Malus Evereste - Crab Apple

The Malus Perpetu Evereste is an ornamental apple tree with decorative fruits. Its magnificent flowering in spring is followed by a multitude of small fruits that will prolong the spectacle until the heart of winter. Thanks to its compact size, it will fit perfectly in a small garden or in an orchard where it will pollinate early-flowering fruit trees.

Ornamental apple trees come from various botanical species of the genus Malus belonging to the Rosaceae family. Numerous cultivars have been developed in Europe as well as in the United States, becoming increasingly attractive and more resistant to diseases. The Malus Perpetu Evereste is the result of a cross-breeding, including with Malus X Floribunda; it was selected by the INRA of Angers in 1977.

Evereste has a spreading, semi-spreading habit, reaching 8m (26 ft) in height and almost as wide, while maintaining a well-balanced shape - pruning is therefore not obligatory.

Its leaves are oval and alternate; its dark green foliage is deciduous and takes on warm shades of yellow and orange in autumn. The flowering, in the form of pink buds followed by pure white flowers gathered in a multitude of small clusters, takes place in April and May. In autumn, yellow-orange fruits resembling apples but the size of cherries appear (about 2.5cm (1 in) in diameter); they remain throughout autumn and part of the winter and are highly appreciated by birds. They are also very popular for making delicious jellies.

Hardy, adaptable, and easy to grow, Flowering Apples thrive in ordinary soil but prefer well-drained, deep, loose, and fresh soil, as well as sunny and sheltered exposures from prevailing winds. In partial shade, their flowering will be slightly less spectacular. Once established, they tolerate being neglected while retaining their generous nature.

In terms of maintenance, 'Evereste' is not demanding! Holder of the prestigious "Award of Garden Merit" by the RHS is a disease-resistant and easy-care tree. Its tolerance to pollution makes it an ideal tree for urban gardens. Pruning is limited to removing dead wood and balancing the branches in late winter.

Surrounded by cowslip primroses or daffodils, Evereste will bring a rustic spirit to your garden. You can extend this spring spectacle by associating it with early-flowering trees such as magnolias or Japanese cherry trees. It will look fantastic in a small to medium-sized garden, in a loose hedge, accompanying, for example, large shrubs or climbing roses trained as shrubs, evergreen viburnums, or lilacs. If space permits, ornamental apple trees, planted along a path, create a rather enchanting picture in spring and autumn, with their often sumptuous late-season colours.