home · Measurements · What variety of apples blooms bright pink. Decorative apple trees in landscape design: varieties, description and care. Varieties of ornamental apple trees Ola and Helena

What variety of apples blooms bright pink. Decorative apple trees in landscape design: varieties, description and care. Varieties of ornamental apple trees Ola and Helena

The flowering of ornamental apple trees will not leave anyone indifferent, but until recently ornamental varieties and species were very rare in the area. garden plots. Only in last years everything began to change - this crop appeared on sale, but there is still a lack of information about the varieties and suitability for the conditions of our country.

Ornamental apple trees, in the spring, during flowering, and it depends on the variety and certain conditions and can last about 2 weeks. But even before that, the trees covered with buds are very beautiful. Therefore, ornamental apple trees have been delighting us with their spring beauty for almost a month.

Ornamental apple tree flowers

From August the trees look attractive thanks to their ripening fruits. The fruits of varieties of ornamental apple trees are elegant and plentiful, but, as a rule, small and almost inedible.

But there are varieties with pleasant-tasting and slightly large fruits, for example, apple tree “Ola”, “Golden Hornet”, “Makamik”. Decorative apples sometimes retain their decorative properties until frost, or better yet, until the thaw follows.

Some fruits are beautiful and winter period. They entice birds and, together with the fruits of hawthorn and rowan, form the basis of the diet of waxwings and bullfinches that decorate the winter garden. Often, florists use branches with apple fruits in arrangements.

The decorative apple tree is beautiful in a single planting, or in groups planted in an alley. Some, such as apple berry, can be used for hedges. Very interesting are decorative apple trees grown in the form of cordons, trellises, and garden bonsai.

The apple tree includes 50 species, common in subtropical and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. There are currently more than 190 decorative varieties. They differ in the shape and size of the crown, coloring of foliage, shape, size of fruits and flowers.

Cultivation of ornamental apple trees is almost no different from traditional cultivation, but unlike fruit apple trees, they will forgive you some sins when planting and caring for them. But it's better to do everything right.

Caring for ornamental apple trees

When buying a seedling with an open root system, make sure there are no signs of overdrying. Bare root seedlings should be placed in water for 1 hour before planting. Gently spread the roots of the seedling in the planting hole, compact the soil and water. The root collar should not be allowed to deepen.

Mulching is useful, for example with pine bark, high-moor peat, walnut shells, and wood chips. A layer of mulch protects the soil from drying out and reduces the effort of loosening, watering, and weeding.

For ornamental apple trees, rich, well-drained soils in sunny or slightly shaded areas are preferred. After planting in the first year, there is no need to feed the seedling.

In the future, if you want to have a well-developed, lushly flowering and fruit-bearing tree, you need to apply plant fertilizers with the same content of basic substances.

Unfortunately, ornamental apple trees are subject to the same diseases as fruit apple trees, but to a lesser extent. Of these, the most common are scab, burn and powdery mildew.

Pay attention to the disease - burn, caused by the bacteria Erwinia amylovora. Apple trees affected by fruit blight cannot be cured and must be destroyed. The causative agent of the disease is a quarantine object. There is a whole system for controlling the spread of this disease. Plants should not be removed from areas where manifestations of this disease have been observed.

The most effective fight against fruit tree blight and powdery mildew is the use of varieties that are not susceptible to these diseases.

Decorative apple tree "Adirondack"

The vertical crown is similar in structure to columnar apple trees. Abundant flowering. The buds are pink, the flowers of this apple tree are white and large. The foliage is green. The fruits are orange-red.

Decorative apple tree Golden Hornet

Rounded crown. The buds of this decorative apple tree are purple-pink, the flowers are pink with a snow-white edge. The foliage is green. The fruits are rich yellow, abundant and tasty. Stored until frost. A very popular variety.

Decorative apple tree Makamik

Rounded crown. Dark red buds, dark pink flowers, large, single or semi-double. The fruits of the Makamik apple tree are purple-red. Young leaves are red, then become dark green.

Decorative apple tree “Ola”

Round-vertical crown. The flowers are pink and large. The foliage is bronze-red in spring and bronze-green in summer. The fruits of this apple tree are purple-pink. It is one of the most beautiful modern varieties.

Decorative apple tree “Royal Beauty”

Weeping crown. The flowers are dark pink. The foliage is bronze-red. The fruits of this apple tree are red and do not fall for a long time. The most beautiful variety with a weeping crown.

Decorative apple tree Royalty

Wide oval crown. Purple flowers. The fruits are also purple, 1.5 cm in diameter. The leaves are purple-red in spring and red-green in summer. The most common variety.

Decorative apple tree Liset

The crown of the Liset apple tree is rounded. Brownish buds. The flowers are purple-pinkish with a light edge. The fruits are small, purple-brown. Throughout the summer, the leaves are purple with a bronze tint.

Decorative apple tree Professor Sprenger

The crown is broadly pyramidal or rounded. Dark pink buds, snow-white flowers. The fruits are orange-yellow and remain on the branches for a long time. The leaves are green, with a yellow edge in autumn.

Decorative apple tree berry

Unpretentious species, used as a rootstock. Rounded crown or slightly vertical. The fragrant flowers are white. The foliage is green. The fruits are bright red. Sometimes it grows as a bush.

There are about 50 species and more than 190 cultivated varieties of ornamental apple trees.

Ornamental apple trees are unpretentious to their growing conditions. Planting a decorative apple tree with red leaves is considered especially chic. This plant allows you to create bright accents and decorate even shady corners of the garden.

In cultivation it is a low tree, which rarely reaches 10 meters at the top of its crown. Ornamental apple trees can also be shrubby forms of the crop. In the absence of pruning, the crown is formed in the form of an irregular oval or ball.

Some varieties can bear fruit successfully, but the fruits do not have pleasant organoleptic properties.

The color of the bark of the stem part can vary from pastel gray to rich brown. When choosing a variety of ornamental apple tree, the shape and color of the leaf blade deserves special attention. Some species are presented with a red color and a long period of not falling leaves in the autumn. This allows you to create magnificent landscapes even with a poor soil mixture and unfavorable weather conditions.

Most varieties of ornamental apple trees have dense foliage of a rich green color, which transforms into a yellow and red riot of colors only in late August - early September. The average length of an ellipsoid or plum-shaped leaf is 100 mm.

During the flowering period, the entire crown is densely covered with fragrant flowers, which can reach a diameter of 40 mm. The main color is white, which can have various shades of pink, peach, Ivory etc. Single flowers are collected into bouquets of inflorescences using stalks.

Fruit formation begins immediately after flowering. In the center of each flower there is a receptacle, which gradually grows and fills with pulp. The outer color of the fruit is first green, then, as it ripens, it changes to yellow and red.

These trees have fantastic resistance to adverse environmental factors. This is a frost-resistant crop that grows successfully even in the northern regions of our country.

Planting ornamental apple trees

It is best to plant such apple trees in the spring, before the first buds appear, or in the fall, in September and the first half of October. Young seedlings up to 4 years old can be planted in both spring and autumn, but older ones, which do not adapt well to a new place, can only be planted in autumn.

Particular attention should be paid to the distance to neighboring plants. For ornamental apple trees, it is necessary to provide a lot of free space; they should not grow in close proximity to large plants. For each plant, you need to leave as much space as its crown will spread in adulthood: the diameter of a tree of a particular variety should be the main guideline. The classic option is an area of ​​about 5-6 m (respectively, a distance of 2-3 m to neighboring crops).

For ornamental apple trees, you need to dig large planting holes in advance, better in autumn the previous year or at least 1 month before planting. The diameter of the planting hole is about 80 cm and the depth is about 1 m - perfect option. The soil removed from the holes must be replaced with a special substrate. TO leaf ground mix in a two-fold portion of sand and a three-fold portion of humus. If possible, 250-300 g of complete mineral fertilizer is mixed into the soil. Without pre-planting improvement, apple trees will take a long time to take root and will take a lot of time to achieve the desired size. The planting depth is similar to all apple trees: the root collar should be 5-10 cm above the ground level.

Caring for ornamental apple trees and pest control

Apple trees need fertile, well-drained soil. The planting site should be located in the sun; heavily shaded areas are not suitable for these trees. Moderate watering is required; water stagnation should not be allowed. It is recommended to mulch decorative apple trees. Peat, sawdust, conifer bark, and nut shells are suitable for this.

In the spring, it is necessary to carry out disease prevention and spray the trees with insecticides.

If you do not plan to eat the fruits of ornamental apple trees, you can destroy pests during flowering and fruiting. However, it is still not recommended to do this if there may be children on the site, who are often attracted by delicious small apples. The fruits also serve as food for birds, which may be harmed by the toxins. Therefore, in order to avoid poisoning by toxic substances, pest control of ornamental apple trees with chemicals is carried out before the beginning of the growing season.

Ornamental apple trees, like fruit trees, are most susceptible to scab, powdery mildew, and bacteria that cause a disease known as blight. If a burn occurs, the tree must be destroyed, as it dangerous disease quickly and actively spreads throughout the garden.

Propagation of ornamental apple trees

Ornamental types of apple trees can be propagated by seeds. They are sown immediately after harvest in early autumn or after stratification for 1.5-2 months at the end of autumn.

Only rare species and varietal apple trees with improved characteristics that are not transmitted by seed, they are propagated exclusively by grafting.

Cuttings are not the most productive, but acceptable method. For most apple trees, the survival rate does not exceed 5-15%, even when treated with growth stimulants.

Varieties of ornamental apple trees

Ornamental floribunda apple tree (Malus floribunda)

Luxurious Japanese apple tree - apple tree (Malus floribunda). Suitable for small cottages, because... it is up to 4 m high. It is often a shrub with outstretched, sometimes prickly branches and ovoid dark green leaves, 4-8 cm long. The flowers are very abundant, carmine-red in buds, pale pink after blooming, 2.5- in diameter 3.0 cm, in bunches of 4-7 on purple pedicels; bloom in May. The fruits are spherical, small, 1-2 cm in diameter, reddish-yellow; ripen in September. One of the most decorative apple trees.

Ornamental Pallas apple tree (Malus pallasiana)

The snow-white beauty is the Pallas apple tree, or Siberian apple tree (Malus pallasiana) - a tree up to 3-5 m high or a shrub with a rounded crown. The leaves are ovate, 2.5-8 cm long. The flowers are white on long pedicels, 2-3.5 cm in diameter, 4-8 in umbellate inflorescences; bloom in May-June. The fruits are spherical, yellow with a red tint, up to 1 cm in diameter; ripen in September. Homeland: Eastern Siberia, Far East, Northern China, Mongolia.

Sargent's decorative apple tree(Malus sargentii)

A modest Japanese beauty, the Sargent apple tree (Malus sargentii) is a shrub 1 to 3 m high with horizontally spread branches, often with thorns. The leaves are ovate, often three-lobed, 5-8 cm long, dark green, orange and yellow in autumn. The flowers are white, on bare stalks, 5-6 in bunches; bloom in May. The fruits are almost spherical, about 1 cm in diameter, dark red with a waxy coating; ripen in September. Decorative during flowering and fruiting.

Decorative plum-leaved or Chinese apple tree (Malus prunifolia)

This is a tree or shrub up to 10 m high with pubescent young shoots. The leaves are ovate, 5-10 cm long, dark green, slightly shiny, yellow or bronze in autumn. The flowers are large, 3 cm in diameter, white, 5-10 in umbellate inflorescences; bloom in May. The fruits are spherical, up to 2-3 cm in diameter on long stalks, yellow or red, sour, edible apples (paradise); They ripen in September and do not fall off for a long time. Decorative during flowering and fruiting. Resistant to fungal diseases. Homeland: Northeast China.

Decorative apple tree Tsumi (Malus x zumi)

Apple tree Tsumi ( Malus X zumi) - possibly a hybrid of the Manchurian variety of berry apple and Siebold. A small tree with a dense, spherical crown up to 6 (12) m high. The leaves are oblong-ovate on long shoots, noticeably lobed, 4-9 cm long. The flowers are numerous, 2.5-3 cm in diameter, pink in buds, open white ; bloom in May-June. The fruits are spherical, red, about 1 cm in diameter; ripen in September. Decorative during flowering and fruiting.

Ornamental Scheidecker apple tree (Malus Scheideckeri)

Scheidecker apple tree (Malus Scheideckeri) is a low tree up to 3.5 m high, with a dark brown trunk and fissured bark. The branches are light brown with an orange tint and light lentils. The leaves are oval, sharp-toothed, dark green. The flowers are pale pink, semi-double, up to 3.5 cm in diameter, dark pink in buds. The fruits are round or elongated-ovoid, bright yellow. Its decorative form "Red Jade" (red fruits) is interesting.

Ornamental apple tree Weeping or riverside

It was introduced into selection in an almost unchanged, wild form. In nature, it is found almost everywhere on the North American continent. With proper care, it grows up to 12 meters in height and has long flexible branches, which bend towards the ground during the growth of leaf mass and ripening of fruits. That is why this decorative apple tree received the name “Weeping”. It will grow well in all regions of our country, since it is not afraid of even severe frosts due to the dense layer of bark.

Ornamental apple tree Ola (Malus hybridus Ola)

The low ornamental apple tree of the Ola variety was bred in Poland. She prefers moist and moderate wet soils. Blooms profusely in sunny places, tolerates partial shade. Due to the fact that the plant does not grow higher than 5 meters, it is used for decorative landscaping in gardens and residential areas. The unusually elegant, openwork crown of the tree in spring is covered with a cap of large pink flowers and exudes a wonderful aroma.

Decorative apple tree of Makovetsky district

A tree or bush with a smooth, spherical crown up to 2 m in diameter and burgundy-colored branches. The leaves are red when blooming and gradually acquire a dark green color with a burgundy tint. Blooms in July with large bright red flowers. The fruits are bright red and edible. Light-loving. Prefers moist and fertile soils. Resistant to diseases. Highly winter-hardy.

No one passes by the blooming ranetki indifferently. Especially if their color is even slightly different from white.

How and where they are planted:

  • Public parks and places in populated areas;
  • Beautiful alleys of such apple trees.
    Especially during the flowering period and with a variety of small fruits:
  • More and more of them can be found in individual private areas with a vast territory:
    • One by one;
    • Group;
    • Combined and complex.

  • And they try to choose crown shapes that are more attractive for them. As:
    • trellis;
    • cordons;
    • garden bonsai.
  • These apple trees are planted in most cases to decorate areas;
  • The fruits of these apple trees are not of particular interest:
    • They are even very small in size;
    • And many will not even suit the taste;
    • Their abundance attracts birds more. Especially in winter time;
    • But there are varieties suitable for consumption and processing. Compotes and jams pleasantly surprise with their taste and aroma. And they even look original;
  • Here some edible varieties:
    • Ola;
    • Makamik;
    • Golden Hornet;
    • Long (Long);
    • Makowieckiana;
    • Pioneer.

There is plenty to choose from. About 200 are already known. More species than in Russia, only in China:

  • The size of the crown and its shape in the form of a ball or umbrella;
  • Leaf color;
  • Color, size, shape of fruits;
  • And what a variety of flowers;
  • These apple trees attract not only people with their abundant and fragrant blossoms. But also insects. They are good pollinators for the garden.

You have heard about some varieties of such apple trees:

  • Lesnaya;
  • Plum leaf or Chinese;
  • Abundantly flowering;
  • Wonderful. It has been cultivated for more than six thousand years in Japan and China. There are facts about eight thousand years;
  • Manchurian.

Let's look at the most famous and popular ones. Or maybe original. You will immediately understand what these decorative apple trees are.

Varieties of ornamental apple trees

Nedzvetsky apple tree (Red Kuldzhinka)

  • In the Trans-Ili Alatau in the nineteenth century, this apple tree was noticed by a famous Russian botanist. And named after him;
  • Tree with a round shape may have different heights. Starting from 3 meters and up to six;
  • In spring, the leaves acquire a reddish-brown color. In summer they take on a different color. Already dark purple. Including Bottom part leaves;
  • The pedicels are long. How the tassels are placed on them large flowers also with purple-crimson tones.

Niedzwiecki apple tree.

Please note:

  • Apple trees begin to bloom in May. Most often this is after the 12-15th. Or maybe at the beginning of June. How is the weather. And what region;
  • In the second half of August, the apples are already ripe. Stable yields after ten years. The color is difficult to describe. And purple. And dark red. And the inside is pinkish.

Has everything to use in breeding:

  • Resistance to frost, drought, disease;
  • Unpretentiousness in cultivation;
  • Its best qualities were inherited by hybrids:
    • Nikolina;
    • Lemoine;
    • Ellie.

You can find out more about the Niedzwiecki apple tree here.

Sargentii

  • Japanese apple tree. Its homeland is the mountainous regions of Japan. In Europe since the end of the 19th century;
  • Low shrub. Height – up to 2 meters, crown width – up to 3 meters;
  • Green in spring, the leaves turn orange-yellow in autumn;
  • This beautiful bloom is observed in May for almost two weeks;
  • Dark red round fruits in September, even the ripe ones are not surprising in size - only about 1 cm in diameter. The stalks are elongated. Apples have a waxy coating. They remain on the tree for a long time;
  • Apple trees grow and bear fruit to a mature age. And 50 years is not the limit for them. When leaving;
  • Select and plant on fertile soils;
  • And he loves the sun.

Sargent.

Royalty

  • Hybrid. Purple apple trees;
  • She, in turn, has roots from the Niedzwiecki apple tree;
  • Trees in an ornamental environment quite low - only 5-6 meters in height;
  • And the crown width is up to 5 meters;
  • They can also be in the form of a bush;
  • With red leaves and flowers;
  • Original oval dark purple leaves. They turn red in autumn;

Attention! Very compact when young. Mature trees are spreading. Need

formative pruning

  • Application:
    • Parks, alleys and squares;
    • Private houses have become increasingly common in recent years;
    • Less in summer cottages.
  • They bloom for almost two weeks in May. Large ruby-colored or raspberry-red flowers fill everything around with aroma;
  • The fruits are small. Not suitable for consumption;
  • Frost resistance and drought resistance allow planting in many regions;
  • Carry out preventive treatments against diseases and pests. After all, this is an apple tree. And she needs attention and care.

You will learn more about the Royalty variety from this article.

Rudolf

  • The height of the rounded apple trees does not exceed 6 meters. Usually about five meters. But the crown becomes more spreading in mature trees;
  • Large white and pink flowers completely cover leaves and branches;
  • Yellow fruits reach even 3 cm in diameter;
  • But to eat or not to eat? Better in canned form;
  • They don't fall off for a long time. Plant in full sun and fertile soil.

Please note:

  • Perform regular pruning;
  • Not only sanitary;
  • Formative also;
  • And it's better in early spring. Maintenance only makes the trees more attractive. And their winter hardiness increases.

Read more about the Rudolph apple tree in this article.

Ola

  • Both the height of the tree and the width of its crown do not exceed 5 meters;
  • The leaves attract attention. Especially the purple tint is shiny and green in color;
  • They delight others with their blossoms in May. Stands with very beautiful large pink flowers. Completely a ball of this color;
  • The fruits are about 3 cm in diameter. Crimson red, they do not fall from the tree for a long time.

Remember! The tasty fruits are very suitable for consumption. Especially for jams and compotes.

Before planting, consider:

  • Can you provide fertile soil? Well fertilized and constantly moistened;
  • Perform regular spring pruning;
  • Treat systematically against diseases and pests.

The sun loves. But even in partial shade it feels confident. As with frosts and winds.

You can find out more about the Ola apple tree here.

Helena

  • A distinctive feature of this variety is their slight height. No more than 4 meters it can grow. Even with good care and feeding;
  • Dark pink leaves not large. Up to 7 cm;
  • Large purple flowers They begin to bloom even in April. But more often in May;
  • Red fruits grow to small sizes. Edible with a sweet and sour taste. And fragrant;
  • It takes root well and grows even in areas with harsh climates. Its ability to withstand diseases, frosts and droughts allows this.

Makamic

  • Tall trees (up to 6-7 meters not uncommon) with a thick crown shaped like a tent;
  • The oval leaves change color from purple when they bloom to dark green;
  • Very beautiful purple flowers. Even with terry;
  • The fruits are red in color. Even 2.5 cm in diameter;
  • Gardeners prefer planting in spring in well-fertilized planting holes in lighted places;
  • And they suggest feeding:
    • In spring, nitrogen fertilizers;
    • In autumn - better with phosphorus and potassium;
    • Can be combined with watering.
  • Can cope with diseases. With your help;
  • Carry out formative spring pruning. And remove damaged ones;
  • Protect from rodents during the winter.

Royal Beauty

  • A very successful fast-growing hybrid;
  • It grows up to 3 meters. And the crown does not exceed 2 meters;
  • Blooms for about two weeks in early May. Dark red buds turn into large and fragrant crimson flowers;
  • Many designers prefer it in landscape design because of drooping, as if weeping branches. And it’s worth it - more than 500 rubles per seedling;
  • If the crown is not regularly trimmed, it takes on an oval or spherical appearance;
  • The glossy foliage is purple in spring, becoming a rich crimson color in autumn.

Remember! The fruits are not for eating. For beauty.

Royal Beauty.

Read more information about the Royal Beauty apple tree in this article.

Yagodnaya (Siberian)

  • Globular crown. It may also be bushy. If you form it properly. Or you will forget to look after her;
  • Grows in various conditions;
  • They take root better in sunny places. And in well-drained soil. And in shaded areas;
  • Therefore, gardeners very often use it as a rootstock for grafting. More valuable varieties;
  • White flowers smell throughout the whole area;
  • The fruits are a pleasure to look at. Variety of colors - Orange and red. And yellow ones.
  • The color depends on the variety. Their size is only 5-10 mm in diameter;
  • The agricultural technology responds to good views, abundant flowering, and many small apples;
  • Its varieties (or forms) are well known:
    • Graceful;
    • Yellow bordered;
    • Pink terry.

You can find out more about the Yagodnaya apple tree here.

Everest

  • Grows up to almost 6 meters. This is the size of the crown shape. Round and spreading;
  • Pink stripes are noticeable on the edges of white flowers. Quite large - up to 3.5 cm in diameter;
  • The ovoid, dark green leaves have a matte tint;
  • The fruits are slightly flattened. With a red-orange color. They grow up to 3 cm in diameter.
  • The barely noticeable gray-blue stripe attracts everyone's attention;
  • Thin stalks of the same length;
  • Combined plantings are very common. Near tall trees. They are also used as a hedge. In the form of trellises.

Profusion

  • Tall tree up to 6 meters. Crown diameter - up to 5 meters;
  • Young dark red leaves turn green-brownish in summer. And in the fall they are already amber-brown;
  • The sizes of multi-colored flowers and buds always attract attention:
    • Bright red;
    • Lilac-violet;
    • Pinkish-red;
    • They fill everything around with aroma.
  • Small apples (up to 1.5 cm in diameter) remain on trees for a long time;
    Even in winter. A good treat for birds;
  • Plant where the sun dominates. And in groups with other ornamental plants and flowers;
  • Designed for city alleys and parks;
  • Withstands frosts;
  • Loamy fertile soils are more suitable. With watering.

Prof.

Golden Hornet

  • A well-established and long-established variety. Received in 1949 in England;
  • The crown is impressive and beautiful. Height and width up to 6 meters. It can also be a multi-stemmed bush;
  • The buds are purple-pink. The flowers are pink with a white border. Flowering occurs in May;
  • Large yellow fruits for this species– up to 3 cm in diameter. Make a note to yourself. Suitable for consumption and processing;
  • They remain on the tree even until frost;

Please note! Young shoots may freeze. Timely and systematic agricultural techniques will contribute to good winter hardiness.

  • Quite often asked in nurseries. But the price of a 2-year-old seedling is... 2500 rubles.

Golden Hornet.

Long (Long, Chinese, Plum-leaved)

  • This variety cannot be ignored;
  • American variety, and the roots are Siberian;
  • Zoned in the Siberian regions, North-West;
  • Elongated fruit shape gave the name to the variety;
  • Pyramidal, if you want a vertical crown;
  • Dark green large leaves and white flowers;
  • AND a lot of apples. Not large - even more than 3 cm in diameter. They even weigh -20-25 grams. But a lot. Red ovoid fruits. They are confused with plums;
  • Ripen at the end of August. They can lie there for twenty days;
  • The main purpose is decorative and processing into compotes and preserves. You can collect 200 kg of apples from one tree;
  • It is listed in the price lists of nurseries on a par with the famous large apples.

Prairie Fire (Prairie Lights)

  • The crown diameter can be up to 5 meters;
  • The purple color of the foliage changes to red-green. By autumn;
  • The purple-red-green flowers are unique;
  • And they also surprise red-brown bark and dark red fruits. Even up to 5 cm in diameter.
  • Preserved on the tree in winter;
  • Particularly popular in Canada and New Zealand. Its popularity is growing here too. High resistance to scab – one of the arguments in favor of this variety.

Prairie Fire.

Robin

  • This variety has Baltic roots. The result of crossing Siberian berry and Nedzvetsky. In natural conditions;
  • A medium-sized tree with a dense spherical crown. Its height can be up to 6 meters;
  • The raspberry-colored fruits and aroma give the variety its name;
  • The rounded leaves are green with redness only in autumn. And from spring and summer purple in color;
  • Small for regular apples, large for decorative ones. The shape is difficult to determine. But about 3 cm in diameter. In huge quantities. With raspberry flavor;
  • Very good for making compotes;
  • Tree care is normal;
  • It bears fruit already in the 4th year.

Robin.

Useful photos and videos

Decorative apple tree in a park area.

Decorative apple tree at a summer cottage.

Watch a video about decorative apple trees:

Watch a video about the features of caring for an ornamental apple tree:

Watch a video about the use of ornamental apple trees in landscape design:

Watch a video about pruning ornamental apple trees:

Conclusion

  • Nowadays, more than ever, a lot of attention is paid to the design of squares, parks, public gardens, and streets;
  • And the territories of private houses. To which the name estate is more suitable. It's not about the apples and their taste;
  • Diversity decorative apples can suggest you a variety of options;
  • And there are plenty of beautiful types of trees with pink flowers.

Advice! When purchasing, be careful and picky. The photo and description do not always correspond to the variety you are interested in. Good luck!

Don’t know how to decorate your garden and have already gone through all the unusual plants? Decorative apple tree in design suburban area will become a real find, while remaining undemanding in terms of care and placement.

All the apple trees, both varietal and wild, bloom mesmerizingly, but this miracle does not last long, and then ordinary, unremarkable trees remain on the site. Of course, ripe apples are also decorative, but they only decorate trees for a couple of weeks. Ornamental apple trees are the same thing - in the spring their flowering lasts for 2 weeks, in the summer they delight with bright leaves, and in the fall and winter they are strewn with small apples that stay on the branches for a long time and withstand bad weather.

How to plant a decorative apple tree

Ornamental apple trees are not capricious, take root well in most soils and do not require special skills from the gardener. Their only “wish” is a well-lit area. It is in the sun that they decorative qualities are manifested to the maximum, and you get not just a simple tree, but the pride of the entire garden.

Of course, ornamental apple trees prefer light, fertile soils, but they also grow in acidified and depleted soils. They even tolerate planting well in unfavorable urban environments and will probably not take root only on rocky soil or bare sand.

The root system of ornamental apple trees is superficial, so they grow even in areas with close groundwater, although they do not achieve the declared growth. Because of their spreading crown, it is better to plant apple trees separately from flower beds, in individual plantings or in groups with shade-tolerant plants. Young apple trees bend easily and tolerate pruning, so they can be formed into a tree of any shape, a hedge, or even put on a trellis.

Otherwise, a decorative apple tree is planted in the same way as an ordinary one.

    Planting an apple tree: how to plant a seedling correctly (photo, video)

    Everything you need to know about “proper” planting of an apple tree.

Caring for an ornamental apple tree

A frost- and drought-resistant apple tree, properly planted in a lighted place, will require a minimum of effort from you. You will only have to think about it 3 times a year, unless, of course, you try to model something special from its crown.

In spring, it is advisable to feed the ornamental apple tree with complex mineral fertilizer (superphosphate, ammophosphate, nitroammophoska, 15-30 g per tree). In summer you need to water the tree at least once a month, and in dry weather it is better every 2-3 weeks. And finally, in the fall, moisture-recharging watering and sanitary pruning should be carried out, removing diseased and dried branches.

The apple tree reacts calmly to pruning, quickly healing wounds and coming to its senses, but even in the complete absence of pruning it also does not suffer. Thickening of the crown does not threaten it, because it only makes it more decorative.

Types and varieties of decorative apple trees

There are ornamental apple trees all over the world, but not all of them are suitable for growing in our climate. Of course, fragile Asian beauties can also take root in the south of Russia, but it is better to choose adapted species. IN middle lane The Niedzwiecki apple tree, Sargent apple tree, hybrid apple tree and berry apple tree bloom and grow well.

The hybrid apple tree has the most varieties. Here are the most popular of them, which can be bought in nurseries and stores.

Variety Flowers Fruit Peculiarities
intense pink, 2.5-3.5 cm in diameter dark burgundy, up to 2 cm in diameter, does not fall until frost tree up to 8 m high, with a rounded crown and red-brown leaves
dark pink, abundant purple, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, do not fall off for a long time tree with a weeping crown and bronze-red leaves
dark red buds, pink flowers up to 4 cm in diameter brown-red, up to 3 cm in diameter, do not fall until spring tree up to 4.5 m high, with a round crown and leaves that are purple in spring and green in summer
pink buds, numerous white flowers red, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, long-lasting tree up to 4 m high with a weeping crown and bright green leaves
pink buds, white flowers orange-red, up to 1 cm in diameter, on long stalks, not falling off for a long time tree up to 3 m high with a columnar crown and green leaves

Cheal's Weeping

pink, fragrant red, up to 3 cm in diameter tree with a weeping crown and bronze-red leaves that turn green in summer
white buds and white flowers crimson, elongated, falling in autumn frost-resistant early-fruiting tree with green leaves in summer and orange leaves in autumn
buds and flowers purple-pink brown-red, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, long-lasting tree up to 6 m high with a round crown and red-brown leaves that turn green in summer
bright pink, abundant dark pink, with pink flesh, up to 3 cm in diameter tree up to 4 m high with bronze leaves that turn green in summer
dark red, gradually lightening to pink orange-red, up to 2 cm in diameter, long-lasting winter-hardy variety; tree up to 5 m high, with bronze-brown leaves that turn green in summer
dark pink, numerous purple, up to 2.5 cm in diameter tree up to 5 m high, with a rounded crown and leaves that change color depending on the season (in spring they are brown-red, in summer they are green, in autumn the underside of the leaf turns purple)

Is it possible to eat decorative apples?

The inquisitive mind of our people truly knows no rest. The question of whether these small bright apples can be eaten occupies everyone, and there is not a single gardener who would not dare to try them.

Fortunately, the fruits of most varieties are quite edible and even tasty. Only a few apple trees have sour or tart fruits, which only birds like when fresh. However, some gardeners have become adept at preserving and processing these mini-fruits.

The rules for eating decorative apples are exactly the same as regular apples - wash and eat, make compote or jam. It’s just inconvenient to prepare juice from them - it produces too much pulp.

When choosing an ornamental apple tree for the first time, many gardeners doubt that this tree will suit them. However, after a few years, having fallen in love with the beauty, grace and delicate aroma of its flowers, they go for the next seedling or create a whole alley of ornamental apple trees.

Moreover, the fruits of some varieties of these apple trees are generally inedible and can even cause an eating disorder. But this in no way detracts from the decorative merits of the trees: these crops are charming both in bloom and in the fall.

Description of ornamental apple trees and their photos

The genus includes 50 species growing in temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Small, up to 10 m tall, fruit and ornamental trees, often with an irregular, rounded crown, less often shrubs. It may have a tall, spreading, round or umbrella-shaped crown.

The trunk bark is dark gray. Valued for its varied summer leaf colors - it can be olive-colored or intensely green. Some varieties may have leaves dark green with reddish-purple veins.

Leaves- elliptical or oblong-ovate, up to 10 cm long, dark green in summer, yellow or reddish in autumn.

As can be seen in the photo, the flowers of ornamental apple trees are up to 3-4 cm in diameter, fragrant, white, pink or carmine, on pubescent pedicels, collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences:

Some varieties have brightly colored buds of soft pink or snow-white color. The flowering tree slowly changes color. The flowers of many varieties have a strong, delicate aroma. During mass flowering, the smell of flowers, spreading over a considerable distance, attracts insects. Flowering under optimal weather conditions lasts on average 10-12 days, but the budding phase significantly lengthens the decorative time of trees.

Fruit- apple-shaped, brightly colored in many species. The size, depending on the variety, can be the size of a small apricot. The fruits of most varieties are edible, but are not distinguished by high taste qualities.

Inside the fruit there are 5 nests formed by leathery valves containing seeds; the pulp is formed due to the expanding, fleshy receptacle.

All varieties are good abundantly flowering honey plants.

Resistant to frost and drought, tolerate dust, gas contamination and soil salinity. They prefer sunny places and do not like stagnant moisture. Planting them is quite simple. Care and pruning are the same as for common species apple trees

They reproduce by sowing seeds, in early autumn - freshly harvested, late - after 1.5-2 months of stratification, in spring sowing - stratification from December before sowing with removal at the end of the stratification period under the snow. Rare species, decorative forms and varieties are propagated by grafting.

Used for single and group plantings in parks and forest parks, for intra-block landscaping. They are also good in garden plots.

Below you can read the descriptions of varieties of ornamental apple trees and see their photographs.

Decorative apple trees Royalty and Rudolph

Decorative apple tree Royalty is one of the hybrid forms of the purple apple tree, bred on the basis of the Central Asian Niedzvetsky apple tree.

The trees are small, with a slow growth rate, their maximum height does not exceed 4 - 6 meters. Sometimes trees take the form of ornamental shrubs. The crown is oval and reaches a diameter of 4 - 5 meters; at a young age it is more compact, but over time it becomes wider and spreading. If the crown is not trimmed, then gradually it takes the form of an irregular oval or ball.

The leaves are narrowed, with a glossy surface, pubescent, elliptical or oblong-ovate, up to 8 - 12 cm long, of a very beautiful dark purple color. By the autumn season, the leaves become a little lighter and acquire a rich red color, without losing their decorative effect.

When the trees are completely leafy, the leaf blade can retain a purple color only on the bottom, and on top becomes dark green.

Widely used in landscape design of private gardens and households, public parks and squares: in single, group and alley plantings, when creating “live” hedges, seasonal compositions, contrasting tree and shrub groups. Often planted in front of the facades of administrative buildings.

Flowering is very abundant, begins in early May and lasts about 2 weeks. In very dry and hot climates, flowers can fade quite quickly, and the total flowering period is reduced to 2 - 4 days. The buds are large in size, rich dark red in color. The flowers are numerous, large in size, unusually fragrant, ruby ​​or crimson-red in color, held on thin, white-tomentose peduncles.

At the beginning of autumn, the flowers produce small fruits, slightly oblong in shape, dark red in color with a bluish waxy coating. They usually ripen in mid-September and are held on long stalks.

They are not edible and can sometimes even cause acute food poisoning if consumed directly.

The variety is frost-resistant, wind- and drought-resistant. In conditions of a long, harsh winter, flower buds may freeze slightly. Resistance to powdery mildew is good. Resistance to scab is not very high, so regular preventive treatment against this disease is required.

Basic care is the same as for ordinary fruit trees. For planting, it is preferable to choose sunny or semi-shaded areas, since they are light-loving varieties. Trees are undemanding when it comes to soil, but medium loams, rich sandy loams, fertile and moderately moist soils are still recommended.

Decorative apple tree Rudolph- a tree 4-6 m high, with a rounded crown, becoming spreading with age. Fragrant pink-white flowers, up to 5 cm in size, are collected in bouquet inflorescences, completely covering the branches and leaves during flowering. Fruiting is abundant, spherical fruits up to 2.5 cm in diameter are yellow, stay on the branches for a long time. Winter-hardy. Maximum decorative in open sunny places. Loves fertile soil with low groundwater levels. Requires regular pruning. Responds well to feeding.

Suitable for growing in single, group and alley plantings.

Varieties of ornamental apple trees Ola and Helena

Decorative apple tree Ola– a tree up to 4.5 meters tall, with a round, openwork crown. The leaves are shiny, green in color, with a purple tint during the blooming period. Blooms profusely in May with large pink flowers. The fruits are small, up to 3 cm in diameter, red-purple in color, and remain on the tree until late autumn, giving the plant a special decorative appearance.

It is demanding on soil composition, prefers moist and moderately moist soils, and does not tolerate wetlands at all. Sun-loving, tolerates partial shade. Frost-resistant and wind-resistant. The variety is resistant to diseases and pests. In early spring It is advisable to prune young trees to stimulate flowering and crown formation.

It is one of the most beautiful modern varieties.

Look at the photo of this variety of ornamental apple trees - it is distinguished by an unusually elegant, openwork crown, which in the spring is covered with a cap of large pink flowers with a wonderful aroma:

Suitable for planting as a tapeworm on the lawn. Looks very good in group planting in an array, in parks and squares, as well as for constructing a high hedge.

Decorative apple tree Helena– a low tree with a spreading crown of 3-4 m. The leaves are purple, glossy, three-lobed. Beautiful abundant flowering in the spring. Purple large flowers bloom in April-May. The fruits are red and small.

Winter-hardy, frost-resistant, drought-resistant. Prefers moist and fertile soils with a slightly acidic reaction. Resistant to diseases.

Used as a tapeworm on the lawn, in compositions with trees and shrubs, alleys, hedges, and forms picturesque arches.

Description of ornamental apple trees Makamik and Yagodnaya

Decorative apple tree Makamik– an ornamental tree 5-7 m in height, with a dense tent-shaped crown. The leaves are oval, purple when opening, then dark green. Purple flowers in spring, red fruits ripen in autumn.

Winter-hardy, frost-resistant. Photophilous. Prefers moist and fertile soils with a slightly acidic reaction. Resistant to diseases.

Planting is preferable in spring, when autumn planting there is a lot of loss. Planting in filled planting holes. Fertilize twice a season: in the spring - nitrogen fertilizers, in the fall - potassium and phosphorus.

Formative pruning in the spring also removes diseased, damaged shoots. The wounds must be covered with garden varnish. During dry periods, it is advisable to water. In winter, protective measures must be taken against mice and hares.

Decorative apple tree Berry– an unpretentious variety, used as a rootstock. Rounded crown or slightly vertical. The fragrant flowers are white. The foliage is green.

A very small-fruited species, 6 - 10 mm in diameter, with several varieties having some morphological differences and different habitats. The fruits are spherical, yellow, red or orange.

Sometimes it grows as a bush.

The requirements for growing conditions are the same as for conventional varieties. The place for planting is sunny or slightly shaded; the soil needs to be fertile and drained. After planting, it is better to mulch the soil in the tree trunk circles. From the second year after planting, you can start feeding.

Varieties of decorative apple trees Everest and Profusion

Decorative apple tree Everest– decorative tree up to 4-6 m tall, up to 5 m in diameter. The flowers are white with pink stripes along the edges of the petals, simple, rosette-shaped, up to 3-3.5 cm in diameter, wrinkled and curved inward.

The fruits are round or slightly flattened, without cups, 1.5-2.3 cm long and 2.6 in diameter, orange-red, with a red stripe and a barely noticeable bluish-gray stripe, a thin stalk up to 3 cm long.

The leaves are alternate, ovate, sometimes 3-lobed, serrated edges, dark green, matte shiny, carmine-red petiole, 2.5-3 cm long.

It is distinguished by a rather loose crown with dark green foliage, simple white flowers with pink stripes along the edges of the petals, and orange-red fruits with a thin red stripe.

Used in group and alley plantings in parks, gardens and squares, in the form of tapeworms, in the edges of tall groups of trees. Good for flowering, free-growing and trellis hedges. Used to create tree and shrub groups and seasonal compositions.

Decorative apple tree Profuzhn– a tree with a wide crown up to 6 m tall, crown diameter 4-5 m. Young leaves are dark red, green with a brown tint in summer, shiny, amber-brown in autumn.

Blooms profusely in May. The buds are large red, the flowers are numerous, large, up to 3.5-4 cm, lilac, pink-red, with a pleasant aroma.

The fruits are spherical, red, small, 1.5 cm. They are stored on the branches in winter.

It is undemanding to soil, but prefers medium loams, moderately moist and fertile.

Photophilous. Frost-resistant. Plant in open sunny areas, together with other tree species, in the background of flower beds with bright spring flowers.

One of the most beautiful varieties when flowering. Resistant to urban conditions.

Decorative apple tree is separate option a unique decoration for your garden. It is grown solely for its appearance. These plants are small in size and very often bring no edible fruits. As representatives of ground cover plants, ornamental apple trees can look not only like trees, but also like deciduous shrubs. All of them have attractive white, pink, purple flowers. The fruits can be green, red, orange, and do not exceed 4 cm in size. With their elegance, decorative apple trees delight the eye until mid-winter, and sometimes longer. During this cold season, birds can also feed on them.

Weeping

The second name of this variety is riverside apple tree. It is distributed mainly in North America, but also grows well on our continent, in this climate. Withstands even severe frosts, thanks to its thick bark. Capable of reaching a height of up to 12 m, provided proper care is taken.

It got its name due to the fact that, under the weight of leaves and apples, its flexible branches bend more and more towards the ground in the process of their life.

Nedzvetsky

This variety is most common in our area. According to many gardeners, it has no equal among fruit trees. It has an oval crown, which reaches a maximum height of 3.5 m, while the width is about 2.5 m, which gives it an even more rounded, cozy appearance. This beauty has purple flowers that attract the eye, crimson fruits about 4 cm in diameter. The only negative is that this variety can be damaged by severe frosts.

Apple tree with red leaves

Since this apple tree is a hybrid, it perfectly withstands all unfavorable conditions that can overtake it. Also, one of its advantages is its apparent resistance to scab and other diseases that affect its sisters.

The apple tree with red leaves grows up to 4 m in height and up to 3 m in width. Initially it produces purple leaves, and when the red apples ripen, it turns emerald. A red decorative apple tree delights its owner with a riot of colors. Tolerates frosts well.

Royalty

It differs in that it grows very slowly - from 8 to 10 years. After this time, you can get a tall representative - up to 5 m in height and 4 m in crown diameter. It has unusual narrow leaves with a glossy sheen. purple. In autumn, they acquire a red tint, but do not lose their brightness and attractiveness. It is also resistant to frost, but does not tolerate acidification of the soil and stagnation of moisture in it.

Robin

It looks like a low bush in the shape of an oval. It has a wide dense crown. It differs in that its buds have a rich red color, which attracts attention even before they bloom. As a result, the apple tree is covered with red flowers, which begin to emit a pleasant raspberry aroma.

Chinese

It differs in that it has edible fruits, from which jam and compotes are often made. Perfectly suited for development in our regions, as well as more northern ones. This wild variety grows very quickly, approximately 20–30 cm every year. Capable of growing up to 10 meters in height. She is the owner of pleasant emerald leaves and snow-white flowers, which cover her during the flowering period and resemble a snowball.

Pioneer

Low representatives that can easily be formed into a crown, which makes it possible to make a hedge out of them. All you need to do is trim the young shoots correctly and you will get the hedge of your dreams. This representative of ornamental apple trees has bright blooms, which is why during this period it is all red.

Royal Beauty

Many gardeners note that this is the most beautiful representative with a weeping crown. Therefore, it is widely used in landscape design. The foliage has a rich red color, but by autumn it already has a green tint, gradually becoming emerald. Both the flowers and fruits have a purple tint, which makes this Royal Beauty attractive.

Rudolf

In order to decorate gardens and plots in a relatively short time, hybrid varieties were bred. Rudolph can also be included among them. It is quite tall, reaches 5 m in height, and has fairly dense foliage of a fresh green color. When creating all necessary conditions, can bloom for up to 1 month, which causes high demand on the plant market for the design and decoration of various gardens and plots.

Her flowers are white, collected in beautiful umbrellas of inflorescences. After Rudolph fades, honey-yellow apples appear, about 3 cm in diameter. By the way, they can be preserved and used in the form of jam. Externally, the rich, dense foliage with yellow apples looks very advantageous.

Planting and care

As a rule, these are propagated fruit trees seeds.

One-year-old seedlings are planted in the ground in autumn or spring. Before planting a decorative apple tree, place the root system in water for 1 hour.

It is necessary to ensure that the roots do not dry out, this will negatively affect the further development of the seedling in your garden. The first year should not be fertilized, and in subsequent years, competent systematic feeding is mandatory. Sunny places or areas in slight shade are most suitable for planting.

You should choose well-drained soils rich in necessary substances. It is useful to use mulching with high-moor peat. You can use it instead nut shell, pine bark or wood chips. These methods will help protect the soil from drying out. In addition, with a layer of mulch it is easier to weed, loosen, and water.

These plants do not like pruning. Therefore, it must be done carefully, cutting off branches that have dried or frozen after winter. This should be done in early spring. It is also necessary to remove and untangle branches growing deep into the crown, avoiding excessive thickening.

In order for the pollination process to occur, apple trees of a different variety are planted nearby. These trees feel best in single-species garden plots. Pear is suitable for the neighborhood; compatibility with it is most favorable. It can also be placed next to cherries, sweet cherries, quince, plums, and raspberries. They do not get along at all with apricot, peach, walnut, barberry, lilac, and viburnum. The root system of some neighbors produces a depressing effect. Therefore, choose your planting location in your garden carefully.

In the spring you should definitely spray with insecticides. Not worth carrying out chemical warfare with pests during flowering and fruiting. Despite the fact that most often the fruits of this variety are not eaten, they are eaten by birds. As you know, birds rid the garden of unnecessary insect pests. Chemicals can harm birds. Do not forget that bright apples can attract the attention of a child, who will pick and eat an apple treated with insecticides.

Unfortunately, such varieties are susceptible to diseases such as scab and powdery mildew. One of the most dangerous enemies is the burn. It is caused by the bacteria Erwinia amylovora. It spreads very quickly throughout the garden and is incurable. The secret to success is proper care and care. Then your garden will be the most beautiful!

Video “Overview of decorative apple trees”

From this video you will learn about the variety of varieties of ornamental apple trees and hear tips on caring for them.

The decorativeness of an apple tree is determined by the beauty of the crown, spring, summer and autumn colors foliage, color, intensity and duration of flowering and the beauty of fruiting.

Apple tree crown shape

The natural crown shape of an ornamental apple tree varies over a very wide range. An apple tree can have a tall, spreading, round or, for example, umbrella-shaped crown. The crown can be pyramidal in shape (for example, the domestic decorative variety selected by S.I. Isaev “Cypress”). The varieties “Golden Hornet”, “Hillieri” (in this variety with age the crown becomes more rounded and drooping), “Street Parade”, “Red Obelisk”, “Apollo”, “Maypole” (a columnar dwarf no more than 2 in height) have a columnar shape. m), “Van Eseltine” (the crown of the tree becomes vase-shaped with age). Tent-shaped crown (when the width of the crown exceeds its height) - in the varieties “Profution”, “Tina”. The decorative apple tree “Tina” is interesting because its height does not exceed 2 m, and the width of the crown reaches 3-4 m. When formed in a bush form, the apple tree “spreads” in width, and when grafted onto a standard, it forms a tent-shaped crown. The following varieties have a weeping crown: “ Royal Beauty", domestic winter-hardy varieties "Gazonnaya", "Sibirka weeping hybrid", "Alaya Plakuchaya". The umbrella-shaped crown of the winter-hardy varieties “Umbrella Red Flower” and “Umbrella White Flower” bred in Yekaterinburg. Some wild Far Eastern apple trees have branches that extend from the trunk at an angle of 90 degrees. Such apple trees easily form an interesting terraced crown shape.

Apple tree leaf color

The ornamental apple tree is also valued for its different summer leaf colors. The foliage can be olive in color (cultivar 'Street Parade') and intense green. In some varieties, the leaves have a dark green color with a reddish-purple “wash” along the veins and edge of the leaf (clones of the Niedzvetsky apple tree, variety “Eleyi”, etc.). The foliage can be red-lilac (as if “beetroot-eggplant”) color. These are the varieties “Royalty”, “Royal Beauty”, and the winter-hardy Siberian variety “Carmen”. In addition, ornamental apple trees have wonderful leaf color in the fall. Foliage colors range from golden tones ("Tina", "Everest", "Eleyi"), orange ("Hillieri", "Brandy Magic", "Liset", "Rudolf") to reds ("Maypole") and bright red ( American apple tree coronaria "Charlotta"). In autumn, a brownish-reddish tint appears on the leaves of apple trees of the domestic varieties “Pionerka” and “Komsomolets”.

Ornamental apple tree blossoming

The ornamental apple tree, which is a good honey plant, is characterized by abundant flowering. Its flowering tree, like some stone fruits (thorn, cherry, apricot tree), is covered in spring with many delicate fragrant flowers. Flowers can be white (for example, variety "Tina"), pink and purple-pink (varieties "Ola", "Rudolf", "Lizet", "Apollo", "Maypole", "Red Obelisk", "Hopa", clones Nedzvetsky apple trees, etc.), carmine-red (varieties “Royalty”, “Makamik”, “Carmen” (photo 5), “Royal Beauty”, “Scarlet Weeping”, “Boskop”).

Some varieties of ornamental apple trees have brightly colored buds (red or bright pink), which, when opened, turn into soft pink or snow-white flowers. The flowering tree slowly changes color. In some varieties, with flowers collected in large, gradually opening umbrella-shaped clusters, fading occurs gradually, and the apple tree acquires a “watercolor” color wash. There are varieties with double flowers(“Van Eseltine”, “Brandy Wine”, coronaria “Charlotta”).

The flowers of many ornamental apple trees have a strong, delicate aroma. During mass flowering, the smell of flowers, spreading over a considerable distance, attracts insects. Ornamental and wild apple trees are good pollinators. In the North-West region, flowering, depending on the variety, lasts 2-3 weeks (from approximately the second week of May to the first week of June). The flowering itself, like that of ordinary apple trees, under optimal weather conditions lasts on average 10-12 days, but the budding phase significantly lengthens the decorative time of the trees.

Decorative apple fruits

The size of the fruit, depending on the variety of ornamental apple tree, ranges from the size of a large pea to a small apricot. The fruits of most varieties are edible and suitable for processing (compotes, candied fruits, jam), although apples, as a rule, are not distinguished by high taste. There are varieties that keep the fruit on the tree all winter. They look good on branches in late autumn and winter and are a good food source for birds.

The Nedzvetsky apple tree became the ancestor of domestic ornamental varieties and domestic varieties of apple trees with red flesh. This is not a very tall tree, 2-6 m (in nature, old specimens can reach 18 m). It often grows in a bush form, and its leaf, due to the anthocyanin it contains, has a watercolor beet-colored wash along the veins and edge of the leaf. The apple tree blooms with intense pink or bright raspberry-purple flowers 3-4 cm in diameter, has round edible fruits 2.5-3 cm in diameter weighing (20-30 g), which are mainly used for processing.

At the Pavlovsk experimental station of VIR in the 30s of the 20th century, the decorative variety “Pioneer” was bred. At the same time, I.V. Michurin obtained red-flowered varieties: “Pepin crimson”, “Red Standard”, “Komsomolets”, “Bellefleurs: trilobed, rugosa, purple, red”, in the breeding of which the Nedzvetsky apple tree and the wild Ranetka Purpurovaya apple tree were used.

The varieties of ornamental apple trees “Pionerka” and “Komsomolets” are winter-hardy and suitable for growing in the North-Western region. Like most descendants of the wild Niedzwiecki apple tree, they bloom with rather large purple-pink flowers similar to it and differ from each other in the size of the crown and the shape of the fruit. “Pioneer” is taller and has round, onion-shaped fruits (20-40 g). “Komsomolets” has larger fruits (80 g), a beautiful elongated goblet shape, completely covered with smooth pink-red skin, brighter on the sunny side. At the same time, new varieties of winter-hardy Chinese and Ranet apple trees were obtained. These are the Michurin varieties that are still popular in the gardens of the North-West: “Kitaika anise”, “Kitaika dessert”, “Kitaika golden early”, as well as the variety “Apricot”.

We must not forget the varieties of apple trees that produce “paradise” apples and are recommended for cultivation in the North-West region. These are, for example, the Chinese “Dolgo” and “Kerr”, the semi-cultural “Gorno-Altaiskoe”. They bloom profusely delicate flowers and give high yield"paradise" apples. The varieties “Dolgo” and “Kerr” have small (12-25 g) fruits of red color, elongated oval shape, and good taste. “Gornoaltaiskoe” has fruits weighing 30-50 g of a beautiful round-conical shape, the color of the fruit is yellow with a bright red tan on the sunny side, and has a good sweet and sour taste.

In the North-West, for landscape design you can use highly winter-hardy dwarf red-leaved rootstocks 62396 and Serdyukov's paradise, winter-hardy semi-dwarf red-leaved rootstock 54118 variety "Pionerka", Siberian variety "Carmen". Michurin apple trees “Komsomolets” and “Bellefleur red”, which resemble large azaleas during flowering, survive in our region.

Any large-fruited variety, having colored blooms, can decorate your garden. The following varieties of apple trees have painted flowers: “Northern Sinap” (red buds, large pink flowers); “Start” (white-pink buds, pale pink flowers); “Sun” (white-pink buds, faint pink flowers); low-growing apple tree “Skala” (pinkish flowers, dessert variety); "Sinap Orlovsky" (white-pink buds, pink flowers); “Freshness” (light pink buds, pink flowers); “Rtishchevskaya beauty” (medium, pink flowers); dwarf apple tree "Rossa" (dark pink bud, light pink flower, dessert variety); “Rozhdestvenskoe” (white-pink buds, pale pink flowers, winter dessert variety); “Early Aloe” (medium-sized light pink flowers, summer variety); “Minusinsk red” (“Minusinka”) (medium flowers, pink, fragrant, summer variety); “Minusinsk dessert” (“Nadezhda”) (medium-sized flowers, creamy, very fragrant, summer variety); “Robin” (white-light red bud, large, light pink flowers, autumn variety).

Many winter-hardy Siberian semi-cultures, which have different growth vigor, crown shape, beautiful flower coloring and good-tasting apples, can also decorate the garden. These are the varieties “Baganyonok”, “Palmetta”, “Siberian Souvenir”, “Veselovka”. Thus, the descendants of the “Urozhainoe” variety – semi-cultures “Scarlet Sails”, “Autumn Joy of Altai”, “Zavetnoe”, “Firebird” - are characterized by abundant flowering with light pink flowers, opening from bright pink buds, collected in bunch-shaped inflorescences of 5 -7 pieces, and a large number of fruits (30-50 g) of a beautiful appearance and good taste.

It is known that the apple tree tolerates artificial crown formation well. On the lawn you can form an elegant mini tree from a winter-hardy grafted dwarf rootstock a beautifully flowering Chinese or semi-cultivated plant, with low growth vigor and small, beautiful fruits. Such a large bonsai will decorate your garden. A medium-sized, small-fruited ornamental apple tree looks good as a hedge or a sealing element of a coniferous fence.

Choosing a variety of ornamental apple tree

The main negative factors affecting the cultivation of ornamental apple trees in the North-West region are possible severe frosts, prolonged thaws, strong winds and spring return colds. Therefore, you need to choose varieties of ornamental apple trees with good winter hardiness.

The decorative apple tree grows well in a “front”, sunny place. Some varieties tolerate partial shade, but for normal life, the apple tree must be illuminated by the sun for some time during the day. Varieties with colored foliage require a sunny planting location, because... in the shade the color intensity of the leaves decreases. When planting varieties with anthocyanin “washing” of the leaf in the shade, the burgundy tint on the leaves may disappear completely.
For creating green hedges with the participation of apple trees, choose the eastern, south-eastern, southern sides of the site, protected from the northern, north-western winds that dominate in our region. It is necessary to avoid planting apple trees on northern slopes, in frost-prone areas, and lowlands. In the lowlands, fruit trees do not tolerate winters well, because... cold air “flows” there. In trees, fruit formations, cambium, wood or bark are often damaged. Outwardly, this may manifest itself in weak flowering. Deformed, partially darkened petals, unexpectedly blackened stamens and pistils, drying out and falling of hatched buds (without visible signs of damage by insects) are characteristic damage from spring cold. “Good breed” varieties are best planted in a sheltered, sunny location. The landing site must initially be chosen well.
When choosing a foreign variety, the main attention should be paid to its winter hardiness. In the gardens of the North-West you can find varieties of apple trees: “Royalty”, “Makamik”, “Rudolf”, “Lizet”, “Eleyi”, “Hopa”, “Golden Hornet”, “Everest”. However, such luxurious flowering, which we see in photographs from Europe, is difficult to achieve due to the climatic characteristics of our region.

In the North-Western region, it is reasonable to grow zoned ornamental varieties and varieties that grow well in more severe climatic conditions (in the Urals, Siberia).

Unfortunately, varieties of tall ornamental wild apple trees are now practically not grown. Also, varieties of winter-hardy, useful Siberian semi-cultivated apple trees are not available to gardeners in the North-Western region. But demand must generate supply. Winter-hardy, healthy and highly decorative varieties of apple trees exist. Cuttings of varieties are probably available in Michurinsk, in the nursery of the Botanical Garden of Moscow State University. Lomonosov, at the Research Institute named after. Lisavenko, in the nursery of the Botanical Garden of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences. We look forward to the appearance of these varieties on the North-West market of ornamental and fruit plants.

Text: Larisa Semenova, member of the gardening section of the House of Scientists named after. Gorky

Photo: Larisa Semenova, Yulia Smirnova, PosSad nursery

Gardening matters No. 5(67), 2013

Ornamental apple trees have many advantages over other varieties:

Decorative varieties are undemanding to the soil on which they grow. Trees growing on fertile and fresh soil produce abundant flowering and fruiting. However, even when grown on depleted soil, trees can be attractive but slower growing. Decorative apple trees love good lighting. Even a slight shade can affect the number of flowers and their brightness, as well as the abundance of fruits.

Popular varieties

Even novice gardeners can grow an ornamental tree, just like one, since such plants do not require special growing conditions or care knowledge. The most popular varieties of ornamental apple trees are distinguished by a variety of shades, flowers and fruits. Apple trees are more reminiscent of an ornamental plant than a common fruit tree. Therefore, most gardeners grow them for appearance, and not for the purpose of yield. In addition to the bright visual effect, during flowering such trees fill the surrounding area with a sweet fragrance. Thanks to this, the plant is well pollinated and produces a good harvest of small fruits.

Weeping

The variety is represented by a small ornamental tree with a weeping crown shape and red leaves. Plant height is 1.5-2.5 meters. The apple tree grows well in ordinary garden soils, loves abundant watering, but can tolerate short-term drought. The tree grows equally well either alone or in a group planting. Peak flowering occurs in May. At this time, the plant is completely covered with pink flowers, and then small red fruits.

Small apples ripen in September. The fruits make delicious and beautiful jam or jelly.

The weeping apple tree is resistant to brown spot, but requires additional protection against apple scab and powdery mildew - it affects buds, leaves and stems.

Makovetsky

The variety is one of the hybrids of the purple Niedzwiecki apple tree. Due to its unpretentiousness to growing conditions, the apple tree can be grown in the southern regions and central Russia. The tree can grow up to 4-6 m. The diameter of the spherical crown reaches 4-5 m. Flowering begins in May-June and lasts about 2 weeks. The flowers have a rich dark pink hue. The variety has high pollen fertility rates, which is why it is often used as a pollinator for industrial gardens. After flowering ends, small bright red fruits gradually appear. Due to their taste characteristics, apples can only be used in processed form - jam, jam, dessert. The species is frost-resistant, drought-resistant, and has average resistance to scab.

The fruits can be used in folk medicine in the treatment of anemia, for general strengthening of the body, as a bactericidal or laxative.

Helena

Mature tree does not grow higher than 4 m. The lush spreading crown also does not exceed 4 m in diameter. The tree grows quite slowly and reaches its maximum by 10 years. In the spring, abundant flowering begins, which after a while is replaced by clusters of bright red fruits that do not fall until late autumn. In winter, the reddish bark of the branches also gives the plant a decorative appearance. Thus, the tree pleases with its appearance almost all year round. Due to its small size, the variety can be used as a hedge. Helena is highly resistant to low temperatures and diseases. However, we should not forget about preventive measures Oh.

The variety is a purely ornamental plant, since its fruits are not eaten even in processed form.

Red obelisk

The height of an adult tree can reach 6 m. The columnar crown can grow to a diameter of 3 m. During flowering, the plant is first covered with pink flowers, which turn white after a while. Large red fruits gradually ripen on the tree, which can be stored throughout the winter until spring. Apples can be picked and used to make preserves, jam or cider.

The plant is widely used for decorative purposes in landscaping urban landscapes and garden plots.

The apple tree may bloom again in the fall, but not as profusely as in the spring.

Scarlet

The tree quickly grows up to 4 meters in height. Flowering occurs in May, when the plant is covered with a large number of dark pink flowers. By autumn, the tree becomes overgrown with small purple fruits that can stick to it long time. The plant prefers a sunny place protected from the wind. The apple tree has weak resistance to diseases and pests, but it can be strengthened preventive treatments. The variety has high winter hardiness, due to which it is widely cultivated in the Moscow region. The plant is used as a hedge and can be planted separately or in group plantings.

Royal Beauty

The plant is hybrid variety, created on the basis of the Niedzwiecki apple tree. The tree grows to a small size - 2.5-3 m. The diameter of the crown is 1-4 m. As it grows, it has a weeping shape, and in mature trees it has an umbrella-shaped shape. Lush flowering begins in early May and lasts 2 weeks. In hot, dry weather, this period can be shortened to 6-7 days. The flowers have a rich dark pink hue.

Over time, small dark red fruits appear on the tree, which can decorate it for a long time. Apples ripen in the first ten days of September, but have a bitter taste, which is why they are inedible. The variety is characterized by high frost resistance (up to -34°C) and tolerance of polluted air. Thanks to this, trees can be grown in the central and northwestern regions of Russia. The only drawback is the average resistance to scab.

Robin

The robin is characterized by a medium size and a dense, rounded crown. On average it grows to 4-6 meters. During the flowering period, the branches are covered with dense pink-red flowers. Outwardly it resembles sakura. By autumn, the plant is covered with small, bright burgundy fruits. Despite their small size, apples are edible and are used in making compotes. The collected fruits are well tolerated long-term storage in wooden containers. The variety is quite winter-hardy and can be grown in central Russia. The plant is susceptible to diseases and therefore requires preventive treatment measures. Find out about the Malinovka apple tree variety.

Royalty

An ornamental variety, which is one of the hybrid forms of the purple apple tree. Royalty is characterized by slow growth; by the tenth year of life it can grow to 3-4 m. The crown has an oval shape with a diameter of 4-5 m. In young trees it is compact, but gradually becomes wide and spreading. The flowering period occurs in early May and lasts 2 weeks. At this time, the tree is abundantly covered with ruby ​​or crimson-red flowers. By the beginning of autumn, small dark red fruits appear on the apple tree. Royalty will tell you about the characteristics of the apple tree variety.

The variety is frost-resistant, resistant to wind and drought. Trees are not very resistant to scab, so they need regular preventive treatments.

Apples have a bitter taste and are considered inedible. If consumed directly, they can lead to acute food poisoning.

Fusion

The tree rarely grows over 5 m in height. It has a lush spreading crown. During flowering (May), the branches are covered with pink-red flowers. The tree resembles cherry blossoms. By autumn, the flowers are replaced by small decorative red fruits, which can remain on the tree until winter. The plant is perfect for decorating a site, gardening area or as a hedge. Read how to form the crown of an apple tree.

Nedzvetsky

An apple tree can grow as a bush or tree, depending on the initial formation of the crown. An adult tree reaches 5-6 m in height and can live up to 60 years. During spring flowering, the branches are almost completely covered with large pink flowers. The flowering period depends on the location where the tree grows. It ranges from early to mid-May. In autumn, small purple-red fruits ripen. The pulp of apples has an unusual pink color. They can remain on the tree throughout the winter.

Read about apple tree diseases.

The Nedzvetsky variety is resistant to frost, pests and most diseases.

Which varieties are preferable for the Moscow region?

Variety Height (m) Foliage color Flower color Fruit color
Godlen Hornet 3-5 green white yellow
John Downey 4-6 green white-pink bright red
Lesnaya 10 green soft pink yellow-green
Lisette 5-7 green-brown blue-red garnet red
Makamic 4-6 dark red-green dark purple red
Nedzvetsky 10 Dark red dark red dark red
Fusion 5-7 red-brown carmine red red-brown
Royalty 3-4 purple-red carmine purple dark red
5-6 bronze green rose red orange
Tina 1,5-2 green pink and white red
Hillery 5-7 green pink yellow-orange
Everest 4-6 green white-pink orange-red

Features of planting and growing

Growing ornamental varieties of apples has some differences compared to ordinary apple trees.

  1. The soil. For the most part, ornamental apple trees do not have special soil requirements and are able to grow even on poor soils, but the quantity and quality of flowers will suffer from this. It is advisable to avoid waterlogged, swampy, extremely dry sandy and rocky soils.
  2. Landing. The process of decorative varieties is almost no different from ordinary apple trees. Spring is the best time for this.
  3. Distance. Ornamental apple trees need a lot of space, so the distance between trees should be on average 2-3 m. Thus, each plant receives an area of ​​approximately 5-6 m.
  4. Landing place. It is advisable to prepare the planting hole a month before planting, or preferably in the fall of the previous year. The diameter of the pit should be about 80 cm and the depth about 1 m.
  5. Pruning in spring. Ornamental apple trees tolerate formative pruning well, quickly adapt and recover. In general, trees do not require pruning, and mandatory pruning consists only of removing damaged or dead branches.

    He will tell you about pruning an apple tree in the spring.

    Video

    Video about decorative apple trees.

    conclusions

    1. Apple trees can not only produce healthy fruits, but also be worthy decoration garden
    2. Thanks to the variety of decorative varieties, you can choose trees by color and size.
    3. Most ornamental apple trees have unusual colors of flowers and fruits. It is also common for tree leaves and bark to become stained.
    4. The fruits of most ornamental varieties are inedible, but can decorate a tree even in winter.
    5. Decorative apples can be consumed in processed form. However, the fruits of some species can cause food poisoning.
    6. Ornamental apple trees are unpretentious to planting conditions, but for sufficient flowering they need abundant lighting.