{"product_id":"malus-john-downie","title":"John Downie Crabapple - Malus ‘John Downie’","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrice includes everything:\u003c\/strong\u003e the plant, free delivery and professional installation by our planting team. One price, whole job done.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eJohn Downie Crabapple - Malus ‘John Downie’\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong crabapples grown for fruit rather than blossom alone, ‘John Downie’ has been the benchmark for well over a century. The spring display is white flowers opening from pink buds on an upright young tree, but the reason gardeners plant it is autumn: heavy crops of conical orange and scarlet crabapples that hang after the leaves drop and make outstanding jelly. \u003cem\u003eMalus\u003c\/em\u003e is also a valuable pollinator for eating apples, so one of these earns its keep in a productive garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eWhy John Downie\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFruit quality\u003c\/strong\u003e: Conical orange-red crabapples in heavy crops, long regarded as one of the best for jelly making.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTwo seasons\u003c\/strong\u003e: White spring blossom from pink buds, then a long autumn fruit display on bare branches.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eApple pollination\u003c\/strong\u003e: Its long flowering period makes it a reliable pollinator for nearby eating apples.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHabit\u003c\/strong\u003e: Upright when young, broadening to a rounded crown, so it suits a suburban block.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChill requirement\u003c\/strong\u003e: It needs a genuine cold winter, so it belongs in cool and temperate southern districts rather than the subtropics.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eIdeal Applications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCool climate feature tree\u003c\/strong\u003e: A single specimen carries blossom, fruit and autumn interest.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrchard pollinator\u003c\/strong\u003e: Planted among apples it lifts fruit set across the whole planting.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDriveway avenue\u003c\/strong\u003e: A line of them delivers a spring blossom tunnel and an autumn fruit display.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBird and preserve garden\u003c\/strong\u003e: Fruit feeds birds through late autumn or comes indoors as jelly.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecimen \u0026amp; Installation\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (screening\/hedge):\u003c\/strong\u003e 3 to 4m centres in a row\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing (feature\/avenue):\u003c\/strong\u003e 5 to 6m centres\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBest Planting Season:\u003c\/strong\u003e Winter to early spring while dormant\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil \u0026amp; Drainage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well drained loam, pH 6 to 7, tolerant of a range of soils but not of standing water\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEstablishment Care:\u003c\/strong\u003e Water deeply once a week through the first two summers and maintain a grass free mulched circle at least 1m across around the trunk. Stake against wind for the first year, and prune in winter only to open the centre and remove crossing wood, since crabapples fruit on older spurs.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003ePlant Details\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5 to 7m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3 to 4m\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNative to:\u003c\/strong\u003e Garden cultivar, the genus native to Europe and Asia\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlower Colour:\u003c\/strong\u003e White, opening from pink buds\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nursery Direct","offers":[{"title":"200L","offer_id":59795346620702,"sku":"ND-1170-200L","price":3500.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1000\/2536\/8862\/files\/IjaGmW9TPTggMQbNLmtRT_8yshs2pQ.jpg?v=1787313855","url":"https:\/\/nurserydirect.com.au\/products\/malus-john-downie","provider":"Nursery Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}