About
Malus 'John Downie' is a robust small deciduous tree characterized by its ovoid crown. It produces an abundance of white blossoms that emerge from pink buds. The fruit is plentiful, oval-shaped, measuring about 3 cm in length, and features a vibrant mix of red and orange-yellow hues.
About the genus
Malus comprises small to medium-sized deciduous trees that display prominent blossoms in the spring and bear ornamental or edible fruit in the fall. Several species also exhibit attractive foliage during the autumn months.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Trees
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 8-12 metres
- Spread
- 4-8 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
- Toxicity
- Although 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
- Cultivation
- Grow in moderately fertile soil; will tolerate partial shade
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1
- Propagation
- Propagate by chip budding in late summer. Grafting can be carried out in midwinter
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids, including woolly aphid and rosy apple aphid, fruit tree red spider mite, codling moth and other caterpillars
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to apple canker, apple scab, blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, honey fungus and powdery mildews