Malus MADONNA - Crabapple

The Malus 'Mazam' Madonna is an ornamental apple tree variety that stands out for its wonderful double, white, fragrant flowering, which is more long-lasting than that of other varieties. It also produces small decorative fruits, almost red in autumn, persisting on the branches for part of the winter. It is a sturdy deciduous tree that is resistant to diseases. Its moderate growth is suitable for gardens of all sizes.

The ornamental apple trees or crab-apples come from various botanical species of the genus Malus belonging to the Rosaceae family. Hardy and adaptable, Flowering Apples can tolerate ordinary soil, but prefer loamy, deep, loose, and fresh soil, as well as sunny exposures. Once established, they can perfectly withstand being forgotten while maintaining their generous character. Numerous cultivars have emerged in Europe, as well as in the United States, becoming more attractive and disease-resistant. 'Mazam' Madonna® was selected by John L. Fiala, a Catholic priest in Ohio, United States, in 1979. This variety was introduced to the market in 1987 by Lake County Nursery in Ohio.

The 'Madonna' ornamental apple tree has a trunk topped with an initially narrow, ovoid crown that widens somewhat with age. Its average dimensions at maturity are around 5m in height and 3m in spread. Flowering occurs in April-May depending on the climate, in the form of numerous buds that are barely pink. They open up into double to semi-double flowers, 4-5cm in diameter, pure white in colour, pleasantly fragrant. The flowering period can extend for more than three weeks. The leaves appear towards the end of the flowering period and are bronze-coloured when they first emerge. After pollination by bees, tiny rounded apples reminiscent of cherries form, often clustered in small clusters. They ripen in October-November, turning orange and then bright red. Highly appreciated by birds, these fruits remain attached to the shrub until winter, in December. The deciduous foliage is composed of rather large, ovate, alternate, and toothed leaves. It turns yellow before falling in autumn.

The Malus 'Madonna', like many flowering apple trees, is a good pollinator for fruit-bearing apple trees. Its beautiful and long-lasting flowering is complemented by the charm of the fruits that last late into the season. It is a natural and charming small tree that is easy to integrate into the garden. Bees buzz around its crown and it attracts many birds. To accompany it in the garden, you can plant perennial geraniums at its base, as well as light grasses like Stipa pulcherrima and white-flowering perennials like Gaura Lindheimeri 'Snowstorm'.