Prairifire crabapple has crimson buds that open to red-purple flowers. The foliage emerges maroon and matures to dark green. This cultivar is noted for abundant blooms and excellent disease resistance; it is planted extensively at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Crabapples are small flowering trees that provide a showy display in the spring landscape for one to two weeks. In addition to the eye-catching buds and flowers, their foliage, habit, and fruit make them attractive plants almost year-round. They are actively hybridized for flower color, leaf color, fruit size/color, shape, and—most importantly—disease resistance. Crabapple fruits are usually not eaten by humans but are beloved by birds. Most crabapples benefit from modest amounts of pruning to eliminate water sprouts and improve airflow.