Malus florentina

RHS Plant Profile

hawthorn-leaved crab apple

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Other common names

Florentine crab apple

Synonyms

× Malosorbus florentina
Pyrus crataegifolia
Malus crataegifolia
Crataegus × florentina

Trees

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A small tree to 6m with a rounded crown and distinctive, lobed and toothed leaves with a woolly underside, turning orange and scarlet in autumn. Flat, pure white flowers in mid- to late spring are followed by small, egg-shaped, reddish-green fruit 1cm across, on long stalks

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: 4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched
Potentially harmful: Although generally edible when cooked, seeds contain toxins so these should be removed if you are considering eating the fruitusually grown as an ornamental shrub. see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Malus are small to medium-sized deciduous trees with showy flowers in spring and ornamental or edible fruit in autumn; some have good autumn foliage colour
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: S Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best in moderately fertile soil in a sunny position

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in a seedbed in autumn, or by budding in late summer or grafting in mid-winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, including woolly aphid, fruit tree red spider mite and caterpillars

Diseases

May be susceptible to apple canker, apple scab, blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, honey fungus and powdery mildews