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Showy Crab Apple in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Malus x floribunda

 

Showy Crab Apple

One of the ancestors of the cultivated apple tree, the crab apple tree can be found growing wild in hedgerows. Some varieties have been cultivated for garden use, both for their flowers and for the fruit. Similar in cultivation to the domestic apple tree, it has many similarities, but the fruit are smaller and more irregular in shape. The tree is one of few hosts of the parasitic mistletoe. Malus x floribunda is grown for the mass of pale pink flowers from red buds that smother the tree in Spring. In Autumn it has small pea-like yellow fruit that stay on the tree into Winter - providing food for wild birds.

Contributed by @Gandalf

 
plant Features
  • Showy Crab Apple likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Showy Crab Apple likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Showy Crab Apple is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Showy Crab Apple likes rich and free draining

    Rich and free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Showy Crab Apple

Latin name

Malus x floribunda

type

Fruiting tree

family

Rosaceae

ph

5.0 - 6.8 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Showy Crab Apple likes full sun to partial shade

    Full sun to partial shade

  • Frost

    Showy Crab Apple is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Soil

    Showy Crab Apple likes rich and free draining

    Rich and free draining

  • Water

    Showy Crab Apple likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant
  •  
    When the plant will bloom
  •  
    When to harvest

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Showy Crab Apple is 7.00meters x 8.00meters 7.00 M 8.00 M

Malus x floribunda

One of the ancestors of the cultivated apple tree, the crab apple tree can be found growing wild in hedgerows. Some varieties have been cultivated for garden use, both for their flowers and for the fruit. Similar in cultivation to the domestic apple tree, it has many similarities, but the fruit are smaller and more irregular in shape. The tree is one of few hosts of the parasitic mistletoe. Malus x floribunda is grown for the mass of pale pink flowers from red buds that smother the tree in Spring. In Autumn it has small pea-like yellow fruit that stay on the tree into Winter - providing food for wild birds.


Planting outdoors

From Mid Autumn TO Early Spring

When planting remove the weeds from surrounding areas and make sure the hole you dig is at least twice the size of the roots. It is advised not to add fertiliser at this time due to the possibility of damaging the tree, however well rotted compost or manure should be forked into the bottom, the tree placed in the hole and back filled, firmed then watered in thoroughly. Keep well-watered until the tree is well established.

 

Apple Tree Blooms

From Mid Spring TO Late Spring

Once the weather has warmed up the tree will produce the first green leaves which will then prompt the first blossom. This is a very vulnerable stage - if a frost occurs the blossom is usually killed, and then there will be no fruit. .

 
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