Crab Apple for Full Shade

Anyone know of a crab apple that will do well in full shade, one that is also a good pollentator.

 

On my little patch of land there is a very beautiful and well established crab apple tree that sits by the beck, and is shaded out almost fully by well established much larger trees. It flowers well and produced fruit. If that one is anything to go by then I guess the answer would be yes, crab apples are fine with shade. That said, with the one on my patch, although it is in full shade it is in a very sheltered spot, and it does get surprisingly warm on that patch. So it might be that they will tolerate shade as long as they are nice and warm and cosy.

 

I can find various varities that seem ok in part shade. These would be for planting in a hew holly hedge, in my front garden that is north facing and about 6 meters from the front of my house. They would be fully exposed, but the house would block the sun........I might consider something other small tree's instead. Perhaps something native.

 

What made you lean towards crab apple? Is it the flower, the fragrance, the form, something else? All of these things?

There are many alternatives to consider, depending on what you were going for.

The crab apple tree that is thriving in full shade on my land is, as far as I'm aware, the native British vareity. Certainly I never planted it. It has been there longer than either I or my dad owned the land (about 15 years at least).

Why not give it a try? You can buy them for about 25 pence each as bare root yearlings. Last time I ordered some (back in november) there was a minimum order of 25 trees, so it would have cost £12.50 (except I ordered quite a few). You could buy 25, put some in your hedge and some in large planters. If they fail, you;ll have only lost the price of a couple of beers and a kebab

 

If you start talking about things being the price of a few beers and a kebab....and I'll not plant anything :skp: I am looking to get about three 6-8ft trees @ £s00k each. Looking for nice smallish trees to plant into a holly hedge.

I was down on site this morning and found the front garden fairly sunny even at this time of year, so should be better in the summer. The front is north facing, but gets sun from the east 1st thing and from the west in the evening. I think I'll be safe.

It's a rural site, so I'd like to use native plants, that are good for wildlife. Crab Apples fit the bill. The friut will be handy and also are good pollenators of other apple trees.