Malus Cultivars N-Q

'Neville Copeman'

Growth Rate/Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Broadly spreading
Foliage: Green, tinted purple especially at first
Flower colour: Light purple
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Early
Fruit size: Medium (<3 cm)
Fruit shape: Conical
Fruit colour: Bright orange-red
Fruit season: Early
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Highly susceptible
Parentage/origin: Perhaps attributable to M. × purpurea, like its parent ‘Eleyi’
Raiser/collector: Neville S. Copeman, Roydon Hall, Norfolk, UK
Date of introduction: 1953
General notes: The fruit are particularly attractive, although short lived. Rarely seen at its best due to disease.

Malus 'Neville Copeman' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Neville Copeman' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Neville Copeman' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

NUVAR CARNIVAL

Growth Rate / Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Rounded, open
Foliage: Small
Flower colour: White from pink buds
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Mid
Fruit size: Medium (<3 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Bright red with yellow longitudinal stripes
Fruit season: Mid
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Low susceptibility
Parentage/origin: Open pollinated seedling of M. domestica ‘Discovery’
Raiser/collector: John Breach, Staplehurst, Kent, UK
Date of introduction: 1979
General notes: One of several varieties introduced in the NUVAR^® series of apples, pears and crab apples. The colourful striped fruit are produced in abundance. Malus ‘Carnival’ is a different plant, a Fiala cultivar with little or no commercial distribution.

Malus NUVAR CARNIVAL Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

NUVAR MARBLE

Growth Rate/Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Rounded, open
Foliage: Green
Flower colour: White from pink buds
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Mid
Fruit size: Medium (<3 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Orange with red streaks
Fruit season: Early
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Low susceptibility
Parentage/origin: Open pollinated seedling of M. domestica ‘Discovery’
Raiser/collector: John Breach, Staplehurst, Kent, UK
Date of introduction: 1979
General notes: One of several varieties introduced in the NUVAR® series of apples, pears and crab apples. The bright orange fruit are impressive.

Malus NUVAR MARBLE Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus NUVAR MARBLE Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

'Parkmanii'

Growth Rate/Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Vase shaped
Foliage: Small, narrow, dark green
Flower colour: Shell-pink
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Semi-double, with about 15 petals
Flower season: Mid
Fruit size: Very small (<1 cm), sparse
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Dark red
Fruit season: Mid
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Low susceptibility
Parentage/origin: A form of M. halliana brought from Japanese cultivation
Raiser/collector: George R. Hall, USA
Date of introduction: 1861
General notes: Despite being a relatively weak tree with little fruit production, the large flowers are particularly attractive hanging on long, deep crimson pedicels.
(Description duplicated under Malus halliana ‘Parkmanii’)

'Parrsi'

Growth Rate/Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Spreading
Foliage: Purple when young, maturing dark green with a bronze cast
Flower colour: Rose-pink from red buds
Flower form: Single
Fruit size: Very small (<1 cm)
Fruit colour: Dark red
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Resistant
Parentage/origin: Seedling of M. toringo var. sargentii
Date of introduction: 1987 by J Frank Schmidt & Son Nursery Co., OR, USA
General notes: Typically a broadly spreading shrub. ‘Pink Princess’ is different, an orchard apple.

'Pink Perfection'

Growth Rate/Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Upright, spreading
Foliage: Green
Flower colour: Pale pink
Flower size: Large (>4 cm)
Flower form: Double
Flower season: Mid to late
Fruit size: None
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Susceptible
Parentage/origin: M. ‘Katherine’ × M. ‘Almey’
Raiser/collector: William Flemer, Princeton Nurseries, NJ, USA
Date of introduction: 1970
General notes: An unusual example of a fragrant double flowered crab. Similar in flower to M. ‘Van Eseltine’ but a with broader habit. Disease susceptibility is a drawback.

Malus 'Pink Perfection' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Pink Perfection' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

'Plena'

Growth Rate/Size: Large (>6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Open, rounded
Foliage: Green, lobed
Flower colour: Pink, with violet scent
Flower size: Large (>4 cm)
Flower form: Double, with 30–33 petals
Flower season: Late
Fruit size: Medium (<3 cm), few
Fruit colour: Green
Fruit season: Mid
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Highly susceptible
Parentage/origin: Wild find in Illinois, about 1840; a clone of M. ioensis
Raiser/collector: E. A. Bechtel, IL, USA
Date of introduction: 1888
General notes: Extremely widely planted in North America until the 1970s (Jacobson 1996) but performs poorly in Britain (Bean 1981). Effectively gone from the commercial trade on both sides of the Atlantic, but still a mainstream cultivar in Australia and New Zealand.
(Description duplicated under Malus ioensis ‘Plena’)

'Prairie Rose'

Growth Rate/Size: Medium to large (about 6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Upright
Foliage: Green
Flower colour: Deep pink
Flower form: Double (17–25 petals)
Flower season: Late
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Susceptible.
Parentage/origin: Open-pollinated M. ioensis (probably by M. ioensis ‘Plena’)
Raiser/collector: Agriculture Experiment Station, University of Illinois, USA
Date of introduction: 1956 by Simpson Nursery, IL
General notes: Very fragrant, deeper pink than M. ioensis ‘Plena’(=’Bechtel’). Produces no fruit.
(Description duplicated under Malus ioensis ‘Prairie Rose’)

'Prairifire'

Growth Rate/Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Upright, spreading
Foliage: Small and pointed, red-maroon when young, turning dark green
Flower colour: Red-pink flowers from crimson buds
Flower size: Small (<3 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Early
Fruit size: Small (<2 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Dark purple
Fruit season: Mid
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Resistant
Parentage/origin: ((M. × zumi ‘Calocarpa’ × M. sieversii f. niedzwetzkyana) × M. × atrosanguinea) × M. ‘Liset’
Raiser/collector: Daniel F. Dayton, University of Illinois, USA.
Date of introduction: 1982
General notes: A choice variety for its vibrant flowers. A small tree needing time to develop its full shape and flowering ability, but superb when at its best.

Malus 'Prairifire' (Lovell Quinta Arboretum, Cheshire, UK; 20th September 2022). Image Julian Sutton.

'Princeton Cardinal'

Growth Rate/Size: Small (<4 m)
Form/shape/habit: Rounded, open, spreading
Foliage: Large, almost black when first emerging, remaining dark purple.
Flower colour: Rich pink
Flower size: Large (>4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Early
Fruit size: Very small (<1 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Dark purple
Fruit season: Early
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Highly resistant
Parentage/origin: M. ‘Strawberry Parfait’ × M. ‘Crimson Cloud’.
Raiser/collector: William Flemer, Princeton Nursery, NJ, USA
Date of introduction: 1988
General notes: This lovely variety launches the crab apple season, one of the very first to leaf and flower. Rich, dark, almost black leaves and large, deep pink flowers contrast well. It often flowers over a long period as the weather is generally cool during the early season. Originally released as ‘Cardinal’ (PP 7147 granted 1990) but this name proved invalid, having been used previously. Bizarrely, the patent application attempts to justify naming it as a cultivar of M. hupehensis, while admitting that it is not.

Malus 'Princeton Cardinal' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Princeton Cardinal' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Princeton Cardinal' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Princeton Cardinal' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

'Professor Sprenger'

Growth Rate/Size: Medium (<6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Upright, spreading
Foliage: Green
Flower colour: White from rose-pink buds
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Mid
Fruit size: Small (<2 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Golden-yellow blushing pink.
Fruit season: Late
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Resistant
Parentage/origin: A selection of M. × zumi
Raiser/collector: Simon Doorenboos, The Hague, Netherlands.
Date of introduction: Before 1950
General notes: Worthwhile for its fragrant flowers and bright showy fruit. Similar in flower to M. ‘Evereste’ but the fruit is smaller but more persistent, well into December. A popular pollinator in commercial apple orchards. The name honours A.M. Sprenger, University of Wageningen.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​(Description duplicated under Malus × zumi ‘Professor Sprenger’)

Malus 'Professor Sprenger' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Professor Sprenger' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

Malus 'Professor Sprenger' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

'Profusion'

Growth Rate/Size: Medium (<6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Upright, spreading
Foliage: Purplish-bronze turning dark green.
Flower colour: Deep rose-pink
Flower size: Large (>4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Flower season: Early
Fruit size: Small (<2 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Dark purple
Fruit season: Mid
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Low susceptibility to mildew and canker
Parentage/origin: M. × purpurea ‘Lemoinei’ × M. toringo
Raiser/collector: Simon Doorenbos, The Hague, Netherlands.
Date of introduction: Before 1938
General notes: A classic and popular crab apple, well named for its profuse pink blossom. M. ‘Directeur Moerlands’ (syn. ‘Profusion Improved’) is similar but more disease resistant, and has a slightly more lobed leaf.
(Description duplicated under Malus × moerlandsii ‘Profusion’)

Malus 'Profusion' Image Frank P Matthews Ltd.

'Purple Prince'

Growth Rate/Size: Medium (<6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Rounded
Foliage: Purple when young, green with a bronze cast later
Flower colour: Bright red-pink from carmine buds
Flower size: Medium (<4 cm)
Flower form: Single
Fruit size: Small (<2 cm)
Fruit shape: Round
Fruit colour: Blue-purple, with a bloom
Fruit season: Persistent
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Highly resistant
Parentage/origin: (‘Bluebeard’ × ‘Liset’) × ‘Garnet’
Raiser/collector: John L. Fiala, OH, USA, 1970
Date of introduction: 1991 by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co., OR
General notes: Floriferous. PP 8478 granted 1993

'Purple Wave'

Growth Rate/Size: Medium (<6 m)
Form/shape/habit: Spreading, sometimes small and shrubby
Foliage: Very dark purplish-green
Flower colour: Dark red-purple
Flower size: Large (>4 cm)
Flower form: Single or with a few extra petals
Fruit size: Small (<2 cm)
Fruit colour: Dark purple with a bloom
Disease resistance/susceptibility: Susceptible
Parentage/origin: Open pollinated seedling from ‘Jay Darling’
Raiser/collector: Arie den Boer, IA, USA
Date of introduction: 1953
General notes: Not very free flowering.