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Apple Malus domestica

With its ancestors originally hailing from the mountains of China, the orchard apple is now a common sight across Britain. From private gardens to commercial orchards, this popular tree produces pretty white blossom, and tasty fruit from the autumn onwards.

 
Malus domestica

Malus domestica at Kew

Featured Tree

  • Age: -
  • Date planted: -
  • Height: 7m

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Species Information

Conservation Status:

-. 

Habitat Types:

- 

Scientific Name:

Malus domestica

As one of the world's most widely cultivated tree fruits, the apple is also one of the most recognisable. It has been grown in Britain for hundreds, possibly even thousands of years but the orchard apple, or Malus domestica, is actually descended from Malus sieversii.

This tree with no common English name is native to a range of mountains which stretches across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and parts of China. This habitat explains why the orchard apple needs freezing or near-freezing conditions to ensure successful germination and hence why the apple does not grow in warmer climes.

Today, there are more than 7,500 cultivars of apple, each grown for its own unique climatic requirements. Commercially, China leads the way with around 40% of the world's apple production, while the United States of America is a distant second with 7.5%.

As well as being eaten raw, apples can be baked or stewed, featured in pies and cakes, and in sauces. In addition, apples are used in liquid form as juice, cider and vinegar.

The fruit also provides a number of health benefits. While the old proverb, 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' may be somewhat hopeful, they do contain vitamin C and antioxidants and could help prevent the risk of certain types of cancer.

 

Further information:

Physically, Malus domestica is no giant, rarely topping 10m (30ft) in height in the wild and more often 3m where cultivated. The shape of the tree also depends on its environment and whether it is being trained but essentially it has domed but irregular form.

The leaves of the tree are typically dark green pointed ovals with serrated edges and a slightly furry underside. These emerge from the branches in spring at the same time as the flowers, which are white with a hint of pink.

The flowers have five petals and these can be seen later in the form of carpels, which hold the seeds, when the fruit develops. If you cut an apple horizontally, the five carpels are displayed in a star formation, much like the petals of the flowers.

Malus domestica

Malus domestica