Ornamental apple «Striped Beauty»

Ornamental apple Striped Beauty — an ornamental apple cultivar. It is a deciduous shrub or a small tree. The scaffold branches are fairly strong. The crown is funnel-shaped when young, becoming broadly rounded with age, dense, with drooping lateral shoots. It can reach 5-6 (7) m in height and 3-4 (5) m in width. Annual increase in height – 35 cm, in width – 30 cm.

Root system deep, on loam reaches 1 m in depth. Sensitive to digging and road surfacing. Produces root suckers.

Leaves arranged alternately, simple, smooth, narrowly ovate, dark green, glossy, 6-10 cm long. When unfolding they are grey-green. In autumn they change color to golden-orange or red-brown.

Flowers bloom abundantly in April - early May. Flowering, depending on growing conditions, can last up to 2 weeks. Flowers are white, simple, 3.5-4 cm in diameter, located at the ends of short shoots, fragrant, attracting bees. Petals number 5, not overlapping. Buds are blue-red or light pink-red, slightly striped. Requires a pollinator.

Fruits – small apples, numerous, round in shape, 2.5-3 mm in diameter, on an average-length stalk (2-3 cm), red, sometimes orange or yellow on the shaded side, edible. Bears fruit abundantly and regularly. Fruits remain on the tree until October-November.

Hardiness zone: 5a

Location: for abundant flowering and fruiting it is recommended to plant in sunny locations protected from cold winds. Adapts well to environmental conditions and to sharp temperature fluctuations. Prefers moist, fertile soil with a slightly acidic reaction. Does not tolerate salinity, heavy soil, or shallow groundwater. Recommended pH between 4.5 and 7.5.

Planting: the distance between trees should be no less than 4.5 m in width and 6 m between rows.

Care: fertilization is carried out 2 times a year – nitrogen fertilizers are applied in spring, potassium and phosphorus in autumn. Protection from rodents is necessary for the winter.

Pruning: sanitary pruning is performed

Diseases and pests: affected by powdery mildew and bacterial fireblight. Resistance to scab is high.

Propagation: by cuttings, seeds, grafting, root suckers.

Use: looks good in solitary (specimen) plantings, also as part of groups or planted in an avenue. Fruits are edible, used for making jams or preserves.