Belfast Botanic Gardens Tree Archive

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This is one of a series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens compiled by the Friends group. The tree tag number relates to the black tree maintenance tags, usually fixed on the tree trunk, 2 to 3m above ground level.
Family: Rosaceae
Macromeles tschonoskii (Maxim.) Koidz.
Pillar apple or Chonosuki's crab

Black tag 292
54o 34.942N
5o 55.841W

This crab apple species (previously in the genus Malus) is rare in the wild but much planted for its Autumn colour and compact shape. The tree grows to about 17m with branches rising steeply to give the tree a conical shape. The leaves are large with serrated margins and an almost white downy back. They feel thick and leathery. The fruit is a small apple, about 2cm in diameter, mostly greenish with a reddish tinge. The fruits are produced sparsely. The pillar apple was collected on Mount Fujiyama in Japan in 1897 by Sargent. It was awarded and RHS Award of Merit in 1962 and an Award of Garden Merit in 1984.

Malus tschonoskii in Belfast Botanic Gardens

Malus tschonoskii leaf shape
Pillar apple tree in Belfast Botanic Gardens Thick serrated leaves and fruit of pillar apple
Malus tschonoskii leaves Malus tschonoskii fruit
Front and back of pillar apple leaves Fruit of pillar apple

Malus tschonoskii bark
Bark of pillar apple

Photos taken in Belfast Botanic Gardens in 2011. Copyright: Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens.

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