Hanging-silk crabapple, Chuisi Haitang
Malus halliana
Family: Rosaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 4.5 m high. It is much branched. The stems often intertwine. The leaves are oblong and dark green on the upper surface. The leaves often have purple tints. The flowers hang down on long slender stalks. They are bright red. The fruit are purple.
There are about 35 Malus species and very many cultivated varieties.
Where it is found
Temperate. It grows in central and western China. It grows from sea level to 1,200 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, China, Japan
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
In China plants flower in March and April and fruit September to October.