Planting an apple thorn is really not difficult, but you should first familiarize yourself with the small tree and its growth characteristics.
The apple thorn (Crataegus × lavallei), also known as leather-leaved hawthorn, is becoming increasingly popular in domestic gardens. The small tree bears its fruit well into the cold winter months and is therefore often used to green streets and parks. By the way, its name says it all: In addition to the small, apple-like and wonderfully bright fruits, it has long thorns. These are attached to the heartwood and are about five centimeters long. The apple thorn spreads particular joy in spring, at the beginning of the flowering period. The charming white (sometimes pink) flowers are densely clustered and decorated with pink stamens. They exude an intoxicating scent. The apple thorn is also frost hardy and quite undemanding. In this guide, we will tell you how you can plant apple thorns in your own garden.Apple thorn - interesting facts about the Crataegus lavallei
When Pierre Alphonse Martin Lavallée crossed the Hahnenspur hawthorn with a Mexican hawthorn in 1870, he was certainly not aware of the popularity his creation would enjoy among connoisseurs more than 140 years later. Since the apple-leaved or sometimes leather-leaved hawthorn is often still unknown to laypeople, we summarize everything important about the pome fruit plant in this profile:
Apfeldorn profile
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Height / Width | • reaches a height of about 5 to 8, sometimes 10 meters • about three to five meters wide |
| Growth | • Approx. 20 to 25 cm a year • Up to 40 cm growth per year is also possible • Initially narrow and straight • A broad crown develops later |
| Roots | • so-called deep rooter • few branches |
| Leaves | • sprout at the end of May • the leaves are elliptical or ovoid • their color is dark green • in autumn they turn orange-yellow to red |
| Bloom | • flowers end of May to June • large white onesUmbels, whose stamens or individual flowers can also be touched pink • the flower shape is umbel-shaped • the flowers attract sensitive noses with a strong smell |
| Fruits | • grow from October to December • looks very similar to apples • but only one to two centimeters tall • depending on the age of the apple thorn, the color is orange-yellow to brick-red • long-lasting |
Thanks to these special features, owners of the (bot.) Crataegus lavallei 'Carrierei' can enjoy the plant almost all year round. While the tree is in full bloom in spring, it produces small orange-red fruits in autumn that last for several months.
Pros and cons of apple thorn
+ Since the apple thorn tolerates extreme heat and drought, it requires little care.
+ It feels particularly comfortable in the sun, but light shade is also no problem.
+ Is the soil calcareous and clayey? Very good!
+ The apple thorn is very frost hardy and wind resistant.
+ The city climate is not a problem for it - so you can often find it in parks or on the side of the road.
+ But also In gardens it looks very impressive as a tree or shrub.
+ Depending on how the small tree is planted, it develops into a tree, shrub or bush shape.
+ The fruits of the apple thorn are edible. The consistency is a bit floury, but the fruits are a real treat in jelly or jam, compote, lemonade and as apple schnapps.
- If the apple thorn is on the side of the road, care should be taken when spreading s alt that it does not come into contact with it.
Plant apple thorn - this should be considered
In the next section of this guide, we will address important questions about planting the jewelry tree.
What shape should the apple thorn have?
As already mentioned, the apple thorn is a large shrub or small tree. If you only plant one shoot, you can raise it to a standard. Without further action, the apple thorn develops into a sprawling bush.
Which location does the apple thorn prefer?
The small tree likes to be in the sun or in partial shade. Here he feels comfortable and easily reaches a height of up to 8 meters. Its crown is also impressive with a width of about 5 meters. However, this has only developed over the years. Young trees still have an upright and narrow crown. Depending on the desired shape and size, space should be planned accordingly. Thanks toIncidentally, because of the large crown of the tree, the apple thorn tree is ideal for shading a seat in the garden.
» Tip: After the apple thorn has become accustomed to its environment, the color of its fruit is even more magnificent. While it is more orange-yellow in the first few years, it becomes more intense from year to year - until the fruits are juicy red.
In which soil does the apple thorn thrive best?
Here, too, the advantages of the easy-care ornamental tree quickly become apparent. When choosing the soil, the apple thorn makes no great demands. The garden soil of domestic gardens is completely sufficient for him and this does not have to be fertilized. A calcareous, sandy and loamy soil is ideal. If compost is worked into the garden soil in spring, the little tree will be happy. However, the compost should have matured.
strong>» Note: Since the apple thorn is a so-called deep-rooted plant, the soil must be deep.
Planting apple thorn - step by step
Enough theory - now it's time to get to work. In addition to an apple thorn plant, you also need a water bucket and a spade.
- First, the bale should be placed in a bucket of water.
- If the apple thorn is not initially supposed to grow in a bucket, a planting hole is now dug. This should be about 1.5 to 2 times the size of the pad.
- To make it easier for the little plant to settle in, the soil in the planting hole should also be loosened.
- In order to fill up the space around the apple thorn, the excavated soil is now enriched with compost or humus.
- After inserting the apple thorn, the rest of the hole can be filled in with the mixed excavation.
- Now it's just a matter of pouring water and leaning back.
Optional: If you want to cultivate a tree, you should place two stakes next to the apple thorn to which the trunk will be tied. In this way, the direction of growth can be determined. Otherwise it will develop into a shrub or bush.
Plant apple thorns in pots - that's also possible
Even if the Crataegus lavallei 'Carrierei' is more suitable for gardens and parks, it also cuts a fine figure as an ornamental shrub on the terrace when young. In order for the jewelry tree to develop well, the following things should be observed:
- The bucket should have a capacity of at least 10 liters (more if you like), so that the deep-rooted plants can develop their roots freely.
- With thatexcess water does not accumulate, there should be holes in the bottom.
- Peat and 20 percent expanded clay or gravel is recommended as a substrate. This mixture should also be enriched with compost or horn shavings.
- To keep the soil nutrient-rich, it should be fertilized regularly.
» But be careful: As soon as the apple thorn is too big for a pot, it has to be relocated to a suitable place.
We have summarized what else needs to be considered when caring for an apple-leaved hawthorn in our guide "Apple thorn care".
These plants go well with the apple thorn
Anyone who prefers a minimalist garden may not even ask themselves which plants grow well under an apple thorn - but those who like it colorful and wild will achieve colorful splendor with the following underplanting:
| Art | recommended plants | Color of the flowers |
|---|---|---|
| Flowering Plants | Monkshood | blue-purple |
| Astilben | white, pink or purple | |
| Goatsbeard | white | |
| Caucasus forget-me-not | different shades of blue | |
| Ornamental Leaf Perennials | Sweetheart Lilies | white, violet |
| spotted lungwort | red, blue-violet | |
| Purple Bells | green-white, cream, yellow, pink, purple and many more | |
| Bulb Flowers | Snowdrop | white |
| crocuses | white, yellow, pink, violet, blue | |
| wild tulips | yellow, orange, red | |
| Checkered Flowers | white, pink, purple |
Shrubs such as small rhododendrons, alpine currant, honeysuckle and the spindle bush go particularly well with the apple thorn.