Malus 'Butterball'
crab apple 'Butterball'
A small, spreading crab apple tree with slightly drooping branches. In spring the foliage opens grey-green, and pink buds open to white flowers flushed with pink. The fruit is 2-3cm across, yellow-orange with a red flush
Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
4–8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink | Grey Silver Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | Orange Red Yellow | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Spreading branched
- 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
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
- Patio and container plants
- City and courtyard gardens
- Wildlife gardens
- Low Maintenance
Pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, including woolly aphid and rosy apple aphid, fruit tree red spider mite, codling moth and other caterpillars
Diseases
May be susceptible to apple canker, apple scab, blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, honey fungus and powdery mildews
Get involved
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