Malus Indian Magic - Crab Apple

Malus 'Indian Magic' is a variety of ornamental crab apple tree with abundant spring flowering in a delightful garnet pink colour, followed by a decorative fruiting that adorns the garden until winter. Its yellow-orange autumn foliage is also attractive. In addition to these ornamental qualities, it has good resistance to apple scab. It is a wide and bushy crab apple tree with a strong impact in the garden. Useful for bees and popular with birds, this small tree also serves as a good pollinator for fruit-bearing apple trees.

Ornamental apple trees come from various botanical species of the Malus genus, which belongs to the Rosaceae family. Hardy, accommodating, and easy to grow, flowering apple trees are satisfied with ordinary soil, but prefer rich, deep, loose, and moist soil, as well as sunny exposures. Once established, they can be completely forgotten while maintaining their generous character. Numerous cultivars have been developed in Europe and also in the United States, becoming increasingly attractive and disease-resistant. 'Indian Magic' was selected by B. Simpson for Simpson Nursery (USA) in 1969. This cultivar is perfectly hardy.

Malus 'Indian Magic' is a small tree with a spreading habit. Its well-branched crown is wider than it is tall. Its average dimensions at maturity are about 5m (16ft) in height and 6m (20ft) in spread. It maintains a harmonious shape without the need for pruning, and develops wood covered with smooth dark reddish-brown bark. The abundant flowering takes place in April or May, depending on the region, on bare branches or slightly covered with very young reddish leaves. It consists of numerous dark pink buds that quickly open into single flowers, about 2 to 3cm (1in) in diameter. The colour turns to red, becoming duller and more purplish before fading. These flowers are gathered in small clusters, and are followed by the emergence of young leaves. The flowering is popular with bees. The tree then develops numerous small elongated fruits, measuring barely 1.5cm (1in) in length. At maturity, in September-October, they are bright and a vivid red, then turning orange. These tiny apples, reminiscent of cherries, remain on the branches for a long time if they are not eaten by birds. The deciduous foliage becomes yellow-orange in autumn before falling. It consists of ovate, alternate, and dentate leaves. 

Malus 'Indian Magic' is suitable for medium-sized gardens and large spaces. Its wonderful flowering may be less long-lasting than that of a flowering cherry tree, but it is prolonged by the beauty of its fruits. It can easily be planted with other fruit trees for small gardens. It also goes well with large shrub roses, lilacs, or even hawthorns. When space is available, ornamental apple trees, planted in a large hedge on a slope bordering a sunken path, create a rather magical scene in spring, and also in autumn with their often sumptuous colours at the end of the season.