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Culinary Apple Malus

Other Common Name(s):

Description

Malus is a genus of over 50 species of small flowering deciduous trees or shrubs in the Roseaceae (rose) family.   These trees range from the large culinary apples seen in grocery stores to the crab apple trees grown mostly as an ornamental for their flowers. They can be 14- 40 feet tall with an open to rounded crown. There are numerous dwarf and columnar varieties available also that are appropriate for the home landscape.

Give apple trees plenty of sun and plant in moist but well-drained, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil. Once established they are drought tolerant. Generally, apple trees do best in cold winter and cool summer areas. High humidity in summer leads to increased diseases.

If you are growing culinary apples, make sure you check the cold day requirements and if they need another specimen for cross-pollination. 

Apples can be medium to high maintenance due to insects and diseases. Prune as needed to thin out dense twigginess and open up the crown for good air circulation.  Many apple trees are grafted so be sure to leave the graft aboveground. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: fire blight, rust, apple scab and powdery mildew can be problems. Mites, aphids, Japanese beetles and apple tree borer can be problem insects.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

 

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#small tree#spring flowers#high maintenance#flowering tree#NC native#large shrub#edible fruits#deciduous tree#NC Native Pollinator Plant#ornamental tree#full sun#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#small tree#spring flowers#high maintenance#flowering tree#NC native#large shrub#edible fruits#deciduous tree#NC Native Pollinator Plant#ornamental tree#full sun#landscape plant sleuths course#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Malus
    Family:
    Roseaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Northern Hemisphere
    Distribution:
    Asia, Europe, North America
    Wildlife Value:
    Pollinators visit the flowers. Several butterfly and moth larvae feed on the trees.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 14 ft. 0 in. - 44 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Irregular
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    High
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Pome
    Fruit Length:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    > 3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are rounded pomes that are 1/2 to 5 inches in diameter
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Corymb
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Clusters of 5 petaled pink, white or red flowers appear in spring.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves vary but are typically green with lighter undersides, a few hairs, toothed margins and opposite in arrangement
  • Bark:
    Bark Description:
    Varies from brown to grey bark with fissures
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Flowering Tree
    Small Tree
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Problems:
    Frequent Disease Problems
    Frequent Insect Problems