Malus Apollo - Crab Apple

With its very narrow columnar shape, Malus 'Apollo' is an ideal ornamental apple tree for small gardens. In spring, it is covered with beautiful single flowers in a dark pink colour that highlight its sculptural habit. In autumn, it bears a multitude of decorative fruits in a reddish-brown shade. Its compactness allows it to be placed in any small-sized garden. Adaptable to the soil, very hardy, easy to grow, resistant to diseases, it is a particularly desirable shrub or small tree.

Apple trees belong to the large Rosaceae family. It includes many wild species from the countryside (rowan, blackthorn, wild rose), as well as fruit trees (apple trees, pear trees, cherry trees, apricot trees), and small fruits (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries). It also incldues ornamental gems, such as rose, queen of flowers, cotoneasters, pyracanthas, amelanchiers, and ornamental apple trees.

'Apollo' is a valuable variety for small spaces, due to its compact size. This apple tree forms a perfect column, which is particularly narrow. At maturity, its height can reach 4m (13ft), but its width will not exceed 60 to 80cm (24 to 31 in)! Its unique habit allows it to be planted in any plot, no matter how small. In spring, its young leaves appear tinged with purple before turning to a medium green. In April-May, it transforms into a flowering torch, covered with pretty single flowers with 5 petals, in a beautiful dark pink colour tending towards red. Appealing like sweet candies, these flowers are not fragrant, but will nonetheless delight bees. In autumn, a multitude of decorative fruits appear, in a slightly dark red colour, with shades of brown.

This beautiful flowering apple tree grows in all types of soils, preferably clayey and well-drained, and appreciates some moisture to grow well. A sunny exposure will promote its flowering. It does not require pruning, but its size can be further refined at the end of winter or after flowering.

'Apollo' is as surprising as it is decorative with its thread-like habit. To play with shapes as well as colours, plant Japanese Quince 'Hot Fire' alongside it, with its spreading habit, which can be pruned into a low cushion. Its stunning bright red flowering will precede 'Apollo's', while its fairly large green-yellow fruits will also be decorative. And to blur the boundaries, mix genres by associating it with dwarf fruit varieties. Fall for the Dwarf Pear Tree 'Garden Gem' with reddish fruits as big as "normal" pears, while this miniature tree can be kept at 1.5m (5ft) tall. The Dwarf Cherry Tree 'Garden Bing' will delight you with its bright red cherries in June, while the Dwarf Nectarine Tree 'Snow Baby' will enchant your taste buds in August!