Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Rosaceae

Genus:

Malus

Species:

Malus purpurea

USDA Symbol:

MAPU14

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Tree

Height:

800 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

apr,may

Bloom Colors:

pink, purple, red

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, bees, butterflies

Fragrant:

Yes

Fall Color:

yellow, orange

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

good drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

prefers fertile soils with organic matter

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–120 days

Germination Time:

30–60 days

Notes:

Seeds require cold stratification. Germination can be erratic; fresh seed germinates more reliably.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI