Malus prattii
Pratt's crab apple
A broadly-conical, upright, deciduous tree, to 10m tall, with red-veined, mid-green foliage turning orange and red in autumn. White flowers in late spring are followed by small, white-speckled red or yellow fruit in bunches
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Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metresTime to ultimate height
20–50 yearsUltimate spread
Wider than 8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
Spring | White | Green | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Summer | Green | |||
Autumn | Orange Red | Red White | ||
Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or East–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Spreading branched
- 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
Correct
- Plant range
- China (Sichuan, Yunnan)
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile soil in a sunny position; will tolerate partial shade
Propagation
Propagate by sowing seed in a seedbed in autumn, by chip budding in late summer or grafting in midwinter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildlife gardens
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
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