Malus yunnanensis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- MAY-lus yoo-nan-EN-sis
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The Yunnan Crabapple is a small, deciduous, flowering tree in the rose family, native to Tibet and China. It has a rounded, upright form with a moderate growth rate and can reach a mature height of 40 feet and 19 foot spread. It produces fragrant pink to white blossoms through the spring and small, 1/2 inch fruit in the fall. The fruit is somewhat harsh, but it is popular with wildlife
Yunnan Crabapple does best in consistently moist, well-drained, fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. It will tolerate heavy clay and has a reputation for responding well to poor environments, which makes it useful as rootstock.
The bright red fruit and the orange/red fall leaf color are considered ornamental.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Modest disease resistance. Susceptible to honey fungus.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Malus
- Species:
- yunnanensis
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tibet and Central China
- Wildlife Value:
- Food source for birds and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Modest disease resistance
- Edibility:
- Seeds and leaves contain a toxin and should not be consumed. The fruit does not contain this toxin.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- 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:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/2 inch red fruit with white dots appear in early fall, August to September. Flesh is astringent, gritty with stone cells.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small (1/2 inch) single white flowers with a light pink tint appear in late spring. Stamens slightly shorter than petals.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Dentate
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaf blade ovate, 2 to 5 inches long, usually hairy beneath. Margin doubly toothed, often with 3 to 5 lobes on each side. Leaves have an orange to scarlet fall color.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Branches are dark purple and densely hairy when young.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
