Have a question? Check out our FAQs

Malus hupehensis Tree

Name: Malus hupehensis Tree
Brand: Ornamental Trees
SKU: MA663.1
Price: 85.0 GBP
Availability: InStock

Tea Crab Apple Trees

Single stem tree, 150-200cm, 12L pot

£85

£85 ~~£85~~

Available As:

Single stem tree

Classic tree with one trunk

Despatched within 7-10 days

Multiple Sizes Available Tree Stake & Tie Kit

From £10

From £10 ~~£10~~

Add

Friendly Mycorrhizal Fungi Rootgrow

From £3.60

From £3.60 ~~£3.60~~

Add

Multiple Sizes Available Tree Planting Kit (stake kit + guard + rootgrow)

From £13

From £13 ~~£13~~

Add

Add To Basket For Gift Wrapping Gift Wrap Any Tree or Shrub - Custom Gift Tree

£10

£10 ~~£10~~

Add

View full details

Product Details

Planting & Care

Delivery Information

Key features

Awards RHS Award of Garden Merit

Final size 5 x 4 metres in 20 years

Foliage Green leaves turn yellow in autumn (deciduous)

Flowers Prolific white spring blossom

Fruit Ornamental red crab apples in autumn

Eco benefits Good for pollinators, food for birds

Soil Prefers moist yet well-draining soil

Description

Malus hupehensis or Tea Crab Apple is one of the most prolific flowering crab apple trees and renowned for its cloak of immaculate, fragrant white blossom that cover the tree from top to tail in spring. When the cloud of blossom finally departs, you are left with attractive, dark-green foliage, before a mass of small, red crab apples appear in autumn. These crab apples will usually hang on until the winter, providing a vital source of food for wildlife.

Originating in China where the leaves were brewed to make tea, Malus hupehensis is a popular ornamental tree in the UK that holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. With a rounded upright shape that broadens with age, the Hupeh Crab Apple tree will grow to 5 x 4 metres in 20 years and is suited to smaller gardens. It prefers a moist but well-drained site in full sun or partial shade.

This variety has large crab apples ideal for culinary use, so is sold with zero VAT.

AKA Chinese Crab apple, Tea Crab apple, Hupeh Crab apple, Hupei Crab apple, Hupeh crab, Malus theifera

Planting Steps

1Preparation

Pot-grown plants can be planted at any time of year, whereas bare roots need to be planted between November and March.
Clear weeds and grass within a metre of the planting hole.
Dig a hole as deep as the root mass and twice as wide.
To help your plant establish more effectively, sprinkle Rootgrow in the hole.

2Planting

Gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole.
Ensure the top of the plant's compost is flush with the level of the surrounding soil and the graft union or collar of the tree is above ground level.
Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% compost.
Fill in the hole, firming the soil gently.

3Last Steps

Water generously around the base of the plant.
If you are planting either a single stem tree or mature standard tree, we recommend adding a staking kit and rabbit guard.

Aftercare Advice

Crab Apple trees require a good watering regime for a couple of years whilst they establish. Water well and regularly through spring and summer, increasing in hot or dry weather. If planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little. It is advisable to keep the area free of competing weeds and grass during this period.

You can harvest culinary Crab Apples in early autumn or leave them for birds to enjoy. The trees should be pruned in winter but do not require hard pruning. Avoid trimming the tips of branches. Simply remove any dead or damaged branches and shoots at the base of the tree i.e. suckers and water sprouts.

For more detailed advice and video guides, please visit our Help & Advice section.

	Small shrubs (1-3)	Young trees & 4+ small shrubs	Select semi-mature trees & shrubs (1-4)	All other mature trees (any quantity)
Mainland UK ex. Scottish Highlands	£10	£12	£35	from £55
Scottish Highlands & the Islands	From £30
Outside Mainland UK	Currently we are unable to deliver outside of Mainland UK

Find out more