Description
The apple tree (Malus pumila, commonly and erroneously called Malus domestica) is a deciduous tree in the rose family best known for its sweet, pomaceous fruit, the apple.
The apple tree is a deciduous tree in the rose family best known for its sweet, pomaceous fruit, the apple. It is cultivated worldwide as a fruit tree, and is the most widely grown species in the genus Malus.
It is cultivated worldwide as a fruit tree, and is the most widely grown species in the genus Malus. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, Malus sieversii, is still found today. Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe, and were brought to North America by European colonists. Apples have religious and mythological significance in many cultures, including Norse, Greek and European Christian traditions.Plant Specifications
| Common Name | apple,seb,(Malus pumila, commonly and erroneously called Malus domestica, |
| Maximum Reachable Height | Minimum 10 feet. |
| Flower Colour | The 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 in) flowers are white with a pink tinge that gradually fades, five petaled, with an inflorescence consisting of a cyme with 4 to 6 flowe The central flower of the inflorescence is called the king bloom, it opens first, and can develop a larger fruit |
| Bloom Time | Non-flowering |
| Difficulty Level | easy to grow |
Planting and care
Use a balanced fertilizer every three months until the tree begins to bear fruit, and apply nitrogen annually once the tree is mature. Typically dormant during the winter, custard apple trees do not require regular watering.
They do, however, need watering twice a month starting in early spring, when they are actively growing. Use a water timer or drip irrigation system to supply custard apple trees with a sufficient amount of water.
Apple care
Use a water timer or drip irrigation system to supply custard apple trees with a sufficient amount of water. Overwatering the tree can lead to root rot, while under watering it can cause the leaves to fall and the fruit to burn in direct sunlight. Custard apple trees are sensitive to frost.
| Sunlight | Part shade to full shade |
| Watering | Medium |
| Soil | well-drained soil |
| Temperature | below 5 C |
| Fertilizer | Apply any organic fertilizer |
Apple special feature
Apple Court is a pinnately crested form that basically has the same gray/green/silver fronds as var. pictum, but differs by having distinctively crested pinnae on the fronds.
Apple uses
Ornamental Use:
- Woodland gardens, shade gardens or shaded border fronts
Medicinal Use:
- apple leaves (Annona reticulata) medicinal herbs are well used in Jamaica for a number of ailments
Culinary Use:
- Apples are an important ingredient in many desserts, such as apple pie, apple crumble, apple crisp and apple cake
- They are often eaten baked or stewed, and they can also be dried and eaten or reconstituted (soaked in water, alcohol or some other liquid) for later use
- When cooked, some apple cultivars easily form a puree known as apple sauce
- Apples are also made into apple butter and apple jelly
- They are also used (cooked) in meat dishes