Malus 'Sun Rival'
crab apple 'Sun Rival' (syn. Malus × scheideckeri 'Sun Rival')
Delivery options
- Standard £7.95
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 but well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: April and May
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Forming and umbrella-like shape with its semi-weeping stems, this compact crab apple makes a handsome specimen in smaller gardens, but it can also be grown in large pots provided it is kept well fed and watered. Producing clusters of soft pink buds, these open in mid- to late spring to scented white flowers, which are then followed by bright red fruits. Then, adding even further interest, the green foliage will turn shades of yellow and soft orange in autumn beofre it is shed.
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.