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November: Tree Fruit for Autumn and Winter

Some of the best trees to hold onto their coloured fruit into early winter are the many species of Malus or Crab Apples. They are distinct from culinary apples, Malus x domestica. Crab Apples are generally small trees with attractive white or pink blossom in spring, normally nothing too special during the summer and then have clusters of red, yellow or orange fruit looking good in the autumn that can often remain into early winter or at least until the birds have had their fill. All Crab Apples prefer a quite sunny, open position on any reasonable soil.

The native crab apple is Malus sylvestris but while attractive in a woodland setting in a garden one of the many more colourful cultivars would look better.

Two of the best are Malus ‘John Downie’ which has white blossom opening from pink buds followed by clusters of red flushed orange crab apples which are also large and reputed to be among the best for turning into jellies and jams. M. ‘Red Sentinel’ also has white blossom and plenty of fruit which are small, glossy skinned, cherry-like fruits which mature to a bright red and last well into the winter.

For large, double pale pink flowers try Malus ‘Katherine’, this tree has very small, pea-like, red fruit that is flushed with yellow. M. ‘Royalty’ is a slightly larger, spreading tree with deep pink blossom in the spring and then dark red-purple leaves during the summer, followed by dark red fruit – something a little different.

There is also a weeping form Malus ‘Molten Lava’ which has pink tinged white blossom followed by orange-red fruit. This is quite a small tree at around 15ft and has a curious branching structure similar to many weeping trees which gives interest in the winter.

Crab Apples work hard in the garden with profuse flowers and bright fruit. The flowers are good pollinators for culinary apple trees and the crab apples, particularly the larger ones, can be cooked and used in jams, jellies and sauces. They are good trees for wildlife, particularly bees in the spring and then birds in the autumn, and can be under planted with spring flowering bulbs to tie in with the tree in bloom or autumn interest to highlight the fruiting season. A versatile tree in many styles of garden, it also looks pretty with taller wild flowers planted underneath.

CAF