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Royalty is a very beautiful decorative apple tree with small, cherry-sized fruits that ripen in autumn. People call such apples “paradise”, however, the main advantage of the tree is not in bright fragrant fruits, but in high decorative properties. Due to the original purple color of the leaves and flowers, the apple tree of this variety is often used to create landscape compositions. It can be found in parks, near administrative buildings, as well as in the adjoining territories of private estates. An external description of the apple tree and recommendations for growing it are presented in this article.
Description of the culture
The Royalty variety is another hybrid of the famous Nedzwiecki purple apple tree, which served as the basis for breeding most types of ornamental apple trees. This amazingly beautiful tree has a rather slow growth rate. Its height is no more than 6 m, and it reaches a height of 3-4 m only by the age of 10. The crown is compact, oval in shape, reaches 4–5 m in diameter, becoming wider and rounder with age.
The tree has a luxurious decorative appearance and often takes the form of a shrub with an oval or spherical crown. The leaves are oblong, narrowed upwards, the leaf plate is glossy, slightly pubescent below, saturated purple-red (purple) color. By autumn, the leaves become lighter and acquire a crimson hue, which does not affect their decorative effect. With a high density of foliage, part of the crown may be dark green in color, and the other part intense purple, but this shortcoming makes the tree even more original.
The apple tree blooms very plentifully and beautifully. The flowering period falls on the beginning of May and lasts at least 2 weeks. In the bud stage, the flowers are dark purple in color, as they bloom, they become pinkish red, sometimes dark red. Unlike ordinary apple trees, the flowers of this variety are very large (3-4 cm in diameter), fragrant and numerous. There are so many of them that no branches are visible on the tree, and it seems that it is just a flowering ball. It is for this quality that gardeners and design specialists like the decorative apple tree so much.
The fruits of the apple tree are small (1-2 cm), round or oblong, saturated red or purple. The peel of apples is very dense, covered with a waxy bluish coating on top. The flesh is dryish, tart in taste, not recommended for human consumption. The apples themselves are very tightly attached to the branches and do not lose their color for a long time. A winter tree with hanging red berries, even in severe frosts, gives the garden a special charm.
Video “Royalties – red-leaved apple tree”
In this video you will see what a Royalty apple tree looks like grown in a summer cottage.
Planting and care
The process of planting and growing ornamental apple trees is no different from the agricultural technology of fruit varieties, we can even say that it is simpler. The decorative apple tree is less demanding on the conditions, does not need multiple feedings, and the aesthetic pleasure from it is great.
Like any tree, an ornamental apple tree grows best in a sunny location. But if this is not possible, the tree is ready to put up with a slight shading, only in this case you need to be prepared for the fact that the color of the leaves and flowers will be less intense.
The soil for planting an apple tree needs loamy or sandy loam, moderately fertile, but well-drained, since the culture does not accept stagnant moisture.
All ornamental apple trees can be propagated by seeds, but growing a tree from seeds is not so easy, so it is recommended to purchase seedlings for planting. When choosing a seedling with an open root system, it is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the roots – if the roots are too dry, then such an apple tree may not take root.
Immediately before planting, it is advisable to lower the purchased seedling into the water for a couple of hours.
Technically, planting a tree is carried out in the same way as in the case of fruit seedlings. The size of the pit should correspond to the size of the root system of the tree – be such that the roots can be completely straightened, and the seedling can be covered with earth, leaving the root neck 2-3 cm above the surface. It is not necessary to lay fertilizer at the bottom of the pit, however, if desired, you can add a mineral mixture or organic matter (compost).
Trees that are intended for landscape decoration are usually mulched with bright colored materials to give them a special decorative effect.
The apple tree of this variety is also very responsive to mulching, however, materials should be used exclusively of organic origin: sawdust, wood chips, tree bark, walnut shells, fine gravel. Such a mulching layer will not only revive the tree, but also protect the soil from drying out.
Apple tree care is as follows:
- once a year, you need to feed with a balanced complex fertilizer designed specifically for ornamental trees and shrubs. Such funds are sold in flower or gardening stores;
- watering should be as needed (in conditions of abnormal heat). The lack of moisture adversely affects flowering and the general decorative properties of the tree;
- if the soil around the trunk is not mulched, then it must be periodically loosened, weeds removed;
- sometimes you need to perform the formation of the crown. This is an optional measure, since abundant flowering and a beautiful shape are required from an ornamental apple tree, and not high-quality fruits. Pruning should be very gentle, and only excess, dried or diseased branches should be removed;
- treat for pests and diseases.
Yes, decorative apple trees are susceptible to the same diseases as fruit trees (powdery mildew, scab, bacteria that cause burns), so they need to be sprayed periodically for preventive and therapeutic purposes.
Because these trees are not grown for fruit, they can be treated with broad spectrum insecticides and fungicides.
Two preventive treatments are carried out in the spring: in March, before the start of bud break, and in early May, before or during flowering. Autumn preventive treatment is carried out in late September – October.
However, these sprayings can only be carried out if you definitely do not plan to eat the fruits. You need to be careful if you have small children, as bright miniature apples often attract their attention. Another consumer of fruits are birds, which can also be poisoned by toxins. In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, treatment with drugs can be carried out before the start of the growing season, and in the summer period it can be sprayed with natural means.
Harvesting and storage
In early September, fruits ripen on the tree. As already mentioned, they do not have high taste, moreover, it is believed that these fruits are inedible and can cause food poisoning. Perhaps this information is slightly exaggerated, since most varieties of “paradise” apples are successfully used in cooking.
As for the fruits of the Royalty apple tree, one cannot fail to note their diverse vitamin and chemical composition, the presence of acids, triterpenoids, which determine the tart taste of apples. Of course, it is not recommended to use them fresh, but skilled housewives prepare jam, jelly, alcoholic drinks (cider, wine) from them. For these purposes, apples are removed from the tree in mid-September.
Video “Decorative apple trees”
In this video you will find a story about decorative apple trees and tips for caring for them.
Comments:
An amazing plant. Where to buy such a seedling?
Seedlings of these apple trees are sold only in nurseries, and, by the way, are not cheap.
They are expensive, and there is no guarantee that this is exactly “Royalties”. I already bought one – it turned out that this is a different variety, although also decorative. Be careful – it is very difficult to determine the variety by the seedling.