Malus transitoria Appletini - Crab Apple

Malus 'Appletini' (synonym Gulliver) is an amazing variety of ornamental apple tree with superb pink spring flowering and decorative and delicious fruiting. It has a modest growth rate, perfectly suited to small spaces and container cultivation. Its small edible and sweet apples are the size of a ping-pong ball. They turn magenta and then bright red in autumn. It is a self-fertile apple tree, which does not require the presence of another apple tree to bear fruit.

Ornamental apple trees are derived from various botanical species of the genus Malus belonging to the Rosaceae family. Hardy, accommodating, and easy to grow, flowering apple trees thrive in ordinary soil but prefer friable, deep, loose and moist soil, and sunny exposures. Once established, they can withstand neglect while maintaining their generous nature. Numerous cultivars have been developed, in Europe as well as in the United States, becoming increasingly attractive and disease-resistant. 'Appletini' was recently selected in Pas-de-Calais by JP Hennebelle Nurseries. This cultivar is perfectly hardy.

Malus 'Appletini' is an elegant small tree, with an upright and narrow habit in its youth, but with a slightly spreading crown as it ages. Its average dimensions at maturity are around 3m (10ft) in height and 1.5m (5ft) in spread. It maintains a balanced shape without the need for pruning and develops smooth dark reddish-brown bark.

The abundant flowering takes place in April or May depending on the region, on bare branches or barely covered with very young leaves. It takes the form of numerous buds of intense fuchsia pink. They quickly open into single flowers, 4cm (2in) in diameter, ranging from bright pink to light pink or white-pink. These flowers, gathered in small clusters, are followed by the emergence of young leaves. The flowering is popular with bees. It is followed by the formation of numerous small edible apples measuring 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. When ripe in September-October, they are magenta pink and then bright red with pale-yellow flesh. If not eaten by birds, they remain on the branches for quite some time. You can eat them as they are or cook them. The deciduous foliage turns yellow in autumn before falling. It consists of ovate, alternate and dentate leaves.

Malus 'Appletini' finds its place in all gardens, even the smallest ones, as well as on a patio. Its abundant flowering is perhaps less long-lasting than that of a flowering cherry tree, but is extended by the beauty of its fruits. You can easily plant it with other fruit trees for small gardens. It also goes well with bush or shrub roses, lilacs, or deutzias. When space allows, ornamental apple trees planted in a large hedge on a slope bordering a sunken path, create a rather magical tableau in spring, as well as in autumn with their often sumptuous colours at the end of the season.