Malus 'Rudolph'
crab apple 'Rudolph'
A deciduous, upright tree to 7m tall, with ovate to elliptic, toothed, glossy leaves, initially copper-red turning dark-green in summer, then yellow in autumn, and emerge after the single rose-red flowers to 4.5cm across, open from dark buds. Long persistent, elongated, edible, reddish-yellow fruit emerge in autumn
Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
4–8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink | Orange Red | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Yellow | Red Yellow | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or East–facing or South–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Potentially harmful
- Although generally edible when cooked, seeds contain toxins so these should be removed if you are considering eating the fruit, usually grown as an ornamental shrub. see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
- Genus
Malus are small to medium-sized deciduous trees with showy flowers in spring and ornamental or edible fruit in autumn; some have good autumn foliage colour
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile soil; will tolerate partial shade. A great choice for colour and year round interest for a small garden
Propagation
Propagate by chip budding in late summer. Grafting can be carried out in midwinter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Flower borders and beds
- Edible fruit
Pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, including woolly aphid and rosy apple aphid, fruit tree red spider mite, codling moth and other caterpillars
Diseases
May be susceptible to apple canker, apple scab, blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, honey fungus and powdery mildews
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.