About Malus 'Butterball'
Malus ‘Butterball’ is an ornamental apple cultivar that gets its name from its most distinctive feature: the extraordinarily rich production of small, buttery yellow to orange-yellow apples that shine golden in the sun in autumn. Those large quantities of small ornamental apples, which hang on the branches for a long time, are its main decorative strength.
Its growth form is broad and open, with gracefully hanging twig ends. At maturity, the tree grows 4 to 6 metres tall. Available at Smits as a multi-stemmed tree in sizes from 300/350 to 350/400 centimetres in height. The trunk has a grey-brown, slightly grooved bark. On more mature specimens, the bark becomes more pleated and characterful.
The leaves are elliptical, dark green. In spring, it sprouts early and fresh green. In summer, the leaf is dark green. In autumn, it turns to orange and yellow tones before falling. Completely deciduous.
Flowering occurs in April and May with pinkish-red buds that open to white to pale pink flowers. That two-stage bud-to-flower transition - from dark pink buds to light opened flowers - is characteristic of the crab apple group.
After flowering, the crab apples develop: small, butter-yellow to orange-yellow apples 2 to 3 centimetres in diameter that ripen in autumn. They remain on the branches for a long time and become a food source for birds in late autumn and winter. The yellow colour is striking and special in the ornamental apple assortment, which mostly turns red and orange.
Growth is moderate to quite fast.
Application and location
Malus ‘Butterball’ is an attractive solitary accent tree for gardens, parks and villa plantings. The yellow ornamental apples are particularly decorative in autumn and are a valuable food source for birds.
It thrives in full sun to semi-shade. It grows well on loamy, clay, calcareous soil and sand. Air pollution tolerant, suitable for urban environments.
Winter hardiness is good. Available from Smits as a multi-stemmed tree from 300/350 to 350/400 centimetres in height.
Do you already know exactly what you need?
Every garden and every greenery project is different. Therefore, at Smits Arboriculture we do not make standard quotations, but we like to look together at what suits your wishes, planning and the character of the project.
