Malus Cultivars A-B

'Adams'

Growth Rate/Size: Medium (<6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Rounded to vase shaped
Foliage: Green, bronzed when young
Flower colour: Deep pink from red buds
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Fruit size: Small (<2 cm)
Fruit colour: Red
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Resistant
Raiser/collector: Walter Adams, MA, USA
Date of introduction: Before 1952

Malus 'Adams', Arnold Arboretum, May 2018 Image William (Ned) Friedman / Arnold Arboretum.

Malus 'Adams', Arnold Arboretum, May 2018 Image William (Ned) Friedman / Arnold Arboretum.

Malus 'Adams', Arnold Arboretum, May 2018 Image William (Ned) Friedman / Arnold Arboretum.

Malus 'Adams', Arnold Arboretum, August 2018 Image William (Ned) Friedman / Arnold Arboretum.

'Adirondack'

Growth Rate/Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Narrowly upright
Foliage: Green
Flower colour: Dark carmine buds, opening ivory, fading pure white
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm across)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Mid
Fruit size: Very small (<1 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Orange-red
Fruit season: Mid to late, persistent
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Highly resistant
Parentage/origin: Open pollinated seedling of M. halliana ‘Koehne’
Raiser/collector: Donald Egolf, National Arboretum, Washington D.C., USA
Date of introduction: 1987
General notes: One of the finest white-flowering, upright growing crabapples, with showy persistent fruit well into December. The flowers appear attractively cup-shaped and long lived when the weather is cool. It was selected from 500 seedlings innoculated with fireblight to judge resistance. Ideal for small gardens.

Malus 'Adirondack' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Adirondack' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Adirondack' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Adirondack' fruiting at Cherry Tree Arboretum, Shropshire, UK in October 2022. Image John Grimshaw.

Malus 'Adirondack' fruiting at Cherry Tree Arboretum, Shropshire, UK in October 2022. It is reliably prolific in flower and fruit. Image John Grimshaw.

'Aldenhamensis'

Growth Rate/Size: Medium (<6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Rounded to open
Foliage: Burgundy at first, fading to dark green
Flower colour: Vinous red
Flower size: Small (<3 cm across)
Flower form: Semi-double
Flower season: Late
Fruit size: Small (<2 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Reddish-purple
Fruit season: Mid
Disease resistance/susceptibility: High susceptibility
Parentage/origin: Hybrid seedling attributable to M. × purpurea
Raiser/collector: The Hon. Vicary Gibbs, Aldenham House, Hertfordshire, UK
Date of introduction: 1920
General notes: Historically an important cultivar, still available commercially. At its best the flower display is glorious, but its disease susceptibility disappoints from midsummer onwards.
(Description duplicated under Malus × purpurea ‘Aldenhamensis’)

Malus 'Aldenhamensis' (RBG Kew, May 2021). Image John Grimshaw.

'Almey'

Growth Rate / Size: Medium (<6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Broadly rounded
Foliage: Young leaves reddish bronze
Flower colour: Deep rose-pink with a touch of white in the centre
Flower size: Large (>4 cm)
Flower form: Single but often with 6 or 7 petals
Flower season: Early
Fruit size: Small (<2 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Orange-red with crimson flush
Fruit season: Late, persistent
Disease resistance/susceptibility: High susceptibility to scab
Parentage/origin: Rosybloom type (derived from M. baccata × M. sieversii f. niedzwetzkyana)
Raiser/collector: W.R. Leslie, Canadian Department of Agriculture Experimental Station, Manitoba
Introduction date: 1945
General notes: A typical rosybloom type with susceptibility to leaf scab in summer, but showy and profuse flowering in the spring when at its best.

Malus 'Almey' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Almey' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

'Amberina'

Growth Rate / Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Upright to spreading
Foliage: Dark green
Flower colour: Creamy white
Flower size: Small (<3 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Mid
Fruit size: Very small (<1 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Bright orange-red
Fruit season: Mid
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Resistant
Parentage/origin: M. ‘Christmas Holly’ × M.× zumi
Raiser/collector: Fr John L Fiala, OH, USA (1981)
Introduced / date: About 1989 by Klehm Nursery, IL
General notes: A graceful, healthy small tree with profuse flower and fruit well into autumn. The dark green leaves turn vivid yellow in autumn. The tree takes on a weeping effect under the weight of the fruit. Named after the well-known glassware. PP 6942 granted 1989.

'Arie Mauritz'

Growth Rate/Size: Large (>6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Strongly upright, pyramidal at first, ovoid later
Foliage: Green
Flower colour: White from pale pink buds
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Late
Fruit size: Small (<2 cm), larger than some M. hupehensis
Fruit colour: Bright red
Fruit season: Persistent
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Resistant
Parentage/origin: Claimed as a selected clone of M. hupehensis, status uncertain
Raiser/collector: Jan P. Mauritz, Netherlands
Date of introduction: About 2010
General notes: Marketed as a street tree in Europe

'Aros'^PBR

Growth Rate / Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Narrowly upright
Foliage: Large, very dark purple
Flower colour: Two tone, pink with a white centre
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Mid
Fruit size: Very small (<1 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Dark purple
Fruit season: Mid
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Resistant
Parentage/origin: Unknown by breeder but M. toringo (leaf shape) and M. ‘Laura’ (flower) are apparent; certainly not pure M. toringo as often listed
Raiser/collector: Arne R. Jenson Planteskole, Denmark
Date of introduction: 2015
General notes: A remarkable, small, upright tree with impressive dark purple to nearly black leaves in spring and early summer. The flowers are two tone, deep pink with white centres similar to M. ‘Laura’. One of the best introductions for some years. PVR reference malus 224krj

Malus 'Aros' Image Frank P. Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Aros' Image Frank P. Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Aros'. Cherry Tree Arboretum, Shropshire, UK. 11 May 2023. Image Tom Christian.

'Bailears'

Growth Rate/Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Weeping
Foliage: Dark red when young, green flushed red later
Flower colour: Purple-pink from deep pink buds
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Early-mid
Fruit size: Very small (<1 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Dark red
Fruit season: Persistent
Parentage/origin: Self sown, perhaps ‘Louisa’ × ‘Prairifire’
Raiser/collector: Jon & Michael Koeneman, IN, USA
Date of introduction: About 2011 by Bailey Nurseries, MN
General notes: PP 22001 granted 2011.

'Bali'

Growth Rate / Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Rounded, open
Foliage: Mid-green
Flower colour: Pink
Flower size: Large (>4 cm)
Flower form: Semi-double to double
Flower season: Mid
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Resistant
Parentage/origin: Unknown
Raiser/collector: Bred by Tom Matthews, Wanganui, New Zealand
Date of introduction: 2005
General notes: Although not in commerce even in New Zealand at the time of writing (2021), this cultivar is a quite beautiful flowering tree for its very large, double, pink flowers. It produces no fruit. Worthy of introduction in the future.

Malus 'Bali' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Bali' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

'Barbara'

Growth Rate / Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Rounded, open
Foliage: Small to medium leaves emerging dark purple
Flower colour: Rose-pink
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Mid
Fruit size: Very small (<1 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Dark purple
Fruit season: Mid
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Low susceptibility
Parentage/origin: M. ‘Red Jade’ × M. sieversii f. niedzwetzkyana
Raiser/collector: Bred by Geoffrey Rowson, Wrantage, Somerset, UK in 2005
Date of introduction: 2014
General notes: Typical of many varieties of niedzwetzkyana parentage, where the rather large, flamboyant pink flower comes through. One of the more disease resistant of its type.

Malus 'Barbara' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

'Belmonte'

Growth Rate/Size: Large (>6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Broadly pyramidal to rounded
Foliage: Blue-green above, wooly beneath
Flower colour: White
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Late
Fruit size: Medium (<3 cm)
Fruit colour: Yellow-brown
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Slight susceptibility to scab
Parentage/origin: A clone of M. tschonoskii
Raiser/collector: Original tree growing at the Belmonte Arboretum, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Date of introduction: Named 1996 by Netherlands Inspection Service for Horticulture (NAKB), when already in Dutch nurseries.
(Description duplicated under Malus tschonoskii ‘Belmonte’)

'Branzam'

Growth Rate / Size: Medium (<6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Rounded, open
Foliage: Large
Flower colour: Rose-pink
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Densely double
Flower season: Mid
Fruit size: Medium (<3 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Green
Fruit season: Mid
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Low susceptibility
Parentage: M. × purpurea ‘Lemoinei’ × M. ‘Klehm’s Improved’
Raiser/collector: Simpson Nursery, IL, USA
Date of introduction: pre 1979 by Lake County Nursery, OH
General notes: One of the first modern double-flowered selections, and a fine specimen crabapple. Recognised for having a delightful apple blossom scent (rather than the violet scent of M. ioensis). Particularly fertile for a double flower, setting good crops of fruit.

'Brouwers Beauty'

Growth Rate/Size: Medium (<6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Rounded, somewhat spreading
Foliage: Green, sharply toothed
Flower colour: Blush, from purplish-pink buds
Flower size: Small (<3 cm)
Flower form: Single
Fruit size: Very small (<1 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Yellow
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Resistant
Parentage/origin: A clone of M. toringo
Raiser/collector: NAKB, Netherlands
Date of introduction: 1996
General notes: Marketed in Europe for uniform plantings.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​(Description duplicated under Malus toringo ‘Brouwers Beauty’)

'Butterball'

Growth Rate / Size: Medium (<6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Broadly spreading
Foliage: Green
Flower colour: White flushed pink
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Mid
Fruit size: Medium (<3 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Yellow flushed orange
Fruit season: Mid
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Resistant to leaf scab, some susceptibility to woolly aphid
Parentage/origin: Seedling of M. × zumi ‘Calocarpa’
Raiser/collector: Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle, USA
Date of introduction: 1956
General notes: A healthy, strong growing tree when young. The heavy crops of large yellow fruit can weigh the branches down in autumn giving the appearance of a gracefully weeping tree. The fruit which do not rot on the tree, make excellent crabapple jelly. A worthwhile variety, much better known in Europe than in North America.

Malus 'Butterball' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Butterball' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Heavy fruit crops weigh down the branches of Malus 'Butterball' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.