Malus Royal Beauty - Crab Apple

Malus 'Royal Beauty' is a particularly desirable weeping ornamental apple variety. Its naturally trailing habit forms a beautiful scene in spring when a large number of pretty single flowers appear in an intense dark pink colour. The young foliage, purple at this time of year, then changes to a dark red mixed with green in summer. Autumn is the second highlight, when the foliage takes on yellow-bronze tones and the branches bear numerous small dark red fruits clustered together. Hardy, this small flowering apple tree grows in the sun and adapts to most soils.

The ornamental apple trees come from various botanical species of the genus Malus belonging to the large botanical family Rosaceae. This family provides us with most of our temperate climate fruit trees (apple trees, pear trees, plum trees, apricot trees, peach trees, etc.) but also many ornamental plants (hawthorn, cotoneaster, rose of course, photinia, prunus...) as well as numerous wild plants that brighten up our countryside. Hardy, accommodating and easy to grow, flowering apple trees are content with ordinary soil, but prefer loamy, deep, loose and moist soils and a sunny exposure. Once established, they are low maintenance while retaining their generous character. Many cultivars have been developed, both in Europe and the United States, each bringing their own touch of uniqueness.

This flowering apple tree 'Royal Beauty' forms a small tree of modest dimensions, reaching a height of 3m (10ft) and a width of 2m (7ft) after 10 years, and at maturity (around 20 years) 4m (13ft) x 3m (10ft). Its irregular crown naturally forms a well-rounded dome, from which slender weeping branches fall to the ground. In spring, these dark purple branches produce young bronze-purple leaves, which turn to a dark red with a touch of green in summer. They are elliptical to almost lanceolate in shape, with an acuminate tip, and are of medium size, carried by medium-sized petioles. From April to May, dark pink flower buds open to reveal pretty single flowers in a deep pink colour, slightly tending towards red or purple. This extremely abundant flowering completely covers the tree, attracting attention from metres away. The flowering, visited by bees, is followed by the formation of numerous small dark red apples resembling cherry clusters. These persist on the tree until winter, after the leaves have fallen, providing food for birds. The foliage takes on a beautiful yellow-bronze colour in autumn before falling.

Malus 'Royal Beauty' is perfectly suited to small urban gardens, where it adds a touch of uniqueness without taking up too much space. It can be planted as a specimen on a lawn, or added into a bed surrounded by low plants and perennials or creeping bushes to highlight its shape. A low shrubby potentilla like Potentilla fruticosa Creamissima with very pale yellow flowers from May to September would be a good companion in a low bed. Weigela Picobella Bianco, a dwarf variety with long white flowering, can also be planted at the base of your small weeping crap apple tree, as well as thePhiladelphus Little White Love, a dwarf mock orange with highly fragrant white flowers.