Crab Apples
1st August 2009

Various meanings of the word crab include small and sour and both tend to fit the description of the fruit borne by crab apples trees but don’t let that stop you planting one or a dozen. They are incredibly ornamental in leaf with lovely flowers that are often fragrant. The masses of small fruits are attractive and as a bonus these apples make the most delicious jelly.

They are not fussy regarding soil type but succeed best in moderately fertile, free draining ground in full sun or light shade. They are self-fertile but dislike frost pockets where the early flowers are damaged. They enjoy shelter from biting cold winds.

For Leaf Colour
Malus ‘Lemoinei - Dark red-purple leaves turning purplish green. Wine red flowers followed by small, dark red fruit.
M.Tschonoskii - Bright green leaves turning to brilliant orange, red and crimson in autumn. Pink-flushed white flowers and red-flushed pale yellow fruit.
M. Royalty- Dark purple leaves turning red in autumn. Deep crimson flowers are followed by deep red fruit.
M. Prattii - Yellow, orange and red autumn leaf colour. White flowers followed by red fruit speckled white.

For Flower
M. Almey’ - Rose pink flowers followed by orange-red fruit.
M. Hupehensis - Pink buds opening to fragrant, white flowers followed by small deep red fruit.
M. Neville Copeman - Deep purple-pink flowers followed by crimson fruit.
M. Professor Sprenger - Pink buds open to very fragrant white flowers followed by orange-red fruit. Birds tend to leave the fruit on the tree.

For Fruit
M. John Downie - White flowers followed by bright orange-red fruit.
M. Butterball - Pink flushed white flowers. Masses of round, orange-yellow fruit that may have a red flush early on.
M. Cowichan - White flowers with a hint of pink followed by deep red fruit.

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