Malus domestica 'Captain Broad' (Captain Broad Apple)


Botanical Information

FamilyRosaceae
GenusMalus
Speciesdomestica
Cultivar'Captain Broad'
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (deciduous)
OriginFormerly known as Small’s Admirable, this old dual purpose apple has been widely grown for cider in the Fowey region of Cornwall, England for up to 150 years.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Disclaimer
The fruit is eatable and is used in traditional cider making. Apple wood is used as a fuel and is admired for the blue-green flames it produces during burning. The wood may also be used in the production of furniture and household utensils such as bowls.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone3-8
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone4-9
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH5
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-34
Temperature (°F)20
Height5-12 m
Spread4.5 m
GrowthMedium
Flowering PeriodApril, May

Description and Growing Information

LandscapeThe tree can be used in hedgerows, ornamentally or grown for its fruit. The small tree is very tolerant to cold temperatures and thrives well in cool, moist microclimates.
PropagationGenerally domestic apple cultivars are propagated through grafting. Grafting occurs in the winter when both scion and rootstock are dormant. Summer budding is also another technique used to propagate desirable cultivars with very little use today for the parent plant M. x domestica.
CultivationGrow in full sun to partial shade in moist conditions preferring well-drained, loamy type soils. It will tolerate poor soil conditions but size and quality of the fruit is diminished. It is a frost hardy species and responds well to pruning in winter and improved cultivation practices such as fertilizer.
PestsProne to bacterial and fungal diseases such as mildew, fireblight, apple scab, and insects such as aphids.
Notable SpecimensCotehele House National Trust, St Dominick, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
HabitatHorticultural origin.
Bark/Stem DescriptionBark is a grey-brown colour with a thick, scaly, rough texture. The twigs of the tree vary from a grey to reddish colour.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionSmall glabrous red buds, often tomentose, to about .5 cm.
Leaf DescriptionThe dark green, simple, alternate, leaves are oval shaped, are 3-10 cm in length with a serrated margin and a lighter green underside.
Flower DescriptionThe flowers, emerging in the spring, are white with a red-pink underside. They are cup-shaped with five petals, ranging in size from 8-10 cm. Each flower has many red stamens, copious amounts of pollen and are perfect in form.
Fruit DescriptionA large, irregular Bramley-type fruit, sweet with mild tannin.

Photographs