
Chonosuki crab is a medium-sized tree with a narrow conical crown. It grows quite vigorously forming upright branches decorated with silver grey and green leaves in the spring. The small white and sometimes slightly pink flowers appear in clusters but are not too visible, still they add a lot of charm to the spring garden. The leaves remain green until early October or later. It all depends on the previously mentioned cold nights. And then they can turn their colour literally overnight. Among the leaves are hidden small (2 cm /1 in. in width) round greenish and purple apples whose taste can sprain the jaws of those who venture to eat them. Please, do not do it or just the opposite: do it and learn what it means to be sour and tart, good luck!
Malus tschonoskii is a great choice for small and big gardens as well as parks and city streets. It thrives in full sun and tolerates light shade. It grows well in every type of soil providing it is moist but well-drained. All that modest requirements make the Chonosuki crab possible to be grown in big containers and use for patio and balcony decorations. Of course it suffers from the same diseases and pests as regular apple trees but such afflictions can easily be controlled with one exception: fireblight. But do not worry in advance, usually the tree growth vigorously if cared for properly.
The music background for today's slideshow comes form The Pearl Fishers and makes a clear reference to Malus tschonoskii - a pearl among the apple trees.