Woody > Malus > Malus domestica > Malus domestica 'Breadfruit'

Family

Rosaceae

Genus

Malus

Species

domestica

Cultivar

'Breadfruit'

Category

Woody

Type

Tree (deciduous)

USDA Hardiness Zone

3-8

Canadian Hardiness Zone

4-9

RHS Hardiness Zone

H5

Temperature (°C)

-34

Temperature (°F)

20

Height

5-12 m

Spread

4.5 m

Photographs

Description and Growing Information

Flowering Period

Landscape

The tree can be used in hedgerows, ornamentally or grown for its fruit. The small tree is very tolerant to cold temperatures and thrives well in cool, moist microclimates.

Cultivation

It may be grown in full sun to partial shade in moist conditions preferring well-drained, loamy type soils. It will tolerate poor soil conditions but size and quality of the fruit is diminished. It is a frost hardy species and responds well to pruning in winter and improved cultivation practices such as fertilizer.

Shape

It has a broad spreading, and a densely twiggy crown.

Growth

Medium

Pests

Prone to bacterial and fungal diseases such as mildew, fireblight, apple scab, and insects such as aphids.

Habitat

Horticultural origin.

Bark/Stem Description

Bark is a grey-brown colour with a thick, scaly, rough texture. The twigs of the tree vary from a grey to reddish colour.

Flower/Leaf Bud Description

Small glabrous red buds, often tomentose, to about .5 cm.

Leaf Description

The dark green, simple, alternate, leaves are oval shaped, are 3-10 cm in length with a serrated margin and a lighter green underside.

Flower Description

The flowers, emerging in the spring, are white with a red-pink underside. They are cup-shaped with five petals, ranging in size from 8-10 cm. Each flower has many red stamens, copious amounts of pollen and are perfect in form.

Fruit Description

Irregular round, flattened, conic, ribbed sometimes lopsided in shape. Medium-large to large size . Skin is green turning yellow developing a brownish-red flush over much of the apple.

Texture Description

Both summer and winter texture of the plant is coarse.

Notable Specimens

Cotehele House National Trust, St Dominick, Cornwall, United Kingdom.

Propagation

The domestic apple is not commonly self-fertile, and requires a different tree as a pollinator to set good crops. Generally domestic apple cultivars are propagated through grafting. Grafting occurs in the winter when both scion and rootstock are dormant. Summer budding is also another technique used to propagate desirable cultivars with very little use today for the parent plant M. x domestica.

Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer)

The fruit is eatable and is used in traditional cider making. Apple wood is used as a fuel and is admired for the blue-green flames it produces during burning. The wood may also be used in the production of furniture and household utensils such as bowls.

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