Malus Red Jewel - Crab Apple

Malus Red Jewel is a particularly interesting ornamental Apple tree for small gardens. In spring, it is covered with beautiful single flowers of pure white, fragrant. In autumn, this Apple tree reveals its second asset, adorned with a beautiful orange and then red fruiting reminiscent of cherries that persist on the branches until late winter. It is a small tree with a fairly spreading habit that grows in ordinary soil, preferably slightly clayey, fairly rich, in a sunny position. It can be planted isolated on a short grass meadow or within a flower bed.

The Ornamental Apple trees are derived from various botanical species of the genus Malus belonging to the Rosaceae family, which also obviously includes the fruit apple trees, but also most of our fruit trees (Pear trees, Peach trees, Plum trees...). Hardy, adaptable and easy to grow, flowering apple trees are satisfied with ordinary soil, but prefer loamy, deep, loose and slightly moist soils. Once established, they are low maintenance while maintaining their generous character. Numerous cultivars have emerged in Europe, but also in the United States, these are attractive, but also disease-resistant.

The 'Red Jewel' apple tree is an American selection that is relatively old, dating back to 1971, which is credited to the breeder William H. Collins, from the Cole Nursery. It has long been appreciated for its abundant flowering, as well as its decorative fruits. It is a small tree with a fairly spreading habit and reaches a maximum height of 4 to 5 m (13 to 16ft) at maturity, with a spread of 3 to 4 m (10 to 13ft). After 10 years of planting, it will reach a height of 3 m (10ft) with a width of 2 m (7ft). Therefore, when planting, it is necessary to leave enough space for it, as its moderately fast growth.
In April-May, depending on location, beautiful single, fragrant flowers of about 3.5 cm (1in) in diameter appear, with 5 petals of pure white, with a protruding stamen heart at the yellow tip. Fragrant, they are also produce honey and attract bees and other pollinators. This particularly abundant flowering covers the entire tree, providing a superb spectacle in spring, which is only equalled by its autumn fruiting. From October, this crab apple tree bears a multitude of small spherical fruits, first orange, then turning red. Their colour and size, 12 to 15 mm (1in) in diameter, then resemble cherries. These decorative fruits persist until late winter, making it one of the best decorative fruit trees of this season.
'Red Jewel' proves to be very disease-resistant, being particularly resistant to cankers and showing only slight sensitivity to powdery mildew. It is very hardy, resisting temperatures down to at least -25°C.

The 'Red Jewel' crab apple tree is ideal for small gardens, planted as a specimen, on a lawn for example, where it will be as decorative in spring as in autumn and until winter. Integrated into a flower bed, it can be associated with other plants with a rustic appearance to create a natural scene, appreciated by local fauna, pollinators, and birds. Aronia melanocarpa, a medium-sized shrub with honey-producing white flowers in spring will be a good companion. In autumn, its foliage takes on beautiful colours and it produces black berries that are appreciated by birds and persist for a long time in winter. Plant with buckthorn, or Rhamnus frangula, is a shrub whose discreet flowers are forgiven by its red autumn colours and its decorative red and then black fruits, which birds enjoy. To benefit from decorative fruits earlier in the season, plant with Amelanchier Smoky which will give you black edible fruit from June-July, also usable in pastries and jams. It's not just birds that have the right to feast!