Crab Apple Trees | Malus Trees

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Choosing & Growing Crab Apple Trees Crab Apple trees are modest in height and it is this, along with their strong spring and autumn features, that make them so popular in small gardens. Originally from temperate regions in the northern hemisphere, Crab Apple trees grow well in virtually all soils (other than waterlogged or very dry) in sun or partial shade. With around 40 species and hundreds of hybrids of Malus, there is a huge choice of both features and size/form of these trees. Crab Apple trees come in rounded, upright, weeping and dwarf forms. Malus 'Sun Rival' and 'Royal Beauty' are amongst the best weeping varieties, whilst Malus 'Red Obelisk' and tschonoskii are excellent upright varieties. Malus 'Coralburst' and sargentii 'Tina' are dwarf varieties ideal for the smallest of gardens. Crab Apple trees are named after the compact size of their fruits, which vary from 1cm to 5cm in diameter (any larger and they would be considered a normal apple). Varieties with large fruits are both highly decorative and productive, producing crab apples suitable for culinary use - some examples include Malus 'John Downie', 'Rosehip' and Marble. Flowers can be white through to dark purple, with bright pink buds being a feature even on some white flowering varieties. For unusual double flowers, look at Malus 'Snowcloud' and for large pink flowers, look at Malus 'Rudolph'. Many Crab Apple trees have green leaves similar to those on apple trees, but there are a number of varieties with lobed, bronzed or purple foliage. Malus toringo 'Aros' is a dwarf variety with particularly rich dark purple foliage, wheras Malus toringo 'Scarlett' has deeply lobed foliage. Uses & Benefits of Crab Apple Trees Beyond being decorative, there are many other uses of Crab Apple trees. They are particularly beneficial to wildlife, with the flowers attracting many types of bee who come looking for the nectar and the fruits are eaten by birds. As mentioned above, the larger fruits are also suita