Answers Andrey Lysikov, Candidate of Biological Sciences:

Our answer to Sakura

The harmonious shape of the crown, elegant foliage and a huge number of bright flowers collected in umbrella inflorescences make decorative apple trees desirable in any garden. The color of the leaves of these trees can be very diverse: from light green to emerald and from pinkish to dark purple. As for flowers, their palette in different species and varieties covers a wide spectrum from boiling white to scarlet, crimson or beetroot. The fruits also vary in size, shape and color, although all of them, as a rule, are significantly smaller than those of the domestic apple tree, the ancestor of many fruit varieties.

In recent years, ornamental apple trees can be increasingly seen in summer cottages. In the garden they can play a variety of roles: serve as spectacular soloists, perform in groups or as part of tree and shrub compositions. One of the main advantages of these trees, perhaps, is that they can be considered as a replacement for cherry trees, which have little winter hardiness in temperate climates. The fruits also deserve special mention. In many varieties they are edible and are used for making preserves, jellies and compote, and in addition, they remain decorative for a long time and attract numerous birds to the garden in winter.

Attention

"Makamik." Photo: Andrey Lysikov

What to choose?

The ornamental group includes a number of species of apple trees, mainly of Far Eastern origin, as well as many hybrid varieties. Most of them are perfect for summer cottages: their height, as a rule, does not exceed 6-8 m, and the crowns, even of the most spreading specimens, do not take up very much space. In addition, they are quite durable and unpretentious in relation to soils.

Prominent representatives of decorative species are the Niedzwiecki apple tree, up to 8 m high, with a lush tent-shaped crown, purple flowers and fruits, i. Siebold with an umbrella crown, pink buds and whitening flowers and me. profusely blooming with a wide spreading crown, pink inflorescences and orangish apples.

Hybrid apple trees are also widely used in design. Among the most popular is me. plumifolium, often called "Chinese", and also me. purple, a miniature copy of my ancestor me. Nedzvetsky.

"Royalty". Photo: Andrey Lysikov

Recently, the dream of many gardeners has become 'Brandy Magic' - a spectacular varietal apple tree with a spreading crown, large double flowers and yellow round apples with a diameter of 4-5 cm. The 'Makovetskiana' variety is also remarkable, distinguished by large dark pink flowers and small burgundy fruits elongated shape.

However, the most widespread and recognized among gardeners are decorative hybrids, characterized by their compact size and the special attractiveness of their flowers and fruits.

Blooming columns

Particularly attractive are the columnar apple trees, reaching a height of 2 m. During flowering, the best of them are strewn from top to bottom with large flowers of different colors, then turning into small apples weighing 30-40 g. Among the most decorative and stable varieties of domestic selection can be called 'Pomegranate Bracelet' with light purple flowers, 'Pink Tale', 'Carmelita' with pink-violet and 'Crimson Necklace' with reddish-purple.

‘Chil’s Viping’ is a variety with a weeping crown, on the hanging shoots of which numerous fragrant deep pink flowers open in spring. Photo: Andrey Lysikov

Varieties of ornamental apple trees*

with white flowers:

‘Long’, ‘Everest’, ‘John ​​Downey’, ‘Adirondack’, ‘Tina’, ‘Street Parade’

with pink flowers:

‘Hopa’ ‘Lizet’, ‘Mokum’, ‘Ola’, ‘Red Obelisk’

with red, burgundy or purple:

‘Royalty’, ‘Rudolph’, ‘Eley’, ‘Makamik’, ‘Nikoline’.

*The most winter-hardy in central Russia

Decorative apple trees

Everyone knows the apple tree as a wonderful fruit crop, but now decorative species have become widespread, especially for decorating streets and squares in cities and towns. But you can plant 1-2 ornamental apple trees at your dacha or on your garden plot to decorate your plot.

The Caucasus and Central Asia are considered the homeland of the apple tree. The wild apple tree grows wild throughout Europe. The Siberian berry apple tree grows wild in Eastern Siberia and the Far East. The apple tree belongs to the Rosaceae family. The apple tree genus has about 50 species. These are deciduous trees up to 10 m high or bushy plants up to 3 m in height. To obtain fruits, large-fruited varieties are grown, and for decorative purposes, small-fruited species are used, known to us from childhood under the name- Ranetka. Decorative types of apple trees in the spring present a fabulous picture, when many simple, semi-double and double flowers bloom in pink, burgundy and red shades with a wonderful delicate aroma! And before flowering, the buds are painted an even more intense color. Some apple trees attract attention with the spectacular color of their leaves during the summer growing season, while others- during the autumn period. The fruits of some types of ornamental apple trees can be used to make jelly and compotes; small apples of other types are food for birds in autumn and winter.

Our streets, parks and cottages can be decorated with the following types of apple trees.

Apple tree berry, or Siberian - a medium-sized tree 3-5 m tall with small fragrant white flowers and small red or yellow fruits. It was widely used by I.V. Michurin in his work on breeding new varieties.

Blood red hybrid apple tree - a shrub-type tree up to 10 m high with a tree-like appearance and a beautiful drooping, widely spread crown and shiny green foliage. Blooms profusely in early spring, the flowers are large, simple, fragrant, dark carmine in buds, light pink when blooming. The fruits are about 1 cm in diameter, red or reddish-yellow.

Crown apple tree - a low tree up to 5 m high, maintaining a decorative appearance throughout the growing season. The flowers bloom in May-early June, large, semi-double or double with a pleasant violet scent, light pink. The leaves are green, gradually turning intense red in autumn. Produces many greenish-yellow fruits up to 4 cm in diameter.

Niedzvetsky apple tree originally from the mountainous regions of the Tien Shan. A very decorative tree, 5-7 m high, with a rounded tent-shaped crown. The leaves are obovate or elliptical in different shades of red. The flowers are pink-purple. The fruits are small with reddish flesh.

Niedzvetsky apple tree

Scheidecker hybrid apple tree - low trees with a narrow crown and oval leaves. They are very decorative when covered with a mass of pink fruits. The fruits are small, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, yellow.

Squat apple tree - a large shrub or small tree with a sparse crown, flowers are simple or semi-double, purple-red, fruits are dark red, small, up to 1.5 cm in diameter. In spring and early summer the leaves are reddish-green, and in the second half of summer they become bronze-green.

Globular apple tree - low trees, green foliage. The crown is spherical, dense, and forms naturally.

It consists of small branches with a large number of lateral buds, which leads to the formation of lateral shoots and a rounded crown shape.

Red-petalled apple tree - tree 3-5 m high, with a crown in the form of a wide, dense umbrella. The shoots grow arcuately to the sides, then obliquely downwards. The shoots and leaves are reddish, especially in the first half of summer. Flowering is abundant and later, after the garden apple tree has finished flowering. The flowers are small, intensely crimson. The fruits are very small, burgundy.

Hybrid purple apple tree - a hybrid between Niedzwiecki and blood red apple trees. There are a large number of varieties of purple apple trees up to 4-5 m in height. Depending on the variety, the flowers can be from soft pink to dark burgundy, double or simple, and can completely cover the entire tree. In favorable weather, flowering can last up to two weeks. Young leaves and shoots are burgundy. In some varieties, the leaves become completely green over time, while in others they remain purple or reddish throughout the summer. The fruits are small, purple-red.

All these types of ornamental apple trees are winter-hardy, can withstand our climate and are worthy of the widest use in landscaping.

Agricultural technology for growing ornamental apple trees is the same as for fruit trees. Planting of seedlings can be done in spring and autumn. It is better to prepare a hole for seedlings 2-3 weeks before planting. It is not worth planting apple trees in areas with close groundwater, no matter how hard you try, there will not be a good result. In areas where the groundwater depth is no closer than 1.5 m, planting pits are prepared with a width of 100 and a depth of 60 cm. The top layer of soil removed from the pit is mixed with mineral fertilizers, humus and peat are added. We drive a stake into the prepared planting hole in the center and pour the prepared soil around it in a mound. We place the seedling on a mound, straighten the roots and cover it with earth, while shaking the seedling a little so that the earth fills all the spaces between the roots. We compact the earth. The root collar should be at soil level, and the soil level above the hole should be 4-5 cm higher than the surrounding level (over the course of a year, the soil will settle by this amount). Be sure to water the planted tree, 2-3 buckets per plant. The seedling must be tied to a peg with a figure eight loop. For the winter, the trees should be tied with coniferous spruce branches to protect them from rodents and frost and covered with snow. In winter and spring, apple trees often suffer from burns and frost damage. To prevent burns, it is recommended to whitewash wood in the fall or early spring with lime. In subsequent years, decorative apple trees should be fed with mineral fertilizers and organic matter, watered and the crown trimmed to give shape.

VARIETIES OF DECORATIVE APPLE TREE,

FIRST INCLUDED IN THE STATE REGISTER OF BREEDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2014

Garnet bracelet - The tree is columnar, medium-sized. The leaf is long, green with anthocyanin coloring. The shoots are red-brown. The flowers are flat, simple, large, 5 pieces per inflorescence, open arrangement. The petals are oval in shape. The buds are red, the flowers are light purple. The aroma is strong. Flowering is abundant. The fruits are small, red, round, the flesh is red.

Carmelita - The tree is columnar, low-growing. The leaf is medium long, dark green with anthocyanin coloring. The shoots are red-brown. The flowers are large, round, flat, non-double, 5 pieces in an inflorescence, the arrangement of flowers is open. The petals are oval in shape. The buds are purple, the flowers are pink-red. The aroma is strong. Flowering is medium abundant. The fruits are small, flat-round, dark lilac, red flesh, long-lasting on the tree, decorative.

Raspberry Necklace - The tree is columnar, low-growing. The leaf is medium long, dark green with a reddish-brown tint. The shoots are brown. The flowers are round, flat, simple, 5 pieces in an inflorescence, the arrangement of flowers is open. Petals are rounded. The buds are light pink, the flowers are red-purple, the aroma is strong. Flowering is abundant. The fruits are small, round, light red, pink flesh.

Alluring aroma - The tree is columnar and tall. The leaf is medium long, green with anthocyanin coloring. The shoots are brown. The flowers are round, flat, large, simple, 5 pieces per inflorescence, open arrangement. The petals are oval. The buds are light pink, the flowers are red-purple. The aroma is strong. Flowering is abundant. The fruits are small, round, red, slightly glossy, decorative, pink flesh, decorative.

Pink fairy tale - The tree is columnar, vigorous. The leaf is medium length, dark green, matte. The shoot is red-brown. The flower is slightly cup-shaped, simple, large, 5 pieces per inflorescence, open arrangement. Oval petal. The bud is red, the flower is purple. The aroma is strong. Flowering is medium abundant. The fruits are small, round, with a strong glossy shine, red, pink flesh. The state of preservation on the tree is average.

E. F. Alekseyuk

From the editor. Some varieties of ornamental apple trees can freeze slightly in our conditions. Thus, when tested in the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, the hybrid blood-red apple tree ripened by 90%, and the hybrid Scheidecker apple tree- by 75%. Accordingly, their winter hardiness is low

Decorative apple trees

The apple tree not only serves as a source of tasty, aromatic and healthy fruits, but is also a magnificent ornamental plant. Most species and varieties used for these purposes are relatively not tall, rarely exceeding 4-5 m. Their crowns are usually proportional, and the leaves are glossy. The flowers of ornamental apple trees are usually dark red or pink, less often white, depending on their color in wild parent species and forms. The fruits are small, numerous, often dark red or yellow with a red blush (photo 1). Such trees are decorative until late autumn, until leaf fall. They are especially good for landscaping small gardens; they are most attractive when planted alone or in small groups. These apple trees perfectly serve as focal plants against the backdrop of a lawn or larger ornamental trees. In addition, their fruits can also be eaten, especially since the yield of such varieties is usually very high. The only thing is that their fruits are more often used in processed form, since, usually, they are not as tasty as those of large-fruited garden apple trees. Caring for ornamental apple trees is standard, the same as for fruit varieties.

One of the first trees to be used for decorative purposes was the Siberian or berry apple tree. Another name for it is Siberian crab (Malus baccata (L.) Borkh). Homeland - Transbaikalia, River Valley Angara, Buryatia. It is very beautiful and decorative. Its trunk is low, sinuous, and its crown is rounded. The bark is rough, ash-gray, and red-brown on the shoots. Flowering is very abundant (photo 2). Its flowers are 2-3 cm in diameter; collected in umbrellas of 4-8 pieces.

But they, for special decorative purposes, lack a little brightness and variety of colors. They are always white, only slightly pinkish on the outside (other related types of apple trees - forest, domestic, Chinese, etc. - have the same drawback). The fruits (apples) are very numerous, spherical, up to 1 cm in diameter, weighing up to 10 g, red or yellowish-red in color, very similar in appearance and shape to large cranberries. Their characteristic sign is the falling of the calyx. They taste sweetish-sour and tart. Fresh ones are little edible, but quite suitable for making jam, marmalade, and juices. But, hanging abundantly throughout the entire crown, they wonderfully decorate the tree from mid-summer until late autumn. The Siberian apple tree itself is very unpretentious and hardy, withstands frosts below -55°C. Not demanding on soil conditions, drought-resistant. Although it still prefers rich, fairly moist and well-drained soils. Easily takes root when transplanted. Propagated by seeds and root shoots.

However, red-leaved varieties look even more impressive among ornamental apple trees; one of the ancestors of which is certainly the Niedzwiecki apple tree. It should be taken into account that in old literature it is sometimes called in Latin - correctly, but in Russian - erroneously - the Sievers apple tree. The latter is a completely independent species that should not be confused with the Niedzwiecki apple tree, although there are certain similarities between them. But the Sievers apple tree does not have the most important distinguishing feature - the bright red (anthocyanin) color of all organs and tissues.

Let's consider some of the most interesting, from a decorative point of view, red-leaved species and varieties that most fully meet the goal. Of course, first of all, it will be the Niedzwetzkyana apple tree itself (M. Niedzwetzkyana Dieck.). She comes from Central Asia (Western Tien Shan, Karatau, Kurama Range). It grows along mountain slopes in the belt of trees and shrubs, is rare, and is on the verge of extinction. Sometimes cultivated by the local population. It is a low tree 2-6 m tall, but in natural conditions, in its homeland, old trees can reach 18 m in height. The popular name is kuldzhinka, or red kuldzhinka. Some taxonomists sometimes combine it not only with the Sievers apple tree, but also with the low apple tree, but most botanists believe that both of these species, although close, are nevertheless independent. In this case, as with the Sievers apple tree, the main distinguishing feature is the presence of anthocyanin (red pigment) in the Niedzwiecki apple tree in all parts and tissues of the plant: leaves, flowers, fruit pulp, seeds, young bark, and other organs. As a result, the young trunk and perennial branches have a dark purple, red-brown or purple color. Annual shoots are also dark purple, dark red-brown, sometimes almost black. Even its wood has a reddish tint. The leaves are leathery, obovate, elliptical or oblong, narrowed at both ends, with a short pointed tip at the apex, up to 8 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. When blooming, both sides are covered with tomentose-hairy pubescence; which, in the future, is preserved only from below; the petioles are also pubescent. Fully expanded leaves are dark green with a reddish tint, or even violet-red in color and dark purple petioles; they turn red in the fall. This color makes the crown of the tree very unique and attractive; the latter most often has a spherical shape. No other species or variety of apple tree, except its own descendants, can compare with the Niedzwiecki apple tree in beauty. Its buds are dark purple in color, and the blossoming flowers are very large, up to 3-4.5 cm in diameter, intense pink or bright crimson-purple (photo 3), on white felt pedicels, of exceptional beauty. Flowering usually lasts two weeks, from mid-May to early June.

The tree blooms in 5-6 years. The fruits are solitary, slightly ribbed, spherical, flat-spherical or slightly elongated, tapering towards the apex; small or medium, sometimes up to large. Their saucer is spacious and deep, the cup is closed or half-open. The stalk is thick and short, almost not protruding beyond the limits of a small and shallow funnel. The skin is entirely violet-dark red with a strong waxy coating. The pulp is dense, juicy, sweet, beautiful pink-purple in color. The Niedzwiecki apple tree is unpretentious, but grows better on fertile soils. At high groundwater levels it is short-lived. It propagates well by grafting; any type of apple tree can serve as a rootstock. Transplantation from a nursery to a permanent place is usually carried out 2-3 years after grafting. Naturally, it is most decorative during flowering, as well as fruit ripening, and before leaf fall. When landscaping, it is usually used as solitaires (single plantings), in contrasting groups and to create alleys. In the conditions of the Tien Shan it has high winter hardiness. It grows well in cultivation in the Southern and Southwestern regions of the country. In the central zone and to the north, the winter hardiness of the Nedzvetsky apple tree is insufficient, but many varieties bred on its basis are quite winter-hardy. All of them have large pink or purple flowers of rare beauty (photo 4), as a result, during flowering, they resemble huge azaleas (photo 5).

The color of the skin of the fruit is dark cherry-red, and the flesh is dark red. Even with repeated crossing, i.e. in the third generation, in 20% of seedlings, the anthocyanin color of shoots, flowers and other parts of plants is not only preserved, but sometimes even enhanced compared to the original species. Almost all of them were bred for the middle zone, and are grown there. These are Michurin varieties such as: Pepin crimson, Red standard, as well as Bellefleur trilobed, rugosa, purple and red. In the latter, the signs of the Niedzwiecki apple tree appeared so strongly that they were not only expressed in the reddish-violet color of young leaves, reddish veins and petioles, the dark red surface of the fruit, and the pink flesh of them. But they also caused a slight decrease in the taste of the latter, compared to the mother variety Bellefleur Chinese. Their shape is flat-round, size is average; covered with a waxy coating. But the bright pink flowers of this variety are especially beautiful. It is most widespread in the Tambov region. The winter hardiness of the trees is average, at the level of the widely known Babushkino variety, which is hardy enough to grow in the North-West of the country. However, another red-leaved descendant of the Nedzvetsky apple tree is best suited for cultivation in this region - the Komsomolets variety, bred by I.V. Michurin. Parents - Bellefleur-Chinese x Rubinovoe. The tree is medium-sized, has high winter hardiness, both in the middle zone and to the north. The crown is round, the variety is not affected by scab. The period of fruiting begins at 9-10 years. The flowers and leaves are similar to those of the other varieties listed above. The fruits are long, truncated-conical, medium in size, weight - 80 g. The skin of apples is completely covered with a red integumentary color, brighter on the sunny side. The pulp is intensely pink, dense, juicy, sweet (sugars 10.0%), with pleasant sourness (acids 0.8%), vitamin C - 7.7 mg/%. Although the organoleptic taste of the fruit is only average, due to the brightness of the color of the skin, and especially the pulp, it subjectively seems much better. Apples are stored until February - March and are suitable for processing. The variety is decorative and technical, the yield is high, it is especially good for amateur gardening.

For decorative purposes, you can also use Budagovsky's Paradise (synonyms: red-leaved paradizka, PB, PK-9, V-9) - a red-leaved variety bred by V. I. Budagovsky. The latter was created as a dwarf rootstock or intercalary insert for tall, large-fruited varieties of domestic apple trees. He is also a fourth generation descendant of the Niedzwiecki apple tree. Parents: rootstock M8 x Red Standard. Therefore, it has a pronounced red color of the leaves, dark cherry of the shoots, and bright pink of the flowers. It is very decorative, especially in spring and autumn, and can be successfully used not only as a rootstock, but also for landscaping purposes. However, since the variety was created for a very specific use as a dwarf rootstock, obtaining large and tasty fruits from it was not the goal when breeding it. They are small, although brightly colored, sweet and sour, their flesh is pink. Due to their ordinary taste, they can only be used for technical purposes and for processing. Productivity is high. The tree is low-growing, the wood is fragile, red in color. Propagated by layering, green cuttings, grafting. The variety is well compatible with all large-fruited varieties. The root system is branched, fragile, located in the lower part of the arable horizon, and can withstand temperatures down to -13…14ºС. The winter hardiness of the trees is average, but in the North-West the variety can grow, although in some years it freezes slightly. Scab resistant. There are some other red-leaved rootstocks, bred later than Paradise Budagovsky (including on its basis), which can also be used for landscaping purposes; for example, rootstock 62-396, which also has high winter hardiness, rootstocks No. 57-146 and No. 57-49, which are currently undergoing extensive testing. In addition, many small-fruited red-leaved varieties can be used for the same purpose. First of all, this applies to the Pionerochka variety, which was bred at the Pavlovsk VIR station, and which is also a descendant of the Nedzvetsky apple tree. It is distinguished by its strong growth, the crown is elongated, rounded, openwork. The shoots are thin, reddish-brown, shiny. The leaves are dark green, medium-sized, with red petioles and veins; turn red in autumn. The fruits are small, 20-30 g, the skin and pulp are colored with anthocyanin (red), contain 11% sugars, up to 2.0% acids, 32 mg/% vitamin C. They are harvested in early September. They are not stored in storage. The variety is highly winter-hardy, resistant to scab and other diseases. It begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting and produces abundant harvests every year. The fruits are mainly used for processing: jam, compotes, marmalade, etc.

In addition, a whole group of small-fruited apple trees consists of special decorative varieties, the so-called crabs. They are especially popular in the USA. Among them there are many red-leaved ones with pink flowers of various shades. These are varieties such as: Makomik, Alba, Violescence, Garingo, General Grant, Marengo, Minnesota, Oblonga, Striata, Fastigata bifera, Floribunda, Floribunda astrosanguinea and others. Most of them are low or medium-height trees with an elegant crown, blooming profusely and beautifully. The fruits are small or medium-sized (photo 6), brightly colored, suitable, in most cases, only for processing. Winter hardiness is high. If desired, a more detailed description of them can be found in the book by L.P. Simirenko “Pomology”, vol. 1, Kyiv, 1961, and other publications.

In our country, among similar American varieties, the most common variety is Dolgo (a descendant of the Siberian apple tree). The tree is medium-sized, the crown is rounded, densely leafy. The variety is winter-hardy and resistant to scab. It begins to bloom and bear fruit in the 3-4th year.

Not only is it very decorative with pale pink flowers and bright red fruits (photo 7); but it also produces huge yields of magnificently beautiful small, weighing 12-25 g, very beautiful, oval-shaped bright red apples (photo 8). Their pulp is juicy, sweet and sour, aromatic. They can be used fresh, but are much tastier in processed products. They are especially suitable (entirely, together with the stalks) for making original and wonderful-tasting jam, in which they become bright orange-red, translucent, so that the seeds are visible through their pulp.

But those apple trees in which one half of the crown blooms with ordinary white flowers, and the other with bright pink, look especially unusual and beautiful on the site. This effect is achieved by regrafting part of the crown with a variety that has the same flower color. For the most part, it will again be a descendant of the Niedzwiecki apple tree. And it would be even more original if such vaccinations were performed one by one on all the main skeletal branches. Then, either white or bright pink spots of flowers strewn across the crown, changing places in a checkerboard pattern and gradually decreasing in size, will rise in steps up the crown. Even when flowering ends, the effect of such vaccinations will not disappear, but will simply change its shape, because on the trees there will be a contrast between the blooming light green and reddish-dark green leaves of both varieties. It is highly desirable that their fruits also be, respectively, golden (bright yellow) and red, preferably scarlet in color. To the contrast of color, you can also add the contrast between the shape and size of the fruit. Then the trees will look very attractive and original not only in spring, but also in late summer - early autumn. In addition, even later, during leaf fall, the bright colors of yellow and purple leaves will again appear. And even after its completion, when such apple trees are already bare, dark red or cherry shoots of the red-leaved variety will enliven the crown, and to some extent contrast with the brown-brown shoots and branches of the apple tree-rootstock. It is best to use trees with similar contrasts for single plantings as tapeworms. Then a person’s gaze, not distracted by other objects, will involuntarily be fixed longer on these original trees. And one more thing - if a lot of similar apple trees are planted, this will create some unnecessary diversity on the site, and the taste quality of the crop will noticeably suffer from this. In extreme cases, there can be a maximum of two such trees, for example on both sides of the gate, or at both wings of the house. Moreover, in this case it will be necessary to strive for the apple trees to be, as it were, a mirror image of each other. This is especially true for trees in which half of the crown has been regrafted, i.e. with their pink parts they should be facing one another - this will create an additional illusion of depth of perspective. Bringing the white sides together will be somewhat less effective, although creating such a composition is also possible. But the sequential alternation of colors - white - pink - white - pink, or vice versa - will create an unpleasant variegated effect. Finding contrasting flowering varieties suitable for grafting is not so difficult. All that remains is to learn how to plant, or find someone who would create a similar original garden decoration for you. When using purely red-leaved varieties, in addition to tapeworms, you can additionally create small curtains and alleys along paths.

But not only specially bred ornamental varieties are beautiful and decorative. The domestic apple tree during flowering (photo 9) and fruiting (photo 10) is also very attractive, and is only slightly inferior to them in beauty. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully place its trees on the garden plot so as not only to obtain high yields of apples, but also to make the most of their beauty and decorativeness.

They will decorate any garden with their luxurious blooms and bright colors of fallen leaves. Apple trees are beautiful trees: a lush crown, dwarf fruits, glowing among the lush green foliage.

Description of ornamental apple trees

This crop is a low tree. The top point of the crown reaches ten meters in height. Certain types of ornamental apple trees take the form of shrubs. If the crown is not formed, it will be an irregular oval or ball. There are fruit-bearing varieties, but their fruits do not have excellent taste, many of them are not edible at all. The bark of the trunk may be pastel or brown.

When choosing varieties of ornamental apple trees, special attention should be paid to the color and shape of the leaf plates. In some species they have a red tint and do not fall off for a long time in the fall, thanks to which designers have the opportunity to create magnificent landscapes, even if the soil composition is poor and the weather conditions are unfavorable. However, the main foliage color of ornamental apple trees is green. With the onset of autumn it changes to yellow and red. The leaves have the shape of an ellipse or plum, their length is 10 cm.

During flowering, the crown is strewn with numerous flowers with a heady aroma; their diameter is four centimeters. The main color is white, but with peach, pink or ivory shades. Inflorescences are bouquets collected from single flowers. The fruits are formed immediately after flowering, at first they are green, then yellow or red.

Features of cultivation

Ornamental apple trees have an amazing property: they do not respond to unfavorable factors that the environment presents from time to time. The culture is frost-resistant, grows in regions with cold climates, and is also not afraid of drought, growing on saline soils, in a polluted environment and in the conditions of modern cities.

Ornamental apple trees are grown in areas illuminated by sunlight. Here they will not lose their decorative properties and will decorate the garden at any time of the year. Apple trees grow poorly in areas even with light partial shade, and they cannot tolerate shade at all. It is unlikely that in such conditions they will delight with abundant flowering and fruiting.

What soils do they grow on?

Apple trees do not have any special requirements for soil, but they have their own preferences: fertile, fresh soil. They grow in any conditions, but overly moist, dry, sandy, swampy and rocky soils are not desirable for them. These ornamental plants are attractive even when grown in poor soils.

Landing

The procedure is almost the same as for most woody plants in the garden. It is better to plant ornamental apple trees in the spring, before the buds open. But this can also be done in the autumn; planting occurs in September or early October. Seedlings of four years of life are planted in spring and autumn, adult plants - only before the onset of winter. It is especially important what plants will grow in the neighborhood. Apple trees need free space, so it is better not to plant them next to large specimens. For each, a space is left equal to the diameter of the crown of an adult tree, approximately five to six meters. The distance between apple trees and neighboring crops should be two to three meters.

Holes for planting need to be dug large, with a diameter of 80 cm and a depth of about one meter. This is done in advance, in the fall or 30 days before planting. The soil in the hole is replaced with another, prepared independently: leaf soil from the garden, sand and humus are mixed in a ratio of 1: 2: 3 parts. Mineral fertilizer is added to the resulting mixture in an amount of 250-300 g. Without soil improvement, apple trees take a long time to take root. The root collar should not be covered with soil; it should be above its surface.

How is the crown formed?

This is usually done during pruning. There are many types of crowns according to their shape: weeping, tiered, improved, cordon, palmette and others. Regardless of the time of planting: spring or autumn, formation is done next year, as soon as spring comes, but the buds have not yet bloomed. This time falls in April, its beginning.

In the spring, a strong shoot stands out on the seedling, growing in a vertical direction. Three or four branches are selected from it, spaced evenly along the trunk, and cut to the same height. When forming a crown, you need to place the branches at a sufficiently large distance from one another, and the central one should be higher than the rest. The following year, in March, the selected branches are shortened at the level of strong outer buds. Shoots that may compete are removed. In subsequent years, several new branches are selected and formed in the same way.

Some ornamental apple trees are shaped like weeping trees. To give the crown this shape, the apple tree needs to be grafted onto a standard at a level of one and a half meters from the ground. After three to four years, the branches will hang to the ground surface. Subsequently, they need to be trimmed regularly so that the crown is beautiful and transparent.

How to care for a tree?

An ornamental apple tree requires appropriate care. This crop grows best in fertile, well-drained soils and requires moderate watering, but does not tolerate stagnant water. The soil in the tree trunk circles should be mulched with crushed conifer bark, nut shells, sawdust, and peat. This will retain moisture in the soil and rid the apple tree of weeds.

In the spring, preventive spraying of trees is carried out. If the fruits are not to be consumed, pest control can be carried out during the flowering period of the apple tree, the formation and ripening of its fruits. But it is better to refrain from this, since delicious apples attract, especially children. In addition, birds feed on them. To prevent anyone from getting poisoned, it is better to control pests with chemicals before the onset of the growing season.

Apple trees are affected by diseases such as powdery mildew and scab. In addition, trees are infected by bacteria that cause burns. In this case, such specimens must be destroyed, since the disease can quickly spread to other trees.

In the climatic conditions of our country, this species is the most common. Experienced gardeners believe that the Niedzwiecki apple tree has no equal among other fruit representatives. This low tree reaches a height of three and a half meters. The crown has an oval shape, its width is two and a half meters. As you can see, the parameters of the two measurements are almost the same. This makes the crown look even more rounded, which gives the whole tree a cozy appearance. During abundant flowering, the tree is covered with purple buds, and during the fruiting period - with crimson apples four centimeters in diameter. The only disadvantage of the Niedzvetsky apple tree is damage in severe frosts.

Weeping apple tree

This variety has another name - “riverside”. The apple tree is distributed mainly in North America, but it grows well here too. It is not afraid of severe frosts and can easily withstand them due to the large thickness of its bark. If you provide good care, its height reaches 12 meters. It got its name because of its flexible branches, which bend down to the ground under the weight of numerous fruits and leaves.

red leaf apple tree

This is a hybrid crop, therefore it is able to withstand conditions that are called unfavorable. Another advantage is resistance to diseases such as scab and other lesions characteristic of this species.

The decorative red-leaved apple tree reaches a height of four meters. The crown is lush and wide. Its diameter is three meters. This is an amazing plant. The leaves are purple at first, and when the red fruits ripen, they turn emerald. It withstands frosts without being damaged.

Siberian

Today it is the most popular decorative crop. The homeland of the apple tree is China. In the wild, the place of growth is Siberia. It is grown everywhere to decorate the landscape. Flowering occurs in spring. At this time, the crown of the tree looks like a cloud of white and pink. Apples, like beads, ripen in the fall. The tree has an average height of approximately five meters. The crown has an umbrella-shaped or rounded shape. The leaves are elongated, the surface is smooth, the tip is pointed. Flowering lasts 14 days. The fruits ripen quickly, but are not suitable for eating.

Royalty

This variety of apple tree is characterized by slow growth. It takes 8-10 years for a tree to become an adult. After this, its height reaches five meters. The crown is wide, four meters in diameter. The Royalty apple tree has unusual leaves. They are narrow, glossy and purple in color. In autumn, the leaves turn red, but their brightness and attractiveness remain. The Royalty apple tree is resistant to frost, but does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil.

Robin

The apple tree grows in the form of a low bush, shaped like an oval. The crown of the plant is wide and dense. This variety is distinguished by the color of its buds: they are red, rich, attractive even before blooming. During the flowering period, the bush is covered with numerous flowers with a raspberry scent, hence the name.

Lesnaya

The modest apple tree is native to Europe. The tree can grow up to three meters, but its height can be 10 m. The crown is spreading, the leaves are wide, ovoid in shape. The flowers are four to five centimeters in diameter and are white or pink. The fruits, 4-5 cm in diameter, are spherical in shape, yellowish-green in color with a pink blush. The apples are edible, but slightly sour.

Melba

The apple tree is a creeping variety. The fruits are edible and ripen in the summer. They are white in color with a hint of red. Large enough for decorative fruit trees, the weight of one apple is 80-100 g. Storage is average in duration - one month.

Chinese

This type of apple tree has tasty fruits. They are used to make compotes and jam. The Chinese apple tree is adapted to growing in the Russian climate, including in the northern regions. Refers to wild varieties with rapid growth. Over the course of a year it adds 20-30 cm and can reach 10 meters in height. The Chinese apple tree is decorative: the branches are hidden behind pleasant emerald leaves, and during the flowering period - behind snow-white flowers. It seems that the crown is covered with snow. This species has many varieties, some of which are presented below.

Golden Chinese

This is the most popular variety. It is not distinguished by high frost resistance, but has other undeniable advantages: it ripens early, fruiting occurs quickly, and there is no need to wait five to eight years. The crown is weeping, the fruits are formed mainly in the apical part of the branches, they are edible. Weight reaches 30 g, size - seven centimeters. The apples are yellow and sour in taste, but very pleasant. However, they do not last long, only seven days, and fall off when ripe. The fruits are high in vitamins, microelements, and amino acids, so they are consumed fresh. In addition, they are used for making jams, jams, marmalades, and jellies. Juices and wine are made from them.

Bellefleur-Chinese

A popular variety that can often be found in garden plots. The tree is tall, the crown is dense, and therefore needs shaping. The fruits are edible and large enough for an ornamental breed; individual specimens weigh 500-600 g. They are colored yellow with a pink tint in the form of stripes. They have a sweet and sour taste, a pleasant aroma, and are stored for a long time, two months. The apple tree begins to bear fruit after eight years of life, the yield is small.

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 stems.

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, preferably in the fall of 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 - ideal. The soil removed from the holes must be replaced with a special substrate. A two-fold portion of sand and a three-fold portion of humus are mixed with the leaf soil. 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 this 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 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. It prefers moist to moderately moist 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.