Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby' – Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple

$620.00

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Size: 100L

100L

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About Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby' – Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple

Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby' is a small deciduous crab apple grown for one thing above all others, the flowering. In early spring the whole tree disappears under masses of double ruby-pink blooms, held so densely that the branches are hard to see. Very few small trees give a display of that intensity.

It has an upright conical habit and stays compact at around 4 metres tall by 2.5 metres wide, which is what makes it useful. Most crab apples spread to 4 or 5 metres across and need real room. This one holds a narrow, tidy shape, so it fits a courtyard, a narrow side garden or an entry, and it can be repeated down a driveway without the canopies running into each other.

The colour does not stop with the flowers. New growth flushes ruby-red, small red fruit follows through summer and is taken by birds, and the foliage turns through ruby and red tones in autumn before dropping. It is in leaf, flower, fruit or colour for most of the year.

Fully deciduous and genuinely frost hardy, it suits cold-climate gardens across the Victorian high country, the NSW tablelands, Tasmania and the Adelaide Hills, as well as temperate coastal districts. Full sun is essential for the heaviest flowering. 'Wychwood Ruby' is a PBR-protected cultivar.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple

What is Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby'?

It is a small deciduous ornamental crab apple in the rose family, selected for its double ruby-pink spring flowers and compact upright form. The species Malus yunnanensis comes from south-west China. 'Wychwood Ruby' is a named PBR-protected cultivar of it.

How big does it grow?

Around 4 metres tall by 2.5 metres wide at maturity, in an upright conical shape. That is noticeably narrower than most crab apples, which typically spread to 4 or 5 metres, so it suits gardens where width is the constraint.

When does it flower and what does it look like?

Early spring. The flowers are double, meaning many petals rather than the single five-petal blossom of most crab apples, and a deep ruby-pink. They open in such quantity that the tree is covered from top to bottom. It is one of the heaviest flowering small trees available.

How is it different to other crab apples?

Two things. The habit is upright and conical at 2.5 metres wide, where Malus floribunda and Malus ioensis 'Plena' both spread to 4 metres or more. And the flowers are double ruby-pink rather than the white or pale pink singles common in the group, so the display reads much stronger from a distance.

Does it fruit, and is the fruit edible?

Yes, small red fruit follows the flowering through summer. Like all crab apples it is edible but very tart, so it is grown as an ornamental rather than for eating. Birds take the fruit readily, which is part of the appeal.

Does it get autumn colour?

Yes. The foliage turns through ruby and red tones before dropping, and new spring growth also flushes ruby-red. Colour is strongest in districts with cold nights through autumn.

Where does it grow best in Australia?

It is a cold-climate tree at heart and performs strongly through the Victorian high country, Ballarat and Bendigo, the NSW tablelands, Tasmania and the Adelaide Hills. It also grows well in temperate coastal districts including Melbourne and Sydney. It needs winter chill to flower properly, so it is not suited to the subtropics.

How do I care for it?

Plant in full sun in well-drained soil. Water deeply through the first two summers, then only in extended dry spells. Feed with a slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Prune in late winter while dormant, removing crossing or inward branches to keep the conical shape open. Watch for aphids on new growth in spring and for apple scab in wet seasons.

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Key Information to Know

Evergreen / Deciduous

Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby' – Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple is an Deciduous (Defoliates throughout colder months) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 4m (approx.)

Mature Width: 2.5m (approx.)

Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby' – Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (moderate) (approx.).

Frost Tolerance

Is Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby' – Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple frost tolerant?

Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby' – Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple is Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.

Flowering Information

'Wychwood Ruby' flowers in early spring, carrying double ruby-pink blooms in such quantity that the branches are hidden. The double form means many petals rather than the single five-petal blossom of most crab apples, which gives the display far more weight from a distance. Small red fruit follows through summer.

Native Information

Is Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby' – Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple an Australian Native? No

Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby' – Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple is Native to The parent species Malus yunnanensis is native to south-west China, particularly Yunnan, where it grows on mountain slopes and in open woodland. That mountain origin is the source of its cold hardiness. 'Wychwood Ruby' is a named PBR-protected cultivar selected for its double ruby-pink flowering and compact upright habit.

Wildlife Value

The heavy spring blossom of 'Wychwood Ruby' is a substantial early nectar and pollen source for bees and other pollinators at a point in the season when little else is flowering. The small red fruit that follows through summer is readily taken by birds.

Sunlight Information

Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby' – Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple will thrive best in:

Full Sun

Preffered Soil

'Wychwood Ruby' grows in most soils provided drainage is good, and does best in a free-draining loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Heavy clay needs gypsum and compost worked through before planting, or a raised mound. Persistently wet ground is the one thing it will not tolerate.

Botanical Information

Common Name: Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple

Genus: Malus

Botanical Species: yunnanensis

Family: Rosaceae

Botanical Name: Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby'

Landscape Uses

Feature Tree
Street Tree
Avenue Planting
Driveway Border
Council or Civic Landscapes

Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby' – Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple works in an:

Cottage Garden – romantic mix of flowers, colour, and texture.
Heritage / Traditional Garden – timeless, classic plantings for period homes.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Woodland Garden – layered, naturalistic design under dappled light.

Planting, Spacing & Care

Site: Full sun in a free-draining position. Sun is what drives the flowering, so do not compromise on it.

Soil preparation: Work compost and aged manure through the planting area before you start.

Hole: Dig twice the width of the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Set level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in and water deeply. Stake in exposed sites for the first two years.

Mulch: A 50 to 70 mm layer of organic mulch over the root zone, kept 50 mm clear of the trunk.

Feature tree: Standalone, allowing 3 metres of clear space around the canopy.

Avenue or driveway: 3 metres apart. The narrow 2.5 metre habit means the canopies stay separate rather than merging.

Informal screen: 2 to 2.5 metres apart for a continuous line of blossom.

Watering: Deep watering twice weekly through the first two summers. After that, only in extended dry spells.

Pruning: Prune in late winter while dormant. Remove crossing, inward or damaged branches to keep the conical shape open. The habit is naturally tidy, so little is needed.

Fertilising: A slow-release fertiliser in early spring, and again in autumn in poorer soils.

Pest and disease: Watch for aphids on soft new growth in spring, and for apple scab in wet seasons. Both are manageable. Good air movement around the canopy is the best prevention.

Loam soils: Ideal, giving steady growth and the heaviest flowering.

Sandy soils: Suitable when improved with compost and mulched well to hold moisture.

Clay soils: Tolerated once drainage is addressed. Work gypsum and compost through before planting, or plant on a raised mound.

pH preference: Slightly acidic to neutral, between 6.0 and 7.0.

Malus yunnanensis 'Wychwood Ruby' – Wychwood Ruby Crab Apple is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (moderate) (approx.).

Medium Growth Rate

Root Ball Dimensions (Width × Depth) For Planting

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

Ideal Conditions

Northern NSW (Byron, Coffs, Armidale)
Inland NSW / Tablelands (Orange, Bathurst, Canberra)
Sydney & Central Coast
South Coast NSW (Illawarra to Bega)
Melbourne & Surrounds (Metro, Bayside, Geelong, Bellarine, Mornington)
Western District & Central VIC (Ballarat, Bendigo, Hamilton)
Gippsland (Latrobe Valley, East Gippsland)
Alpine / High Country (Bright, Mansfield)
Adelaide Metro & Coastal
Adelaide Hills & Barossa

Thrives in

Full Sun

Frost Tolerance

Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.

Drought Tolerance

'Wychwood Ruby' needs deep, regular watering through its first two summers to establish. Once away it copes with moderate dry periods, though it is not a drought tree. In hot inland districts it holds condition and flowers better with occasional deep summer watering and a good layer of mulch over the root zone.