Flowering Crab Apple trees are some of the best of all for spring flowers, small growing, hardy and masses of flowers.
Widely grown for the wonderful flowers Malus ioensis ‘Plena’ is also known as Bletchels Crab Apple. A compact small tree that will reach 6m over time the showy rosy pink flowers which turn white a few days afetr openeing in mid to late spring appear in masses. Flowers are sweetly perfumed.
Good autumn color with folaige turning a bright orange to red are an additional attraction. Excellent as a feature tree in larger gardens also working well in the garden border. This is not a prolific fruiting variety.
Malus ioensis ‘Plena’ Care
This is a slow growing tree especially when young, over time it will naturally form a nice rounded spreading crown. Frost tolerant and reasonably drought tolerant once established.
Best grown in full sun to part shade in a well drained humus rich soil. Malus ioensis ‘Plena’ will benefit from being staked when young, water in well with a liquid seaweed fertilizer and keep moist over the first summers. Fertilise with a general purpose slow release fertiliser like Ican Slow Food in early spring when new growth firat appears.
Pruning
Generally not required as Malus ioensis ‘Plena’ has a neat natural growth habit. Dead or damaged wood can be pruned back and some under pruning may be carried out to allow easy access for mowing.