Malus (Crab apple)

Malus 'Red Sentinel'

Malus 'Red Sentinel'

Malus

Crab apple

  • Position: full sun or partial shade
  • Soil: well-drained soil
  • Flowering period: April to May
  • Height: 5-10m
  • Foliage: deciduous
  • Hardiness: fully hardy

Crab apple. This attractive ornamental tree has a lot to offer. Masses of lovely cup-shaped flowers appear in early spring. From late summer topped with clusters of small crab apples which can be yellow, red, orange, or purple.

A crab apple tree prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade.

Varieties

Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’

Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’ is popular for its lovely white blossom, which appears in April-May, followed by cherry-like, bright red fruit, maturing to deep red. The crab apples of ‘Red Sentinel’ will persist for much of the winter.

Malus ‘Golden Hornet’

Malus ‘Golden Hornet’ is much-loved for its golden-yellow crab apples. The dark green leaves take on a butter-yellow colour in autumn.

Malus ‘Evereste’

Those who want orange-yellow fruit try Malus ‘Evereste’. This variety can grow up to 5-7m tall.

Malus 'Red Sentinel'
Crab apples  ‘Red Sentinel’                  Blossom of ‘Red Sentinel’

Pruning

Pruning crab apple (Malus). A mature crab appel requires almost no pruning. If necessary remove diseased, dead, and crossing branches in early spring.

Plant combination

Crap apple looks fabulous on its own or combined with other plants such as Catalpa bignonioides ‘Nana‘ Magnolia, Syringa, Choisya ternata.


Magnolia stellata

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