Page 81 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

81

Dwarf crabapple

Malus
Key features
If you want an easy-care fruiting tree that is ∙Growth is fast but the branches
interesting in several seasons, then look no further will always be slightly rounded
and coarse, and it is hard to get
than the Malus or crabapple genus. It will reward
them to taper nicely.
you with beautiful spring flowers followed by
abundant fruit in fall. The leaves can be a bit on the ∙Prune off any strong suckerlike
growth from old wood or the
large side and the branch growth is very coarse, but
tree will suffer.
those stunning flowers and fruit more than make up
∙Fertilize heavily once the fruit
for the crabapple’s defects.
has set but do not fertilize
during and just after flowering
or the tree will focus on growing
leaves rather than setting fruit.

Some of the fruit
will stay on the
tree in winter
11in / 28cm tall
Courtesy of John Pitt

Looking closer
Top and center: Usually the
flowers are pollinated naturally,
but to be sure of successful
fruiting, it is best to grow two
or three different species of
Malus close together.
Leaves are smaller Below: To achieve a thick,
on dwarf varieties interesting trunk, heavy cutting
back over many years is needed.
The trunk is cut back
heavily when young
to thicken it

Light-colored pot
accentuates the
fruit and balances
the heavy trunk