If you are looking for a tall, narrow growing screening tree with great autumn colour, then Malus trilobata could be worth look.
This is smaller growing than the overused Pyrus ‘Capital’ and other Pyrus varieties, and in our opinion with much better colour.
It will still reach a good height, to around 7 metres (21ft) its deciduous, so lets in good light in winter, and copes with a range of soil conditions.
Commonly called the Lebanese Wild Apple it is though to be in a genus of its own, is Eriolobus trilobata may be more correct.
Attractive open white flowers and foliage that looks a little like a Canadian Maple, the flowers are sometimes followed by small yellow fruits.
This is an attractive medium to small tree, suited to smaller gardens as well as for planting in avenues or as an informal screen.
Care
Best grown in a humus rich well drained soil, although it is actually tolerant of a range of soils. It grows welling full sun to a part shade and requires little to no pruning.
Once planted, water in well with a liquid seaweed fertiliser and mulch around the tree to help suppress weeds and maintain a cool moist root run.
Summary Information
- Botanical Name – Malus trilobata (Eriolobus trilobata)
- Common Names – Lebanese Wild Apple, Cut Leaf Flowering Crabapple.
- Position – Full sun to part shade.
- Soil – Well drained, humus rich.
- Height – 5 -7 metres.
- Spread – To around 4 metres.
- Growth rate – Medium to slow depending on conditions.
- Flowers – White and cup shaped.
- Flowering Time – Spring
- Foliage – Mid to deep green, tri lobed turning to shades of red in autumn.
