Malus astringens Hopa - Crabapple

Malus x adstringens 'Hopa' is a pioneering ornamental apple tree, the origin of many excellent purple varieties, more resistant to scab. In spring, it is covered with carmine buds that open into large, single, bright pinkish-purple flowers. Its young shoots are also purple and at maturity, the leaves take on a more or less purple-green hue. In late summer, the tree produces beautiful small, bright blood orange fruits, which can be enjoyed until mid-October. It is a beautiful small tree with a spreading habit, suitable for planting as a specimen or in a mass planting.

The ornamental apple trees are derived from various botanical species of the genus Malus belonging to the Rosaceae family, which also includes fruit-bearing apple trees, as well as most of our fruit trees (pear trees, peach trees, plum trees...). Hardy, adaptable, and easy to grow, flowering apple trees can thrive in ordinary soil, but prefer deep, loose, and moist loam. Once established, they can tolerate neglect while maintaining their generous character. Numerous cultivars have been developed in Europe, as well as in the United States, becoming increasingly attractive and disease-resistant.

Malus x adstringens 'Hopa' was selected a little before 1920 by Niels Hansen, from the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station in the United States. This variety is the result of a cross between Malus sieversii f. niedzwetzkyana and M. baccata.
It is a small tree with a short trunk that bears a generally rounded crown, with a somewhat variable shape, and spreading branches. It will reach a maximum height of 5 to 6 m, with a spread of 3 to 4 m. Its young leaves, which appear at the same time as the flowering, are purple. This apple tree blooms in April-May, depending on the region and climate. Its carmine red flower buds open into single flowers, with a diameter of about 4-5 cm, and 5 petals. Their colour changes from purple to dark lilac pink and then to light lilac pink. They are nestar-rich and attract bees and other pollinators.
After pollination, fruits with a diameter of 2-3 cm are formed. At maturity, they have a beautiful bright orange colour tinged with red. These decorative fruits fall after mid-October. This very hardy apple tree can withstand temperatures as low as -25°C. However, it is susceptible to certain apple tree diseases such as scab.

Malus 'Hopa' will delight collectors of historical varieties who are not put off by treatments. This beautiful apple tree can be planted as a specimen on a lawn or incorporated into a mass planting where it will provide structure. To accompany it, you can choose, for example, a deciduous spindle tree like Euonymus planipes, which has magnificent autumn colours and decorative fruits, a Moyesii Geranium rose with beautiful cherry red single flowers followed by decorative bright orange fruits in autumn, and a 'Black Lace' elder with finely cut purple foliage adorned with pink umbels in spring. At the base of this apple tree, you can also plant perennial ground cover geraniums.