One of the most ornamental crab apple cultivars, with pretty pink-tinged, white flowers in late spring, followed by masses of glossy, round, cherry-red fruit. The fruits garland the branches for much of the winter as the bright green leaves turn shades of yellow and gold before falling.

This pollution-tolerant, upright crab apple is a star of the garden all year round and makes a magnificent show in a small, sunny, urban site. Crab apples flowers and fruit are a valuable source to bees, insects, birds and wildlife such as dormice and hedgehogs.

Garden care: When planting, incorporate lots of well-rotted garden compost in the planting hole and stake firmly. In spring, weed, mulch and use a seaweed solution. In summer, enjoy your tree and come autumn collect the fruit for delicious crab-apple jelly. Prune dead, diseased and crossing branches in winter and compost while the tree is dormant.

Soil: Most soils, but not waterlogged

Aspect: North, south, east and west

Light: Prefers full sun, tolerates partial shade

Hardiness: Fully hardy

Height and Spread in Ten Years: 6-7 metres x 5-6 metres

Uses: Fruit can be made into a delicious jelly

Pollination Information: This apple has a very long flowering period, so belongs to all the pollination groups and therefore is ideal for using as a pollinating partner to all other apples.