Chalky / Alkaline / Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy
Malus domestica
The flavour of home-grown apples, Malus domestica, beats that of shop-bought varieties any day. What's more, a much greater variety of cultivars is available if you grow your own.
Apple trees are easy to grow and are available grafted on to a range of rootstocks, making them perfect for growing in any size of garden – some can even be grown in containers. There are thousands of cultivars to choose from, which typically fall into two categories: dessert (for eating) and cooking.
Choose from early fruiting varieties, which bear fruit in September and October, or late varieties, which produce apples in November. The early fruiting varieties don't store well and should be eaten straight away, while late-fruiting apples may be stored to eat over winter.
Malus domestica benefits from growing in a sheltered, sunny spot, where the blossom will attract the greatest variety of pollinators and where the sun will ripen the fruit. Mulch annually and water in dry spells.
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Malus and wildlife
Malus is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, birds, butterflies/moths and other pollinators. It is a caterpillar food plant, has nectar/pollen rich flowers, provides shelter and habitat, has seeds for birds and makes a good wildlife hedge.
