Ornamental apple 'Gorgeous'

Synonyms: Malus ×atrosanguinea 'Gorgeous', Gorgeous Crab Apple, apple 'Stript Beauty Gorgeous'

Ornamental apple Gorgeous — a hybrid between two Japanese species, M. toringa (synonym M. sieboldii) and M. Halliana. It was obtained by the well-known plantsman Haywood Wright in New Zealand and has been grown in nurseries since 1925.

It is a medium-sized tree up to 5 m in height and 4 m in diameter. The crown in youth is oblong-oval, branches directed upwards; in more mature age the crown becomes broadly oval with pendulous branches. Growth rate is slow.

Bark grey-brown, glossy, peeling.

Leaves oval, dark green, glossy. In autumn they turn bright orange and reddish-brown.

Blooms abundantly in April–May. Buds pink. Flowers whitish-pink, fragrant, single, 3-4 cm in diameter, bleach in the sun to bright white. Requires a pollinator.

Begins to fruit in the 3rd–4th year after planting. Fruits – small apples up to 2.5-3 cm in diameter, red or purplish-red, rounded, edible. Fruits abundantly, annually. Pedicel thin and long. Fruits ripen in November and remain on the tree practically all winter.

Hardiness zone: 5a

Location: for abundant flowering and fruiting it is recommended to plant in sunny, sheltered-from-cold-winds locations. Adapts well to environmental conditions and to sharp temperature fluctuations. Prefers moist, fertile soil with a slightly acidic reaction. Does not tolerate salinity. Recommended pH between 4.5 and 7.8.

Planting: spacing between trees should be no less than 4.5 m and 6 m between rows.

Care: fertilization is carried out twice a year – nitrogenous fertilizers in spring, potassium and phosphorus in autumn. Protection from rodents is necessary for winter.

Pruning: perform formative and sanitary pruning.

Diseases and pests: high resistance to scab. Susceptible to powdery mildew.

Propagation: by cuttings, seeds, grafting.

Uses: fruits can be used for making jams and preserves. In landscape design used as a specimen on lawns, in compositions with shrubs and trees, for decorating avenues, and for forming picturesque arches. Recommended for parks, gardens, and estates. Attracts bees during flowering.