Malus 'Evereste'
You can find this crab apple, with branches burdened with shiny red fruits, in the Fruit Garden Field and on the Plant Centre Bank at Rosemoor.
Vital statistics
- Common name
- Crab apple 'Evereste'
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Height & spread
- 7m (22ft) x 6m (20ft)
- Form
- Conical, deciduous tree
- Soil
- Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- Full sun or partial shade
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy
Malus
A genus of about 35 species of deciduous trees and shrubs found in woodlands and thickets throughout northern temperate regions. The leaves are alternate, oval to ovate or elliptic, mostly toothed. In spring they produce fragrant flowers typically 2-5cm across, usually shallowly cup-shaped, singly or in umbel-like corymbs. The flowers are followed by edible fruits, although some need cooking to be palatable.
The name Malus is from the Greek melon, and is applied to tree fruits with a fleshy exterior.
Crab apples are ideal specimen trees for small gardens.
The fruit flavour improves considerably if the fruit is not harvested until it has been frosted. The fruit is quite variable in size (about 2-4cm in diameter) and quality. Whilst usually harsh and acid, some cultivars are quite sweet and can be eaten raw.
The fruit is rich in pectin and can be used in helping other fruits to set when making jam. Pectin is also said to protect the body against radiation.
It is one of the parents of the cultivated apple and is often used as a rootstock.
Malus 'Evereste'
Malus 'Evereste' is a conical tree with dark green, often lobed leaves, 8-11cm (3-4in) long. The flowers are freely borne, 5cm (2in) across, red in bud but open white. It is an excellent tree for spring blossom. The flowers are followed by red-orange-yellow fruit 2.5cm (1in) across.
It grows to a height of 7m (22ft), and spread of 6m (20ft).
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile moist but well-drained soil in full sun, although partial shade is tolerated.
Minimal pruning is needed in late winter or early spring, when the tree is dormant. Remove damaged, wayward or crossing shoots.
Aphids, red spider mites, caterpillars, apple scab, honey fungus, canker, fireblight and mildew may cause problems.
Propagation
Sow seed in a seedbed in autumn as soon as it is ripe, and it should germinate in late winter, though cultivars will not come true to type.
Bud in late summer. Graft in midwinter.
AGM
The RHS Woody Plant Committee awarded Malus ‘Evereste’ an Award of Garden Merit and described it as a:
"Small deciduous tree, broadly conical in outline, with more or less lobed leaves. Flowers 5cm wide, white, opening from red buds; fruit to 2.5cm long, yellowish-orange."