home · Lighting · The apple tree blooms with red flowers and the apples can be eaten. Ornamental apple trees: varieties with red leaves and pink flowers. Features of cultivation

The apple tree blooms with red flowers and the apples can be eaten. Ornamental apple trees: varieties with red leaves and pink flowers. Features of cultivation

Every gardener or cottage owner wants to decorate their plot not only with fruitful trees and shrubs, but also with beautiful ones. For these purposes, decorative varieties are often used, which are bred through selection just for such purposes. Although such species are considered quite rare, therefore not everyone can see an apple tree with red leaves, which will be discussed below.

The main difference between this tree and others is that its leaves are distinguished by bright shades of red and scarlet. This species is considered a hybrid, which, among other things, is resistant to various diseases and poor climatic conditions. From the very beginning of its growth, a decorative apple tree will delight everyone with its red leaves. The bush reaches an average height of four meters, and the crown grows by three meters. Therefore, such a plant will be hard to miss.

The tree can change the shade of its foliage with the changing seasons and sometimes you will witness not only purple leaves, but also emerald ones. Initially, red shades with white inflorescences will appear, and then green with blood-red fruits.

You don’t have to be afraid to grow such an ornamental apple tree in the harsh climate of cold winters. Because the plant can withstand even this. Therefore, you can meet it in Siberia and the Urals in Russia. The apple tree has about 50 subspecies, which are most common in temperate and subtropical climates. All of them differ not only in the shade of the leaves, but in their size, type of crown and flowers.

Standards and appearance

This variety of large-leaved tree is considered a hybrid between such varieties as Nedzvetskogo and Blood-red. Although there are apple trees where the degree of coloration of the foliage is completely different, which means the colors may differ. These plants themselves are not tall and do not grow more than five meters. Sometimes the leaves can remain red throughout the entire time, but sometimes the shade changes to emerald.

Apple tree flowers can be not only soft burgundy, but also dark red with a rough surface. They often completely cover the tree. On average, flowering lasts about two weeks, but only in good conditions. After this, we get beautiful fruits of the same color, which are sometimes even tasty and edible.

It should be noted that this species will require only fertile fresh soil for good growth, because it will not grow well in dry soil. Although already from the third summer you will notice their lightning-fast increase in size.

Planting this variety

For planting, you need to choose a well-lit place where there is space for a draft that will pollinate the surface around. It is best to deal with this issue in spring or early autumn. Although it is worth remembering that it will take time for you to root an ornamental apple tree, so do not put off this issue until later than the end of September. For planting, seeds or cuttings are used that have been prepared in advance by wrinkling the peel. It is best if you place the seeds in a cool, dark place a month before planting.

Options are possible when planting is carried out at home in boxes using seeds. This happens in early December and within a month you can see the first shoots. Do not forget to provide additional lighting and fertilizing, and then, after the last spring frosts, you can start growing apple trees.

If you decide to plant several trees, then the distance between them should be at least five to seven meters for convenient growth and development of the crown. At first you will have to use a lot of water for irrigation, about eight liters per seedling. Afterwards, this procedure will only need to be done once a week.

It is better to prepare the soil yourself and use humus, soil, sand, and peat to prepare it. Since ornamental red-leaved trees are resistant to different climates, soil salinity and even air dust, you should not be afraid about their future and development.

Caring for an ornamental apple tree

One of the maintenance considerations is that you will need to keep the area near the tree free of weeds and tall grass. Once a year you can use vitamin and mineral supplements, and the rest of the time apply organic materials to the tree trunk.

Abundant watering will be necessary only for young trees during periods of drought; for normal climates and mature apple trees, such care is not necessary. Pruning of the variety is carried out only for medicinal purposes, that is, to eliminate damaged branches. Although you can reduce the size of the crown more if necessary, this must be done either in the spring or at the end of winter. It all depends on the climate of your region.

Fruits should be collected only when they are fully ripe, but there is still no exact date. Although most note that this happens around mid-autumn. Despite the fact that not everyone may like the taste of apples, the jam they make is simply excellent.

Reproduction

Seeds or seedlings are used for propagation. Moreover, depending on the time of year, you may need both fresh and stratified materials, but it is important that sowing occurs almost immediately after harvesting, that is, in autumn or early spring. But cuttings are rarely used, since such sprouts do not take root well and can survive only if you additionally strengthen them immunostimulants. Although if we talk about rarer varieties, then grafting can also be used.

Usage

Because of its unusual appearance, this variety is used more for landscape design and decorating a site or a country house. Since the tree’s fertility is not very high, and not everyone will like the taste.

Tree diseases

Despite its high resistance to various infections, such as scab and dew, the tree is still not immune to burns. And since this disease is caused by a special type of bacteria, it is impossible to cure the plant. It will need to be destroyed. So take care of this right away if you don’t want your entire garden to get sick. In addition, do not import seeds or seedlings from places where this infection has been noticed.

As you can see, this type of apple tree will not only be a wonderful decoration for your garden, but will also not force you to spend a lot of effort and money caring for such an apple tree. And in the end you will get an unusual decorative tree and jam from its fruits.

Video “Features of caring for a red apple tree”

In the video below you can see what this tree looks like and learn how to care for it so that the apple tree pleases you every day for several years.

Aesthetic design of personal plots, parks, city alleys and public gardens is the main task of landscape designers and decorative artists. A green composition of well-chosen plants can decorate any recreation area. In order to decorate your garden plot, it is not necessary to purchase expensive ornamental plants. An apple tree with red leaves can be the highlight of any landscape project.

The popularity of this type of plant has led to the emergence of new varieties with improved aesthetics and taste of the fruit. Breeders have developed universal varieties of apple trees that not only decorate gardens and parks, but also delight owners with a stable harvest of fragrant fruits.


Overview of varieties with a brief description

The red-leaved apple tree is a type of ornamental fruit tree. For green compositions, this plant can be planted either one tree at a time or several plants together. Most of the varieties are used only for decorating the site due to the fact that the fruits are small in size and have unusual taste characteristics. Small apples become a delicacy for wild birds in winter. As a result of the long and painstaking work of professional breeders, new varieties of apple trees have appeared, the aromatic fruits of which have juicy pulp and are used not only for fresh consumption, but also for winter harvesting.

Small fruits contain large amounts of vitamins and nutrients necessary for the growth and development of the body. After laboratory studies, it was proven that the vitamin content in small apples is greater than in large ones.

Useful material:

  • pectin;
  • cellulose;
  • antioxidants;
  • vitamins and microelements (zinc, copper, iron, iodine, nickel);
  • polyphenol.


Medicinal properties of apples:

  • cleansing the digestive system;
  • removal of toxins;
  • strengthening the vascular system;
  • slowing down the aging of the body;
  • prevention of the development of tumors and cancer;
  • treatment of dysentery and colitis;
  • saturating the body with vitamins and microelements;
  • normalization of blood pressure and stabilization of the body’s water balance.



On the modern agricultural market you can see more than 200 varieties of this plant. All varieties differ from each other in the following parameters:

  • crown shape and size;
  • color scheme of leaves;
  • size, shape and color of apples;
  • flowering period and inflorescence color.

Plants of this type are universal pollinators that will have a beneficial effect on the amount of yield on neighboring trees.

The most popular and sought-after varieties of ornamental apple trees:

  • "Nedzvetsky";
  • "Helena"
  • "Profusion";
  • "Rudolf";
  • "Robin";
  • "Ola";
  • "Royal Beauty".

"Nedzvetsky"

"Rudolf"

"Ola"

"Royal Beauty"

Advantages:

  • resistance to the negative effects of low temperatures;
  • undemanding to soil type and watering;
  • high aesthetic indicators;
  • minimal care;
  • preservation of decorative properties in unfavorable conditions of polluted cities.


"Nedzvetsky"

The Niedzwiecki apple tree was named after the Russian breeder who, in the 19th century, drew attention to this tree. The shape of the tree has rounded features, and the size ranges from 2.5 to 5 meters. Young shoots grow in different directions and independently give the apple tree the shape of a ball. The color of the branches is purple and the bark is red. The leaves are dark red in spring and purple in summer. Large crimson flowers grow on long stalks. Flowering occurs in mid-May, and harvesting begins in mid-August.

Stable harvests are produced by mature trees more than 10 years old. The color of the fruit ranges from purple to red. The flesh is pink and tasty. The harvested crop can be used in home cooking.

Advantages:

  • resistance to low temperatures and drought;
  • resistance to the most common types of diseases;
  • unpretentiousness.

This variety was taken as the basis for the development of such hybrids as “Nikoline”, “Lemoine”, “Ellie”.



To implement design projects, you can trim the crown in any direction. After proper removal of young branches and shoots, you can give the plant even the most unusual shape and unique appearance.

"Helena"

The Helena variety apple tree is a low and compact fruit tree, the height of which does not exceed 3.5-4 meters. The size of burgundy leaves is up to 10 cm. The flowering period begins at the end of April. The flowers are large in size and purple in color. The fruits are very small, but tasty and aromatic, which are often used for food.

This variety can be found in regions with cold climates. Advantages:

  • unpretentiousness;
  • resistance to low temperatures and drought.



"Profusion"

The tree of the “Profusion” variety is a tall and powerful red-leaved plant, the height of which can reach 6 meters, and the crown diameter is more than 4.5 meters. The main feature of this species is the change in color of the foliage throughout the year from red to brown. The color scheme of flowers will also surprise the owners of their plots. During the flowering period, pink, red and purple inflorescences with a rich and pleasant smell can be seen on the tree. Very small fruits with a diameter of no more than 15 mm can be seen on the tree even at the end of winter.

The plant is planted in well-lit places. This variety is universal for urban gardens and parks. For the growth and development of a tree, fertile and moist soil is necessary.



"Rudolf"

This variety grows and develops well in different climatic conditions, so it is widely used not only on private plots, but also for decorating city alleys and parks. The apple tree variety "Rudolph" has a rounded crown shape. The standard tree height is 5 to 6 meters. The flowers are pink and the fruits are yellow. Ripe fruits are used to make jam and compote. Young plants must be planted in sunny areas with nutritious and fertile soil.

Advantages:

  • unpretentiousness;
  • resistance to negative environmental influences;
  • undemanding to soil type;
  • quick set of green mass.



To get a beautiful tree, you need to carry out sanitary and formative pruning of the crown every year after winter. If branches and young shoots are not removed, the plant takes on the appearance of a shrub that has several trunks. The location of the branches is vertical, with drooping tips. The decorative properties of the variety are maintained throughout the year.

"Robin"

The decorative variety "Malinovka" is a Baltic hybrid of two types of apple trees - "Siberian berry" and "Nedzvetsky". Apple trees of this variety belong to the autumn species of fruit trees. The plant was obtained through natural pollination. The tree reaches a height of more than 6 meters and has a ball-shaped crown. The name of the variety comes from the raspberry color of juicy and aromatic apples. The leaves are purple in spring and summer and green in autumn. The Malinovka variety is a high-yielding species with medium-sized fruits that taste like raspberries.

Apples have a universal purpose and are widely used for preparing winter preserves. You can enjoy the fragrant fruits not only in autumn, but throughout the entire winter season.

A bountiful harvest can be obtained already in the fourth year of growing the plant in any climatic conditions.



"Ola"

The maximum height of the “Ola” apple tree is no more than 5 meters. The period of abundant flowering begins in May. The diameter of ripe apples is no more than 30 mm. Ripe fruits are used not only for homemade preparations, but also for feeding wild animals and birds, since the berries hang on the tree until late winter.

For planting, you need to choose a partially shaded place with light and nutritious soil. In sunny areas, the apple tree must be additionally watered during the hot period. Timely pruning, proper care and treatment against diseases and pests will improve the quality and quantity of the harvest.

The main advantage of Ola apple trees is the preservation of decorative properties in the polluted atmosphere of large cities and near highways. Designers plant flowering trees in city parks, alleys and on roadsides. A tree planted in the center of a green composition looks most successful.



"Royal Beauty"

The variety "Royal Beauty" is a hybrid of fast-growing red-leaved apple trees. This variety is an analogue of Japanese sakura and is used to decorate green recreation areas in the Japanese style. The tree is very compact and miniature, the height of which is up to 3 meters, and the diameter of the crown is no more than 2 meters and resembles the appearance of an open umbrella. The flowering period lasts no more than 14 days and begins in early May. At the end of April, red buds appear on the tree, from which crimson flowers bloom. The appearance of the plant resembles a weeping willow, the branches of which droop. This feature makes the variety in demand and popular in the projects of landscape designers. Advantages:

  • low price;
  • umbrella shape;
  • self-pollinating;
  • changes in the color scheme of foliage throughout the year;
  • resistance to frost and sudden temperature changes;
  • The shape of the crown without regular pruning resembles a ball or oval.



The fruits of the ornamental plant are prohibited from being eaten. Apples have a bitter and unpleasant taste.

The “Royal Beauty” variety is based on the properties and characteristics of the “Nedzvetsky” apple tree. Later, breeders began to use this type of apple tree to develop new hybrids with improved properties and characteristics.

The unique properties of this species allow it to be planted in regions with unfavorable climates and low temperatures.

Despite the unpretentiousness of ornamental apple trees, owners of personal plots need to create the most comfortable conditions for the growth and fruiting of plants. If you choose a shaded place with marshy and infertile soil, the flowering period and the richness of the color palette will be significantly reduced.

Planting material must be purchased and planted in early spring or early autumn. Late planting will not allow the tree to take root and overwinter without damage.

You can grow a new plant from seeds, or propagation by cuttings is possible.

To plant seeds, it is necessary to prepare in advance a planting container with fertile and nutritious soil, into which the planting material must be placed at the beginning of winter. If favorable conditions are created, the first shoots can be seen in 30-40 days. After the weather becomes comfortable and favorable for plant growth, you can begin transplanting seedlings into open ground.



Young cuttings are rarely planted due to their poor survival rate. To obtain a new and healthy plant, it is necessary to use special preparations and stimulants to build immunity and the root system.

  • The distance between apple trees should not be less than 5 meters.
  • Young seedlings require additional watering and the application of mineral and organic fertilizers.
  • The main condition for the growth and development of strong and healthy trees is the timely removal of weeds and fallen leaves.
  • Only young plants require additional watering; mature trees need natural moisture.
  • In order to remove dry, damaged and diseased branches, it is necessary to carry out preventive pruning of the crown. Formative pruning is carried out only if desired and necessary.
  • Before harvesting, you must make sure that the fruits on the planted tree are edible and will not harm your health. Ripe apples are harvested in late autumn.




Ornamental varieties of apple trees are highly resistant to various types of diseases, but if the first signs of any infection appear, the damaged branches must be immediately removed, and the tree must also be treated with special chemicals.

In specialized stores you can see a large number of medicinal compounds, and experienced consultants will help you make the right choice and purchase the right drug.

Application in landscape design

Fruit trees on a personal plot always become a source of tasty and healthy fruits and a decoration for the entire garden, especially in the spring. Decorative apple trees with red leaves not only decorate the garden during the flowering period, but also become the highlight of the garden plot throughout the year. The bright colors of foliage and fragrant flowers will emphasize the individuality of the site and the aesthetic taste of the owners of the house.

During the period of abundant flowering, trees turn into multi-colored clouds, on which even the leaves become invisible, so designers advise planting them near evergreen conifers. In mid-summer, the flowering ball will change its color to red, purple or violet and will last until late winter. No less aesthetic pleasure awaits you in winter, when against the background of white snow you can see small apples of rich and bright colors. Tasty and aromatic fruits will become a favorite treat for birds and animals, and watching them will delight not only adults, but also children.

Among modern design projects you can find a large number of works made in the Japanese style. This direction is popular and in demand, but the climate of Japan has its own characteristics that favorably affect the growth and development of sakura. Sakura is a symbol of Japan, carrying the style and beauty of the country. The harsh climatic conditions of the country do not allow designers to use this plant. Unpretentious ornamental apple trees of such varieties as “Everest”, “Golden Hornet”, and “Purple” have become a unique analogue to the Japanese tree. Blooming apple trees have completely replaced sakura and saved owners from painstaking care for the capricious imported plant.

Professional gardeners advise plant red-leaved apple trees next to cherries, apricots and plums, then the garden will turn into a fragrant white sea of ​​aesthetic pleasure and beauty.

To create unusual shapes, experienced gardeners recommend using formative pruning. This variety of apple trees easily tolerates the removal of branches and shoots and holds its shape for a long time. It should be noted that the shape of the crown of ornamental apple trees initially has an unusual shape, so there is no need to resort to special adjustments.

The most successful placement of trees is on hills and near bodies of water. A recreation area near the river with blooming apple trees will become a favorite place for all family members.

Shrubs, all types of flowers and a well-groomed lawn look advantageous against the backdrop of unique apple trees. Plants with different flowering periods will create the feeling of an ever-blooming composition.

Strawberries planted under a tree will not only decorate the space, but also provide an opportunity to harvest a delicious harvest in the shade of a colorful apple tree.

A hedge composition of ornamental apple trees, quinces, blackberries and grapes will not only decorate the area near the fence, but will also protect the area from dust and drafts.


To get a beautiful and healthy tree, it is necessary to provide the plant with decent care. Experienced consultants from specialized stores and nurseries will help you choose the right seedling, and professional landscape designers will tell you how to create a unique composition.

This type of apple tree will also provide an opportunity for independent experiments in creating green recreation areas, which will not take a lot of financial costs and physical effort.

For information on decorative apple trees, see the following video.

– apples of paradise – apple trees with small decorative fruits that make excellent jam. In our gardens, hybrids and varieties of domestic apple trees with Chinese, Siberian, Ranetka and other apple trees are most often found.

Apple tree "Evereste"

During flowering (which lasts about 2 weeks), it is impossible to take your eyes off the apple tree, and the aroma from the white or pink flowers is simply dizzying. And when the fruits are formed, the trees are no less decorative. Apples on many varieties remain hanging until mid-winter, providing food for birds. Decorative apple trees reach a height of 3 to 10 meters depending on the variety, but can be easily shaped by pruning.

Chinese plum apple tree(Malusprunifolia), which comes from China, gets its name from its leaf shape, which resembles that of the Chinese plum tree. These are tall, unpretentious, drought-resistant trees (up to 10 m) with abundant fruiting even after harsh winters. In addition, they bloom very beautifully and profusely. Breeders have developed many forms with different sizes, crown shapes and fruit colors. The most common varieties are “Kitayka apricot” and “Kitayka Saninskaya”.

There are well-known frost-resistant varieties bred by Ivan Vladimirovich Michurin: “Dessert Chinese”, “Aniseed Chinese” and “Early golden Chinese”.

In the gardens of the Moscow region you can find winter-hardy Canadian variety "Kerr" with a good crown that does not require formative pruning. The variety has beautiful, non-shattering dark red fruits that can be used to decorate the New Year's table. Apples are delicious both fresh and in preparations: compotes, preserves, jams, marmalade, juices, wine, cider.

Quite often you can find them on sale now. variety "Royalty" with pink flowers and purple fruits up to 2 cm in diameter. Only the blossoming leaves with a purple tint are very beautiful in this variety.

Variety "Ola" Delights with bronze-red foliage, pink flowers and pink-purple apples.

Extraordinarily beautiful Niedzwiedzki apple tree during flowering: the buds are red-violet, and the flowers are bright raspberry-purple. The apples of this apple tree are dark red-violet and up to 2 cm in diameter.

Variety "Transitional" the latest blooming has creamy white flowers and yellow apples with a reddish side.

Scab resistant variety "Long", brought from the USA, will annually delight you with an abundance of bright red small apples.

The most frost-resistant ornamental apple trees are apple tree varieties th (Malusbaccata), Siberian. They can withstand frosts down to -50 degrees. But the fruits of the varieties are very small, like currants, yellow, red and orange. All varieties are simply amazing when flowering. U varieties "Hopa" flowers are purple-pink with a lilac tint, while the variety “StreetParade” has pink buds and white flowers.

Highly winter-hardy, medium-sized ranetki apple trees were obtained by crossing Siberian apple trees with large-fruited varieties. The most famous are “Ranetka Ermolaeva” and “Ranetka purple”.

Good winter-hardy, well-fruiting varieties have been bred from crossing Ranetki with domestic apple varieties (“Melba”, “Papirovka”, “Pepin saffron”, etc.): “Winter Saffron”, “Altai Dove”, “Scarlet Flower”, “Malinka”, etc. .

Location, soil

Ornamental apple trees grow well in sunny or semi-shaded places. In the lowlands, where cold air accumulates, they can freeze in the first years. Groundwater on the site should be located no higher than 2 meters to the soil level.

The soil for ornamental apple trees is prepared in the same way as for ordinary ones. Recommended composition: garden soil, peat, humus (compost), sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:0.5. For one tree, 100-120 g of any granular complex fertilizer is added to this mixture.

Landing

Ornamental apple trees with an open root system in the Moscow region are recommended to be planted in the spring: March-April or in the fall: from September 15 to October 10-15. Before planting, seedlings are soaked for 6-12 hours in a solution of any root stimulant (, humate, etc.), or you can use folk remedies. Before planting, you need to carefully examine the roots: broken and diseased ones are cut off to healthy tissue, and the sections are sprinkled with charcoal. Plant the apple tree in pre-prepared soil. The pit for planting is prepared in advance, at least 2 weeks in advance. When planting in spring, it is better to dig a hole in the fall. The recommended size of the planting hole is 50x60 cm. Please note that the soil will settle a little after planting, pulling the seedling with it. Therefore, we plant the apple tree so that the root collar (who doesn’t know what it is, look at it) is 4-5 cm above ground level, making a mound of soil. The roots need to be carefully straightened and completely covered with soil, compacting it. After planting, water the seedling thoroughly; you can use the root stimulator solution in which the apple tree was soaked, diluting it with water. Then the soil will definitely be added.

If an ornamental apple tree is purchased in a container, then it can be planted throughout the entire gardening period. Before planting, the container with the seedling should also be soaked in a solution of any stimulant or simply in water until air bubbles appear on the surface of the water (about 20-30 minutes).

Care

Ornamental apple trees, although they are less demanding on growing conditions than garden apple trees, require mandatory watering in dry summers. (2-3 buckets per tree).

Application in landscape design

The decorative apple tree looks great as a tapeworm on the lawn. However, ornamental apple trees can be used to form a hedge.

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 lenticels. 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.

A decorative apple tree is a separate option for decorating your garden in a unique way. It is grown solely for its appearance. These plants are small in size and often bear inedible 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 purple tint. 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 all necessary conditions are created, it can bloom for up to 1 month, which causes great demand in 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 fruit trees are propagated by 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 drained soils rich in essential substances. It is useful to use mulching with high-moor peat. Instead, you can use nut shells, 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. You should not carry out chemical pest control 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.