Malus × purpurea 'Neville Copeman'
purple crab apple 'Neville Copeman' (syn. Malus 'Neville Copeman')
This tree is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: April to May
- Hardiness: fully hardy
A spreading deciduous tree with purple young foliage, later purple-flushed green, and light pinkish purple blossom featuring white streaks to the centres, followed by orange-red fruits 3cm (1”) in size. 'Neville Copeman' is a relatively long flowering crab, making this an excellent choice for pollinating apple trees.
When planting your flowering crab, prepare a hole up to three times the diameter of its root system. Fork over the base of the pit in readiness, incorporating plenty of organic matter into the backfill and planting hole. Avoiding frozen and waterlogged soil, trees should be planted out as they arrive. If you've ordered a bare root tree, soak the roots in a bucket of water for half an hour prior to planting, or if this is not possible, they can be heeled in temporarily, covering their roots with soil, or potted up. Choose a sheltered spot to protect emerging blossom. Remove dead, diseased and crossing branches while the tree is dormant during the winter months.
- Humans/Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten