Malus hupehensis
Tea Crabapple
Rosaceae
ExpandHabitat
- native to China
- zone 4
Habit and Form
- a small deciduous tree
- 20' to 25' tall, or perhaps a bit larger
- vase-shaped habit
- branches somewhat stiff, often with lots of short spur branches
- branching is somewhat sparse (not a negative attribute)
- overall presents a picturesque, somewhat open form
Summer Foliage
- alternate leaf arrangement
- deciduous leaves
- leaves ovate to oval
- leaves are 2" to 4" long and 1 to 1.5" wide
- leaf margins finely toothed
- leaf bases are rounded to wedge-shaped on flowering shoots
- dark, bright green color with glabrous upper surface
- new growth emerges reddish or bronze
Autumn Foliage
- foliage turns a mix of yellow and green
Flowers
- blooms in April to early May
- deep pink in bud, opening blush pink and fading to white
- fragrant, 5-petaled blossoms
- individual flowers are 1 to 1.5" wide
- flowers held in clusters
- flowers are borne even along larger branches on spur wood
- can be extremely showy
- borne in alternate years, although off year is still showy
Fruit
- fruits held in clusters
- green-yellow with a red blush on one side
- 0.4" diameter crabapples (pome fruit)
Bark
- shiny, gray-brown color
- scaley
- not of particular ornamental importance
Culture
- prefers full sun
- very tolerant of a range of soils
- prefers moist, organic, slightly acid soils
- easy to cultivate
Landscape Use
- patio tree
- small groupings
- specimen
- useful for showy bloom
- useful for high quality summer foliage
- attract birds and wildlife to fruit
- considered one of the best crabapples by many horticulturists
Liabilities
- relatively resistant to most crabapple disease and insect problems
- occasionally affected by fireblight
- aphids can be found, but they are not a serious problem
ID Features
- vase-shaped habit is unique
- sparsely-branched, spreading, scaffold branches
- lots of spur wood along branches
- shiny, dark green leaves with fine serrations on margin
- new growth emerges reddish
- flower buds pink, opening to white
- flowers and fruit held in clusters
Propagation
- a triploid that comes true from seed
- cuttings
- tissue culture
Cultivars/Varieties
- None of importance