Malus domestica 'Cornish Custard' (Cornish Custard Apple)


Botanical Information

FamilyRosaceae
GenusMalus
Speciesdomestica
Cultivar'Cornish Custard'
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (deciduous)
OriginA dessert apple, dating back to the early 19th century and probably older.
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 Zone-34
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)20
Height5 - 8 m
Spread4 - 5 m
GrowthMedium
Flowering PeriodMay

Description and Growing Information

ShapeAn upright, spreading habit.
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
PestsA good disease resistance cultivar, particularly to scab and canker.
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 DescriptionMedium-sized, ribbed, with a red-flushed, russeted skin.
Texture DescriptionBoth summer and winter texture of the plant is coarse.

Photographs