Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens

Tree of the month series - this series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens is compiled by members of the Friends group and Gardens staff. We aim to build up to a comprehensive archive of trees in Belfast Botanic Gardens. Each article will illustrate a tree growing in Belfast Botanic Gardens together with information from a range of sources. Where possible we will give the tree tag number - these are the little aluminium discs, usually fixed 2 to 3m high on the tree trunk Click here to view the tree archive

Jon Pilcher

This crab apple species is rare in the wild but much planted for its Autumn colour and compact shape. The tree grows to about 17m with branches rising steeply to give the tree a conical shape. Th leaves are large with serrated margins and an almost white downy back. They feel thick and leathery. The fruit is a small apple, about 2cm in diameter, mostly greenish with a reddish tinge. The apples are produced sparcely. The pillar apple was collected on Mount Fujiyama in Japan in 1897 by Sargent. It was awarded and RHS award of merit in 1962 and an award of garden merit in 1984.

Pillar apple tree in Belfast Botanic Gardens	Thick, serrated, leaves and fruit of pillar apple
Front and reverse of pillar apple leaves	Fruit of pillar apple
Bark of pillar apple

Photos taken in 2011 in Belfast Botanic Gardens. Copyright Jon Pilcher