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Fruit EdibleTrees

Malus × hartwigii 'Katherine'

crab apple 'Katherine'

An upright tree with a rounded habit and dark green foliage. Pink buds open to masses of semi-double pale pink flowers which mature to white, followed yellow-green crab-apple fruits flushed with red in autumn which may persist into winter. Established trees have some tolerance to drought. Good resistance to scab and fireblight

Synonyms

Malus 'Katherine'

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Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

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)

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 fruit, usually 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: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile soil in a sunny position; will tolerate partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by chip budding in late summer. Grafting can be carried out in midwinter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance
Edible fruit

Pruning

Pruning group 1. Requires minimal pruning in late winter to remove dead, damaged or diseased wood. Avoid pruning in spring as fresh cuts can introduce fireblight

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, woolly aphid, fruit tree red spider mite and caterpillars may be a problem

Diseases

May be susceptible to apple canker, powdery mildews and honey fungus

Get involved

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