Malus Golden Hornet Tree (12L, 5-6ft)

The Malus ‘Golden Hornet’ brings a stunning display of golden yellow colour to your garden in the autumn when it bursts with ripe and juicy crab apple fruits. The fruits last well into the winter season and are extremely attractive to bees who come for the pollen and nectar. Birds are also attracted to the sweet fruit, bringing sweet sounds and movement into your garden.

In May and June, the tree offers fragrant, pretty white flowers with tinges of pink that smother the branches. The flowers contrast beautifully with the densely packed branches that hold deep green leaves. The leaves turn a bronze, yellow shade in the autumn.

The fully hardy Crab Apple tree starts out with an upright habit and spreads to an oval-headed shape with age. It thrives well in fertile, well drained soil and will tolerate sun and partially shady conditions. The tree is compact and will grow to 5 x 4 metres in 20 years. The Crab Apple tree is easy to care for, simply prune in winter if you notice and dead, broken or diseased branches.

This tree ticks all the right boxes as the perfect addition to your garden. It is pretty to look at all year round, it attracts masses of wildlife and requires little to no maintenance. Plant it for shade and visual appeal. Create a mini orchard, it acts as a pollinating partner for other apples, boosting the fruiting prospects of your other trees.

If you are an ambitious chef, collect the crab apples and use to make delicious tarts, jams and jellies.