MALUS CRAB APPLES

               When I have spoken to people about crab apples they have said, " oh no not them things they ripen, drop on the ground, and I have to clear them up, because crab apples  look so messy".

                HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU, ever tried to make crab apple sauce, crab apple jam, crab apple chutney, crab apple wine, or used them in flavouing, (BEWARE not all crab apples are suitable for the purposes I have suggested, consult your horticultural/garden centre when purchasing a crab apple tree).  Some gardeners use crab apples for the colours whilst others have used crab apple trees to infuse colour into the garden or as a focal point.

               I can suggest a couple of crabapple descriptions which were sent to me :- JOHN DOWNIE & GOLDEN HORNET, which are good pollinators for other crab apple/apple trees and also self  fertile, and if having enjoyed the colours of crab apples, but do not want to use the fruit for anything, they make good composting or mulch material. But do spare a thought for young love as the Celts in the U.K. thought of the crab apple tree as the tree of "love". Crab apple trees have the word Mallus in front of their name, indicating that they are an apple variety.

             Crabapple  BUTTERBALL

                 Crab apple butterball is a tree that whilst it is small is slightly pendular (weeping), but when Butterball is laiden with fruit  it looks as though the branches are trying to reach the ground, with a spreading habit, crabapple butterball sprouts pink buds which open to show a pink flushed flower, followed by golden fruits which may have a red flush on the side to the sun.

 Crabapple CORONARIA CHARLOTTAE

                 Coronaria Charlottae like crab apple trees,  tend to be able to show the ornamental  colour, and the crabapple Coronaria Charlottae strain is certainly one of them, with it's soft pink double blooms, and a orangey  red colour in the autum/fall, crabapple Coronaria Charlottae shows intensity that rivals even sugar maples.

  Crabapple GOLDEN HORNET.

               Crab apple Golden Hornet, not only produces heavy crops of bright yellow fruit, but is ideal  for the uses as mentioned above. Golden Hornet crabapple in flower it is particularly striking with white flowers followed by the crabapple fruit which can remain even after the leaves have fallen. Golden Hornet being a good pollinator can be used as a pollinator for other crab apple/fruit trees, because of the fruit and flowers  Golden Hornet is often bought as an ornamental tree.

    Crabapple LISET

                The Liset crab apple tree is originally from The Netherlands, and can grow to between 15 and 20 ft tall producing a very showy display deep red/crimson buds  opening to a light crimson, but Liset is not  finished at that  for it set off by the deep purplish leaves,

     Crabpple JOHN DOWNIE.

                John Downie is another crabapple tree which is purchased not only for the fruit but also its flowering/fruiting habits as an ornamental.  John Downie is a prolific crabapple fruit producer which are yellow with a flush of red and are conical in shape. John  Downie is used in both crabapple wine and crabapple jelly making as well as adding with other fruit to enhace the flavour, John Downey crabapple is an ideal polinator for other fruit trees.

                Crabapple LAURA

                 The crabapple Laura is a dwarf upright tree, ideal for the small garden, and can be container grown for the  patio. Laura blossoms in April/May with stunning pink and white flowers, followed in October with large maroon crab apples.

                         Crabapple MAKMIK

                The Makmik crabapple is a hardy tree that grows to 20 ft  in height, which  has a lovely bronze leaf and the Makmik branches bear large rosy red flowers developing into purple red crabapple..

             Crabapple RED JADE

                The Red Jade crabapple,is a small tree with graceful pendular (weeping) branches, making the crabapple Red Jade ideal for the smaller garden. The branches yield pink buds opening to a profusion of white blossom, and then Red Jade has shiny/glossy red fruited crabapple in autum/fall.

          Crabapple RED SENTINEL

              The Red Sentinel crabapple tree, grows to a height of 15 to 20 ft making this is an impressive tree, Red Sentinel has white scented  flowers  in May developing into large clusters of dark red crabapple fruits ( which helps give it the name RED Sentinel) that continue into winter. the weight of  crabapples on Red Sentinel tends to give the branches a weeping effect.

            Crabapple ROYAL BEAUTY

            Royal Beauty is a crabapple tree that can grow flat on the ground, but, Royal Beauty can be grown to your desired height with the use of stakes, if you live in areas suceptible to snow, the stakes are beneficial, for the branches can be brittle and with the added weight of  the crabapples may snap off. Royal Beauty gives you a reward with the deep red flowers and red foliage.

         Crabapple ROYALTY

              The Royalty crabapple is a small possibly dwarf variety, good for the smaller garden, and Royalty crabapple will give a full colour, in season, due to the deep red blossoms set against deep glossy purple leaves.

               Crabapple SELKIRK

                    The description of crabapple Selkirk is having reddish green leaves, and on this point  alone this becomes a very showy tree, but the Selkirk crabapple tree is also set off by the shiny, deep jade red crabapple fruit that arrive in autum/fall.

                               I believe that trying to choose a crab apple tree is one of the most difficult tasks in the garden. With such a wide range of foliage and then the marvelous flowers they produce, I can only suggest the theme or colour you may want will depend on the position of planting, but I will assure you that any crab apple tree you choose, whether it is for it's  foliage, flowers, eating or being able to use them in cooking or wine making, will be a focal point.

                               Did I mention that crabapples can also be used in wine or cider making, (perhaps they are not that messy after all)

                                                                                            FRED.