pranksta,
I'm just up the road from you, across the KY line in Christian Co., KY, used to live in Giles Co.,TN.

For a strictly ornamental crab with fruits large enough to eat or make jelly, Callaway gets my nod - it's a favorite here for fresh eating or making jelly; heavy producer of 1-1.5" crabapples, bears so heavily it assumes a semi-weeping habit. Selected at Callaway Gardens, in GA, it also has decent disease resistance - I don't notice it defoliating here like many of the older ornamental crabs do.

Have two Dolgo offspring in the orchard here, Centennial & Kerr, that are both very good 'edible crabs' - larger, sweeter fruit on Centennial, yellow with red blush; Kerr makes a slightly smaller, tart red fruit fruit with crisp white flesh and musky wine flavor undertone. Both very good. Dolgo is good, too.

Chestnut continually gets rave reviews for flavor, but never fruited here, I know nothing about its disease resistance. Selected in MN, it may or may not like The South.
Same for Wickson - good reviews, but the tree I purchased was NOT true to name.
Whitney - there are at least two selections going by that name in the nursery trade - it's a crapshoot as to whether or not you get the 'real'/good one.
Can't comment on the others on your list.

This post was edited by lucky_p on Wed, Aug 28, 13 at 17:24

For blossom and beauty: Golden Hornet
For fruit: Chestnut crab, nutty!

Thanks for the suggestions!

I have Chestnut and love the apple,..not overly juicy but got
a nice flavor.

The better one is the Trailman, crisp sweet and juicy.

Wickson, then Centennial are the best tasting. I've just grafted Chestnut, haven't tasted it yet.

I like Callaway to eat, but I just like to graft a small branch of a crabapple into my apple trees. They are more nutritious than regular apples, but I can't eat that many. They help with pollination too. Dolgo is good but tart.
If you can get it, Maypole is great and pretty. It's quite rare though.
John S
PDX OR

Wickson, then Centennial are the best tasting. I've just grafted Chestnut, haven't tasted it yet.

I like Callaway to eat, but I just like to graft a small branch of a crabapple into my apple trees. They are more nutritious than regular apples, but I can't eat that many. They help with pollination too. Dolgo is good but tart.
If you can get it, Maypole is great and pretty. It's quite rare though.
John S
PDX OR

Whoa, I just realized I mispelled crabapple! I'm certainly not looking for a "crapapple". LOL. Too bad I can't change it.

My pet peeve on crabs is I don't like mealy ones, many of them easily get too mealy. Its fine for jelly etc but I don't like them fresh when mealy. My favorite is Chestnut, it has great flavor with a semi-translucent flesh. Wickson is also great but it cracks every few years for me.

Scott

thapranksta,
never noticed..actually not a bad name you gave it,..some crabapples are crap.

Does anyone in the SoCal area recommend a variety?

I have been looking at what is offered by Trees of Antiquity, they are north and inland of me by about 3 hours-really really different weather conditions, I thought I would pick one up when I was driving in the area.

Here is a link that might be useful: Crabapples offered

Just to update...I ended up with a 'Harvest Gold' crabapple. I was still undecided about whether or not I would get one but I found a nice tree at Lowes for $5 so I figure I had nothing to lose.

Thanks for all your suggestions. If it wasn't for the fantastic price I happened upon, I'd likely have picked up something else.