Malus hupehensis (Tea Crabapple)

Extremely picturesque, Malus hupehensis (Tea Crabapple) is a vigorous deciduous tree of widely spreading, vase-shaped habit with straight, upright limbs studded with countless short lateral twigs on which flower spurs are formed. Opening from pink buds, masses of fragrant, single white blossoms appear in mid-spring. The blooms are followed by outstanding small fruits, 0.4 in. (1 cm), their greenish-yellow faces endowed with blushing red cheeks. Attractive to birds, they usually hang on until the winter. Emerging reddish-bronze in spring, the foliage becomes dark green until fall, when it turns yellow-green before dropping off, revealing the flaking, gray-brown bark. Good to excellent disease resistance. A splendid focal point in the landscape.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Grows up to 15-20 ft. tall and wide (450-600 cm).
• A full sun lover, this tree is easily grown in moderately fertile, well-drained soils. Once established, it is drought tolerant.
• Perfect as a specimen plant in city gardens or cottage gardens.
• Require only minimal pruning in late winter or spring to remove damaged, diseased, or misplaced growth.
• Propagate by seed sown in a seedbed in autumn or by chip budding in late summer. Grafting can be carried out in midwinter.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
• Native to China, Japan.
• Find where this species is invasive in the United States.
• Discover beautiful U.S. native plant alternatives.