Harry Baker

Malus 'Harry Baker' is a popular crab-apple with good spring and autumn appeal. The spring blossom is and intense dark-pink blossom, whilst in autumn the maroon-coloured fruits are very attractive and hang on the tree after the leaves have fallen.

Harry Baker is one of the best varieties for making crab-apple jelly. The fruits, which ripen fairly late in the season, have a pink / red flesh which lends an attractive dark red hue to the resulting jelly, rather like the colour of red wine. The flesh is usefully high in pectin too.

Unusually for a variety with dark-pink blossom and dark red fruits, the leaves are green rather than bronze, although young leaves have a hint of bronze.

Harry Baker crab-apple trees for sale

• 11-year bare-root tree £31.00
  Large size (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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• 22-year pot-grown tree £52.00
  In a 12L pot
  Large size (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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How to grow

Malus 'Harry Baker' produces a reasonably compact tree, likely to reach 3m-4m in height.

History

This crab-apple variety was named in honour of Harry Baker, Fruit Officer of the RHS at Wisley in the 1980s, and the author of several books on fruit trees and soft fruits.

Harry Baker characteristics

• Gardening skillAverage
• Attractive featuresAttractive flowersAttractive fruit
• Flower colourCrimson
• Leaf colourGreen
• Fruit colourRed
• Fruit sizeAverage
• Fruit persistenceRipens over a period
• Food usesJam / Jelly
• Country of originUnited Kingdom
• Annual cycleDeciduous

Similar varieties

• 
  Malus domestica
  Roberts Crab
  An unusual red-fleshed crab-apple which has large purple fruits. The juice is a claret red colour.

What will it look like?

Illustrative example of a pot-grown tree of this variety as supplied. Approximate girth: 6/8cm. Trees should reach their mature height after about 10 or more years. We may also have 1-year bare-root trees of this variety - they are not shown here.

How to choose a crab-apple tree

We list more than 40 different crab-apple trees. Choosing can be difficult! See our article explaining the different characteristics of crab-apple trees which will help you narrow down the selection.