Common Name: dwarf apple
Type: Fruit
Family: Rosaceae
Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 8.00 to 10.00 feet
Spread: 8.00 to 10.00 feet
Bloom Time: May
Bloom Description: White
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: High
Suggested Use: Flowering Tree
Flower: Showy, Fragrant
Attracts: Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Fruit: Showy, Edible
Tolerate: Urban Conditions
Culture
Best grown in deep, loamy, moderately fertile, slightly acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates average garden soils, but unamended heavy clay soils which waterlog easily and drain poorly should be avoided. Generally, the more dwarfing the rootstock, the greater the need for soil fertility. Needs full sun for maximum flower and fruit production. More than one variety must be planted in order to facilitate best pollination and subsequent fruit production.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Malus is a genus of about 35 species of deciduous trees and shrubs from Europe, Asia and North America. Some eating apples are hybrids but others are attributed to M. domestica or M. pumila.
Edible apple cultivars do not grow particularly well on their own roots. As a result, apple varieties sold in commerce today have all been grafted onto rootstocks which, inter alia, control the size of the tree. Rootstocks are generally classified as follows (tree height in parenthesis): dwarf (8-10'), semi-dwarf (12-15') and standard (18-25' or more). All trees bear full-size fruit, however. Most trees sold today for the home apple grower are grafted onto dwarfing rootstocks (dwarf or semi-dwarf), resulting in trees which, in comparison to standard trees, are (1) easier to manage (spray, prune and harvest) and (2) produce fruit at an earlier age.
Genus name from Latin is an ancient name for apple.
'Liberty' is a popular apple cultivar which may be purchased on a number of different rootstocks. The 'Liberty' tree growing at the Kemper Center has a dwarf rootstock which limits its growth to 8-10' tall. This cultivar features white blossoms which appear in spring and are followed by small to medium-sized, red-over-green, McIntosh-type apples which ripen in early September (USDA Zone 5).
Problems
'Liberty' is virtually immune to cedar apple rust, is very resistant to apple scab and resistant to fire blight and powdery mildew. Potential insect pests include aphids, maggots, codling moth, plum curculio and spider mites. Regardless of disease resistance levels, good cultural practices are always essential and some chemical spraying may become necessary in order to control pests.
Uses
'Liberty' is pruned and grown primarily with a view toward producing quality fruit, and its ornamental features are usually considered secondary. It should be grouped in a sunny location with other apple varieties. Spring apple blossoms and fall fruit add color and interest to the landscape.