What varieties of crabapple are there? Introduction to common types

There are many types of crabapple, and each type has its own characteristics. Below, let us admire the beautiful forms of different types of crabapple.

Types of crabapple

Crabapple is divided into two categories: herbaceous and woody.

According to the record in the Ming dynasty book Qunfangpu, "There are four grades of crabapple, all woody," woody crabapple can be divided into four types: Chaenomeles speciosa (flowering quince), Malus micromalus (Chinese crabapple), Malus halliana (Hall crabapple), and Chaenomeles cathayensis (Chinese quince).

1. Chaenomeles speciosa

Chaenomeles speciosa, also known as wrinkled-skinned Chinese quince, is a deciduous shrub. The leaves are ovate or elliptical, and the flowers grow in clusters of three to five. The flower stalks are short and thick or nearly absent, hence the name tiegeng crabapple. The flower colors include pink, vermilion, or white. The fruit is yellow or yellow-green and fragrant. Chaenomeles speciosa is highly ornamental and is suitable for planting in courtyard corners, at lawn edges, around tree clusters, and beside ponds and streams.

2. Malus micromalus

Malus micromalus, also known as small-fruited crabapple, is said to be named because it grew in Xifu during the Jin dynasty, and it is a small tree. The leaves are oblong-elliptical, and the inflorescence is an umbel-like raceme. Before the flowers open, the buds are bright red, like specks of rouge, and after opening they gradually turn pink. The flowers are relatively large, in clusters of 4 to 7 facing upward, and the pear fruit is spherical and red. It is suitable for planting by the waterside and in a corner of a small courtyard.

3. Malus halliana

Malus halliana is a small deciduous tree. The leaves are ovate or elliptical to long ovate-elliptical, narrow and long, with serrated edges, and the leaf surface is dark green often with a purple tinge. The flower stalks are slender and drooping, the flowers are pink, and the fruit is obovate and slightly purple. Its varieties include: double-flowered Hall crabapple, whose flowers are nearly double.

4. Chaenomeles cathayensis

Chaenomeles cathayensis is a deciduous shrub or small tree. It has few branches, straight stems, and purple branchlets. The leaves mostly cluster on short branches, are oblong to lanceolate, and have finely serrated edges. The flowers are pale red or nearly white, in clusters of 2 to 3, and the yellow fruit is ovate.

Herbaceous crabapple includes: Begonia semperflorens (wax begonia), Begonia 'Lucerna' (dragon wing begonia), Begonia masoniana (iron cross begonia), and others.

1. Begonia semperflorens

Begonia semperflorens, also known as wax begonia, begonia, strawberry begonia, sunflower begonia, and glass begonia, is a perennial herbaceous plant. Begonia semperflorens has a rounded, neat plant shape and graceful form, with abundant flowers that bloom in all four seasons and a slight fragrance. It is one of the main flowers for indoor and outdoor decoration.

2. Dragon wing begonia

Dragon wing begonia, also known as coral begonia, is a perennial evergreen semi-pendent herbaceous flower of the Begoniaceae family. Dragon wing begonia has bright green, glossy leaves with slender tips, finely serrated leaf edges, and leaves shaped like wings, with a slightly tilted base, resembling a dragon body with wings inserted.

3. Iron cross begonia

Iron cross begonia has small, inconspicuous flowers, and its yellow-green leaf surface is inset with red-brown cross-shaped markings. It is very elegant and is a relatively precious variety among begonias. It is suitable for display and embellishment in hotels, halls, display windows, and on windowsills.

Its yellow-green leaf surface is inset with red-brown cross-shaped markings. It is very elegant and is a relatively precious variety among begonias. It is suitable for display and embellishment in hotels, halls, display windows, and on windowsills.