| Name |
Malus
- Evereste - Crab Apple |
| Cultivation |
Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, although
some shade is tolerated. Purple-leaved forms of Malus colour best in full
sun. It is Self Fertile. |
| Family |
Rosaceae |
| Genus |
Malus
is a genus of about 30-35 species of small deciduous trees or shrubs in
the family Rosaceae, including the domesticated Orchard or Table Apple. |
| Synonyms |
|
| Known
Hazards |
|
| Range |
|
| Height |
It
grows to a height of 7m (22ft), and spread of 6m (20ft). |
| Habitat |
All
very cold hardy. Most like full sun and are tolerant of a wide range of
soil conditions. |
| Characteristics |
Crab
apples are ideal specimen trees for small gardens. Malus 'Evereste' is
a conical tree with dark green, often lobed leaves, 8-11cm (3-4in) long.
The flowers are freely borne, 5cm (2in) across, red in bud but open white.
It is one of the best trees for spring blossom. It has large pale pink
blossom in April/May and small red and yellow crab apples which last into
the winter. It is an excellent pollinator widely used in commercial apple
orchards. |
| Edible
Uses |
The
fruit of the crabapple species is not an important crop, being extremely
sour and (in some species) woody, and is rarely eaten raw for this reason.
However, crabapples are extra rich in pectin, and their juice can be made
into a ruby-coloured jelly with a full, spicy flavour. A small percentage
of crab apples in cider makes a more interesting flavour. |
| Medicinal
Uses |
An
Apple a day Keeps the Doctor Away! (So they say!) |
| Other
Uses |
|
| Propagation |
Apples
require cross-pollination between individuals by insects (typically bees,
which freely visit the flowers for both nectar and pollen); all are self-sterile,
and self-pollination is impossible making pollinating insects essential.
The honeybee is the most effective pollinator of apples. Malus species,
including domestic apples, hybridise freely. |
| Cultivars |
Crabapple
fruit are mostly red, but some, such as the cultivar 'Golden Hornet', are
yellow Crabapples are widely grown as ornamental trees, grown for their
beautiful flowers or fruit, with numerous cultivars selected for these qualities
and for resistance to disease. |