerstroke]

What labs said. The biggest thign with this "tree" is to prune it. It will continue to get larger and would be better suited somewherre else in the yard. If you choose to leave it there, it will be okay, but it will require some drastic pruning to keep it off the house.