Malus hupehensis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Malus theifera
- Malus toringo
- Phonetic Spelling
- MAY-lus hew-pay-EN-sis
- Description
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Tea Crabapple is a densely flowering, deciduous large shrub or tree in the Rose family, with a mature height and spread of 25 feet, and a native of China and Japan. The tree has a broad vase-shaped, arching form, casts light shade, and is considered picturesque. It is a vigorous, branching tree that tolerates strong winds and can be used as a windbreak. The pink buds opening into white flowers blossoming in spring are fragrant and the cherry-sized fruit, while tending sour, is a good wildlife food source.
Tea Crabapple does best in full sun to light shade, moist, well-drained loam, clay, or sandy soil. It will tolerate heavy clay and drought. However, it is not tolerant of air pollution and is frequently damaged by deer. It will produce more fruit if sited in full sun than in partial shade.
The tree can be pruned, but that is best avoided if you want a wide, elegant branching structure.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
This plant has good disease resistance, but can be susceptible to fire blight and honey fungus. Aphids and spider mites can also be a problem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Rosea'
Flowers remain pink, not fading to white.
- 'Rosea'
- 'Rosea'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Rosea'
Flowers remain pink, not fading to white.
- 'Rosea'
- 'Rosea'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Malus
- Species:
- hupehensis
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, Korea, and Japan
- Distribution:
- Introduced to Ontario, the United States (Virginia north to New York), Oregon and Washington state, Germany and the Baltic.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- moderate drought tolerance
- Edibility:
- The fruit is edible, raw or cooked, with a sour taste, but the seeds can be toxic and should be removed. The leaves are a tea substitute in China. Flowers are edible in moderation but do not eat many as their flowers contain cyanide precursors.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Broad
- Spreading
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- This plant has abundant 0.4 inch greenish-yellow to red fruit in fall. The seed is apomictic (no sexual fusion, thus the seedlings are clones of the parent) and breed true to type.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This plant has deep pink buds opening to fragrant , 1 inch, white flowers throughout the spring. Flowers fall before fruit is ripe. Petals are pink in bud, opening white.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Dark, unlobed leaves are 2-4 inches. They are purplish when young: they have a yellow and copper fall color. Small, sparse hairs when young.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Branches initially dark green, aging purple or purplish brown, finely hairy when young.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Wind
