Best compact-ish Crabapple?

Hi,
which Crabapple would you recommend to approximately fit into the following wishlist:

• Height max. 4m (3m would be about perfect)
• Pinkish white flowers (not dark pink but as natural as possible)
• Pink or red fruit (not yellow or orange)
• Fruit that stay on for a long time (for birds, not for jelly making)
• Tough as old boots

I have been browsing various websites and there are just too many wonderful varieties!

I kind of like the upright shaped ones and that would fit into my small garden, not casting too much shade but offering some height. I don't want a bushy one and the weeping shapes are ok but not my favourites.

My ex- neighbours had excellent ones in large containers but of course I didn't ask what variety they were.

Thanks very much!

 

Hi!
I have Malus perpetu 'Evereste' in the garden and I recommend it as it seems to fit the bill with all of your criteria. See pics on my garden site here: Malus Perpetu ‘Evereste’ – Papi Joe's Garden

 

Thank you @Papi Jo ! I have looked at Evereste, it's wonderful

I'm only concerned about the height, several websites quote the 4-8m like yours does. Over 4m is definitely too tall for such a compact urban garden.

Obviously the final height takes time and depends on the conditions but I'd rather err on the side of caution.

 

There is some choice of rootstocks which will determine the eventual size. For example, Red Sentinel is available on M25 (large), M27 (small) or M9 (dwarf), so 10 year/final size can vary from <1.7m to 7m.
Red Sentinel crab apple trees for sale from Orange Pippin
Evereste is available on M9, which would result in a 1.5m-2.5m tree after 10 years.
The above is a great website for choosing trees.

 

I've been pleased with Laura, if a columnar tree could fit the bill? Mine's grown well and strongly - not sure how long the fruit might stay on, as I pick them to make (delicious) crab apple jelly!

 

That explains the variation on height estimates between different websites- thanks very much @BobTG ! Great link too, I have bookmarked it. The trees are expensive though. (OK, I think anything over a fiver is luxury... )

 

Yes, they aren't cheap from there, but you may find the right variety on the right rootstock elsewhere by looking around, once you've decided.

 

Laura is a definite contender, naturally dwarf, upright shape and right colours... Thanks very much @Clare G !

I have added Laura to my wishlist

 

I've got a malus Neville Copeman which is nice and fits your criteria apart from the flowers might be a little dark.