Crab Apple ‘John Downie’

One of the most popular crab apples for jelly making! Pink buds open to reveal pretty white cup shaped blossom in April and May, followed by large orange and red fruits in autumn. Crab Apple ‘John Downie’ makes an attractive and productive specimen tree for smaller gardens, with a long season of interest. Crab apple fruits can be harvested to make delicious crab apple jelly. Any unpicked fruits will soften after a few frosts to create a sumptuous food source for wild birds. Crab apples are self fertile and if planted near orchard apple trees they make excellent pollinators. Rootstock: MM106. Height and spread: 4m (13’).

Estimated time to cropping once planted: 1 year.
Estimated time to best yields: 3 years.

Useful links:

How to grow fruit trees?Fruit rootstock guide?

Culinary note: Some parts of these flowers are edible. For more details about edible flowers click here.

Generally crab apples are too tart to eat raw, but their apple flavour becomes intense when cooked. Cab apples have high pectin content great for jam and jellies, and are a perfect ingredient for chutneys.

Plant height and spread is seasonal therefore we list by pot size rather than a defined plant size. The height and spread of the plant delivered will vary depending on the season, meaning arrival images are an indication only.