Purpurea Evelyn

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Malus 'Evelyn' is an attractive purple-leaved form of the native American Prairie Crab.

The leaves are unusually large, purple in the spring, turning a fiery red in the autumn. The large dark pink flowers have a characteristic fragrance.

The fruitlets are of variable colours - green, yellow, red. They are larger than those of many other purple or bronze-leaved crab apples, but still not really large enough for crab-apple jelly. Also, the fruiting tends to be a bit too light for serious jelly production.

Purpurea Evelyn crab-apple trees for sale

• 2-year pot-grown tree £70.00
  In a 12L pot
  Large size (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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How to grow

Malus Evelyn has a poor reputation in the USA where it originates, on account of its great susceptibility to fireblight, a disease which is widespread in many areas of North America. Fortunately this disease is rarely encountered in the UK.

History

Malus 'Evelyn' is a hybrid crab-apple, related to the species Malus ioensis, a crab-apple which used to be native to the mid-west of North America. Malus ioensis is often known as the Prairie Crab, but is now rarely found growing wild. Malus 'Evelyn' inherits two of the key features of the Prairie Crab, its scented blossom, and the large tri-lobed leaf shape.

Purpurea Evelyn characteristics

• Gardening skillAverage
• Attractive featuresAttractive flowersAttractive foliageScented flowers
• Growth habitUpright
• Height after 10 years3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
• Growth rateFast
• Flower colourPink - dark
• Flower formSingle flower (5-8 petals)
• Flowering monthApril
• Leaf colourDark purple
• Leaf colour - autumnOrange / Red
• Leaf/Flower sequenceLeaves and Flowers appear together
• Fruit colourGreen / Yellow
• Fruit sizeLarge
• Country of originUnited States
• Annual cycleDeciduous

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.