There are several crabapple species native to North America but you do not find the straight species or any species cultivars for sale except outside the specialty nursery or very rarely an old specimen of Malus ioensis 'plena' in some old landscapes.

There are several other mostly Asian species in cultivation but most of the crabapples are going to be a hybrid mishmash. There are many crabapple cultivars and or most trying to attach a species name is useless. I have never heard of American beauty. Highly unlikely what you picked has a connection to the old plant you like. ÂAmerican beauty may not even have existed at the time of planting or the old crabapple may have even vanished from commerce. Varieties come and go. You can likely expect a good flowering show from your crabapple, though. A nice deep pink in the link below.

You could always graft the plant in question yourself. It would be the same method as grafting apples; information for that is all over the web.

Here is a link that might be useful: Malus x 'American Beauty'

Hi Fledge,
Thanks for the info! Didn't know some of the things you mentioned!
I took a picture of the tag this morning on the tree but it came out blurry. I was late for work and didn't have a pen.
I'm pretty sure the picture of the tag shows: "manzano silvestre de belleza estadounidense" Also says Malus x American Beauty.
Should be a nice plant anyway, though im going to plant it in my rear yard as I really wanted something different for the front.
I never thought of grafting the tree, which I will look into!

Chip

Check characteristics of variety to verify that 'American Beauty' PP 2821 (see below) is actually what you have. Lowes here are displaying name tags on flowering trees that aren't the same variety as the stock. For instance I have seen 'Gold Star' magnolias tagged 'Butterflies' at one Lowes and yesterday saw ones looking like 'Yellow Fever' tagged mostly 'Butterflies' but with a few among them tagged 'Yellow Fever'. I am seeing them offering flowering crabapples both by variety name ('Profusion') and also merely by color ("pink crabapple").

Flowers double, clear red, 2" wide, almost sterile. Leaves bronzy-red when young, then bronzy-green, at length tinted yellow-green; some leaves lobed; teeth blunt. Can be shrubby, or a small tree 15'-20' tall. Fruit dark red, 1/2" wide, the calyx falling reluctantly; stem downy, 1 1/2" long; pulp harsh flavored, red

--Jacobson, North American Landscape Trees (1996, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley)

"Anyone have any info on it or pictures?
The time to ask for info and pictures is before you buy, not after. 'American Beauty' is known for its purplish new growth and red flowers, but you already know that because you already bought it. Here's what you didn't know. It is a dog of a crab. I didn't know it was still being grown. The nursery that introduced it dropped it years ago. In my area it will bronze by July and defoliate by August from apple scab.
We have a top notch, award-winning field grower near me. They have 44 cultivars of ornamental crabs but no 'American Beauty', it has long since been replaced by disease resistant selections.

Hi All,
The American Beauty is gone. I didn't quite like the way the roots looked when I removed it from the pot, so I returned it.
My Lowes got a new shipment in of trees. This time I did some homework and picked up a Robinson Crabapple. Its about 10ft for $34.
Whats everyones opinion on the Robinson?

Chip

Hello, I came across your post researching crabapple trees. I am thinking if getting a robinson...did you ever get one and if so how's it doing. What color are the flowers? Thanks!