Malus Rudolph / Crab apple Rudolph
Price range: £45.00 through £440.00
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Description
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Rudolph Crab Apple
- Botanical Name: Malus ‘Rudolph’
- Plant Type: Deciduous ornamental & fruiting tree
- Mature Height: 4–5m (as a standard tree; can be kept smaller with pruning or on dwarfing rootstock)
- Mature Spread: 3–4m
- Flowering Period: April to May
- Flower Colour: Deep rose-pink, opening from red buds
- Fruit: Small, oval, orange-red crab apples; highly ornamental, persist into winter
- Foliage: Bronze-purple when young, maturing to dark green with a purple tint, and turning yellow/orange in autumn
- Hardiness: RHS H6 (hardy throughout UK & Ireland)
- Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained, moderately fertile
- Aspect: Full sun to partial shade
- Maintenance: Low to moderate (annual pruning to maintain form)
Description
Malus ‘Rudolph’ is a striking crab apple, celebrated for its vibrant spring blossom, dramatic foliage, and colourful autumn fruit. In April and May, the tree bursts into bloom with masses of deep rose-pink flowers, opening from bold red buds and attracting pollinators in abundance. As the season progresses, the foliage transitions from a rich bronze-purple to a dark green with a subtle purple sheen, before turning shades of yellow and orange in autumn.
By late summer, ‘Rudolph’ is studded with small, oval, orange-red crab apples that persist well into winter, providing a valuable food source for birds and a splash of colour when the garden is quiet. Its upright, rounded habit makes it ideal as a specimen tree in lawns, mixed borders, or as a feature in smaller gardens.
With reliable performance, strong disease resistance, and year-round interest, ‘Rudolph’ is a fantastic choice for both traditional and contemporary gardens, bringing structure, colour, and wildlife value to the landscape.
Caragh Garden Notebook
Planting:
Space trees 3–4m apart for standards. Plant bare-root or container-grown trees in late autumn to early spring (November–March). Choose a sunny, sheltered site with fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid waterlogged areas and frost pockets. Dig a generous hole, incorporate well-rotted compost, and plant at the same depth as in the nursery. Firm soil, water well, and mulch to retain moisture.
Space trees 3–4m apart for standards. Plant bare-root or container-grown trees in late autumn to early spring (November–March). Choose a sunny, sheltered site with fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid waterlogged areas and frost pockets. Dig a generous hole, incorporate well-rotted compost, and plant at the same depth as in the nursery. Firm soil, water well, and mulch to retain moisture.
Soil Preparation:
Prefers moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.0 is ideal. Improve poor soils with compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
Prefers moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.0 is ideal. Improve poor soils with compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
Pruning & Care:
Minimal pruning is needed—remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late winter or early spring. Lightly thin the crown to maintain shape and good airflow.
Minimal pruning is needed—remove any dead, damaged, or crossing branches in late winter or early spring. Lightly thin the crown to maintain shape and good airflow.
Fruit Use:
The small, colourful fruits are highly ornamental and excellent for wildlife. While not typically used for jelly, they add winter interest and support garden biodiversity.
The small, colourful fruits are highly ornamental and excellent for wildlife. While not typically used for jelly, they add winter interest and support garden biodiversity.
Pests & Problems:
Generally reliable and disease resistant, but watch for aphids and apple scab. Good hygiene and regular checks help keep trees healthy.
Generally reliable and disease resistant, but watch for aphids and apple scab. Good hygiene and regular checks help keep trees healthy.
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