About
Perfumed white flowers flushed with pink are produced in spring, followed in autumn by small green fruits. A deciduous tree, with scaly, peeling mature bark, and oval-shaped green leaves with downy undersides. Leaves turn shades of orange and red in autumn.
About the genus
Malus are small to medium-sized deciduous trees with showy flowers in spring and ornamental or edible fruit in autumn; some have good autumn foliage colour
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeTrees
HabitColumnar upright, Spreading branched
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread4-8 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
FragranceFlower
ToxicityAlthough generally edible when cooked, seeds contain toxins so these should be removed if you are considering eating the fruit, usually grown as an ornamental shrub. see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, deep, moist, loamy soil in a sunny position; will tolerate partial shade
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by seed, by chip budding in late summer, or by grafting in mid-winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, including rosy apple aphid and woolly aphid, apple sawfly, fruit tree red spider mite, codling moth, apple leaf-mining moth and other caterpillars
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to apple canker, rust diseases, blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, honey fungus and powdery mildews. This species has some resistance to apple scab