For taller options and non-tree planting schemes Contact us stating species, height/girth and delivery postcode.
Malus Royalty Crab Apple Size Options
150-200cm: Usually in a 12-20L pot and a half standard. 150-200cm tall.
Girth 8-10cm: Usually 200-250cm tall but can only guarantee girth. A delivery surcharge may apply (we will contact you asap if there is)
Girth 10-12cm: Usually 250-280cm tall but can only guarantee girth. A Delivery surcharge may apply (we will contact you asap if there is)
Malus Royalty Crab Apple. Click the link for Cheaper Bare Root Royalty Crab Apple.
The Royalty Crab apple has such distinctive characteristics that those folks at the RHS decided to get together in their garden huts and hold a meeting (the sort you need to know the handshake to get in through the door) and give it the RHS Award Of Garden Merit. We don't think the Royalty Crab apple exerted any undue financial influence to gain this award because as you can tell from the photographs it is quite the stunning tree and deserves the award.
With a weeping shape, very distinctive, purple-red leaves which turn red in late autumn and clusters of large, crimson-purple very fragrant flowers in mid to late spring the tree is unmistakably attention getting. The Royalty is listed in flowering group 4 which means it will flower later in the season compared to other crab apples of a lower number. These numbers are just a guide as UK location and weather conditions can move flowering periods.
The Glossy , very small dark-red edible Royalty crab apples which turn purple-black as they ripen can stay on the tree into the winter. This makes it a good choice for early winter colour and great food source for wildlife. Should you not want to cook or juice them, you can pretend that the apples are red tracer bullets as you throw them at unwanted pests in the garden. We of course refer to slugs, snails and the like, not your neighbours cat that is constantly using your greenhouse as a litter tray because that would be cruel despite the fact that it would learn its lesson very quickly and never return. No, that would be a very very bad thing to do and we don't suggest ever doing that.
Malus Royalty is listed as a small tree meaning it will grow to around 4m tall at 10 years old with a similar spread. Local soil and weather may mean it stays at that height or goes on to grow more, possibly 3 metres more. Either way, manual pruning will keep it to the height that you want. Speaking of pruning, Royalty crab apple does not require any pruning but may benefit from a thinning out from time to time to regenerate new growth. You would want to do this if you were after a particular shape or you felt that more foliage on an area of the tree would make the tree look better. Either way, cutting out diseased, dead or crossing over of branches is general good tree maintenance.
The Royalty crab apple is considered disease resistant which means when compared to other crab apples and not something you can hide behind when Ebola or flesh eating disease runs rampant through your community.
Malus Royalty is a good choice for a small, sunny or partially sunny garden, exposed or sheltered locations and like many other crab apples copes with road fumes and urban pollution. This also makes it a good choice for park, gardens and avenues (avenue as in straight line ornamental planting not the type of road you live on)
It shares some characteristics with gypsies in that you can put it on most types of soil and it will setup home although it is listed as being tolerant to clay.
The RHS list it as in hardiness zone 4 which means it will withstand temperatures as low as -34 C.
This tree is supplied at a height of between 1.5m and 2.0m in a 7-12 litre container, which means that the tree can be planted any time of the year.
Message card included at no additional cost if required. Just add the information required on the card at checkout.
Tree Jargon Explained
Half Standard: Around 80-100cm clear stem.
Standard: Around 180-200cm clear stem.
Feathered: Branches for most of the trunk/stem length.
Multi-Stem/Bush: Very little or no clear stem. Multiple branching starting low to the ground.
Rootball: Dug from the field with roots intact i.e. no pot.
Pot: Plastic container that the tree was grown in.
Maiden: 1 year tree that has not been pruned.
Pleached: Foliage a square/rectangle flat shape wired to a bamboo frame with some clear stem.
Screen: Same as pleached but much less/no clear stem.
Multiple Order Discount
Orders over £750 for 150cm+ trees might be discounted by ​​​​​​​contacting us
Ornamental Tree Roots In The Shade e.g. Behind A Fence
It is more important that that foliage (posh term for leaves) receives the sunlight than the roots. So if the canopy of your ornamental tree can sunbathe but the bottom of your tree thinks there has been a nuclear winter then that is ok. You might want to ensure you have good drainage as water and no sun is the start of algae and other such issues.
Early Autumn Leaf Fall
Heat stress, being potted, lack of water, being boxed up for a few days etc can cause early Autumn leaf fall. Once planted, normal service will resume next season.
Do I Need To Stake My Ornamental Tree?
9 out of 10 times the answer will be no, especially if under 200cm tall. However our article on Tree Staking should help guide you.
Climate Change
Climate Change has increased aesthetic foliage issues such as Powdery Mildew, Shothole, Rust, frost damage etc These are not terminal issues and will usually last a season or less. All trees are inspected before being sent out to ensure they are fundamentally healthy and will bounce back.
Planting In The Corner Of A Garden
Air and light is reduced in this location which could promote fungus and bacterial issues. If the corner is of the house and a fence then you also have leeching issues to contend with from cement and wood preservatives. Also when it rains, that area would experience higher water levels so we advise against it unless the plant is very hardy.
Mature Tree Warranty
Once a tree is over 3 years old, the failure rate is considerably less and our Tree Warranty does not cover it at 100%. Please check details.
Crab Apple Trees Listed As Good For Jelly
Laura, John Downie, Jelly King, Wisley, Pink Glow, Robusta, Dolgo, Butterball, Harry Baker and Red Obelisk.
Crab Apple Trees Listed As Patio
Any Crab apple tree listed as suitable for patio growing means that it has most likely been grafted onto an M27 rootstock giving it an ultimate height of around 1.5 metres.
Crab Apple Disease Resistance
Crab apple trees are generally resistant to disease but those that seem to be considerably less prone to problems are Admiration, Pink Glow, Wedding Bouquet, ButterBall, Cardinal, Comtesa De Paris, Elk River, Coralburst, Donald Wyman, Golden Gem, Gorgeous, Indian Magic, Jelly King, Louisa, Prairie Fire, Rudolf, Sun Rival, Tina, Scarlett, Transitoria, Guardsman and White Star.
Crab Apple Pollinators
Crab apples have long flowering periods which makes them very useful as pollination partners. Many commercial orchards inter-plant crab apples with normal apple trees to increase fruit yield. A crab apple is self fertile and will set fruit without the need of another apple tree nearby.
Crab Apple Drought Resistance
Generally speaking, Crab Apples tolerate drought reasonably well.
Sun Or Shade For Crab Apples
For best results from the flowers and fruits, a full sun position is preferred however light shade is acceptable. Excessive shade will lead to less flowers and fruits, a more open canopy and problems with Powdery Mildew. Shade and poor drainage is a good combination for bacterial and fungal issues.
Crab Apple Suckering
If your Crab Apple has been grafted (many are) then you may experience small green shoots growing out the side of the tree below the graft point (around 10-30cm above ground) Remove these by rubbing your hand across the bark or snapping off. These will not grow as the original tree you purchased.
Crab Apples With Long Lasting Fruits
For those wishing to feed the local wildlife well into Autumn and Winter, consider purchasing Comtessa De Paris , Red Sentinel and Toringo Scarlet. Other crab apple trees with almost as long lasting fruits include Admiration, Evereste, Wedding Bouquet and Rudolph
