A laden branch of Crab-Apples

If you have room to plant only one tree, then a Malus is the one to plant. There are many shapes and sizes, to suit most positions. All like a site in full sun to only dappled shade and will grow on most soils except water logged soils. These wonderful trees give interest through out the year. With spring blossom, some with colour foliage, nearly all have good autumn leaf tints and all have fruit in vary sizes and some even hold onto their fruit through out the winter months. Here are just a very few to wet your appetite.

Malus ‘Rudolph’

M. ‘Rudoph’: A small upright tree with ascending branches, makes a good street tree and is perfect for a small space. Leaves are a rich purple when young, fading to green latter in summer. Dark buds open to a rich dark pink flowers in clusters in the spring. Followed by bunches of orange-yellow fruit, held through the winter.

Malus ‘tschonocskii’

M. tschonoskii: this is a hansom medium sized tree, with an attractive shape. Blush white flowers, followed by yellow fruits. But the star turn is the rust orange autumn

Malus ‘John Downie’ the best fruits for cooking.

M.’John Downie’: This is a classic crab-apple of the old school, a medium to larger tree, with assenting branches. White to pink flowers and mid green foliage. With large conical fruit yellow blushed red. Perfect for jams, preserves and jelly making.

Malus zumi var. calocarpa ‘Goldern Hornet’

M. zumi var. calocarpa ‘Golden Hornet’: An eye catching small upright tree. Which packs a big visual punch. White flowers, great buttery yellow autumn colour and large round golden fruit held well into the winter. Perfect for a tiny courtyard garden.

Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’

M. x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’: This is a wonderful crab-apple, A small mop-headed tree which produces a mass of branches in a dence crown. Masses of blush pink flowers produced in spring. Lovely yellow rust autumn tints. But the fruit are the show stopper. Clusters of large round red fruit held through the winter into early spring.

Malus scheideckerii ‘Red Jade’

M. x scheideckerii ‘Red Jade’: A lovely variety, A small tree with weeping habit, makes a great specimen tree. Blush pink and white flowers, mid green foliage and bunches of red cherry sized fruit, lasting into the winter.

Crab-apple trees planted on mass.

Often when I am asked to advise about designing small spaces, one of the first things clients will say is, I don’t have room for a tree. Yes you do, and Crab-Apples should be near the top of your list.