Crabapple tree named ‘JFS KW218MX’

Abstract

A variety of crabapple which combines a combination of a tight upright pyramidal growth habit, profuse single white flowers, dark green foliage that remains disease free through the summer. Small orange fruit and a strong resistance to the diseases fireblight, powdery mildew, and apple scab.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of crabapple tree named ‘JFS KW218MX’, as herein illustrated and described.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The colors of an illustration of this type may vary with lighting conditions and, therefore, color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than from these illustrations alone.

(2) FIG. 1: Shows the original tree in flower at 10 years of age with foliage

(3) FIG. 2: Shows a close-up of the flowers on the original tree.

(4) FIG. 3: Shows a close up of a few flowers & foliage on a display board with a scale.

(5) FIG. 4: Shows flower buds on a display board with a scale.

(6) FIG. 5: Shows three flowers on a display board with scale

(7) FIG. 6: Shows a close up of the original tree at 10 years of age with fruit

(8) FIG. 7: Shows a close-up of fruit on a display board with a scale.

(9) FIG. 8: Shows a dormant branch tip with emerging buds.

(10) FIG. 9: Shows a tree at 10 years of age without foliage just before bud break.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(11) The following detailed description of the ‘JFS KW218MX’ variety is based on observations of the original tree growing in Boring, Oreg. and of two and three year old asexually reproduced progeny. The observed progeny were trees which were growing in Canby, Oreg. Color descriptions are made with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society (London) Colour Chart 1986, except where ordinary dictionary significance of color is indicated. Scientific name: Malus ‘JFS KW218MX’. Parentage: Seed parent.—Open pollinated seedling of Malus ‘KW-83MX’. Pollen parent.—Unknown. Tree: Overall shape.—Upright Pyramidal. Height.—At 12 years of age, about 4.5 meters high. Width.—At 12 years of age 2 meters spread. Caliper (trunk diameter).—At 12 years of age, about 130 mm at 100 mm height, 118 mm at 1 m height. Trunk.—Strong and straight under nursery growing conditions. Trunk bark texture.—Smooth, vertical fissures with age. Trunk bark color.—Greyed Green 197B to 197C. Immature bark color.—Yellow Green 144A. Mature bark color.—Greyed Orange 166A to 165A. Lenticels.—Elongated to oval 0.5 mm long by 0.25 mm wide. Greyed Orange 165C in color; disappearing after 3 or 4 years. Branch color.—Greyed Brown 199A. Branch lenticels.—Greyed Orange 165C, 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm in length. Dormant buds.—Elongated oval with acute tip, imbricate scales, 2 mm×5 mm. Internodes.—Average internode length is about 15-20 mm on one-year old shoots. Hardiness.—Has tolerated temperatures to 10° F. in Boring, Oreg. which is the lowest temperature experienced at this location. It is believed to have USDA zone 4 cold hardiness similar to other plants of the same species. Disease resistance.—Excellent resistance to fireblight (Erwinia amylovora), powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha), and apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) on foliage and fruit. Leaves: Except as otherwise noted, observations are from twenty vigorous growth leaves. Arrangement.—Alternate. Type.—Simple, entire. Texture.—Smooth, with slight undulation between the veins on the upper surface of the leaf. Sheen.—Glossy on the upper surface of the leaf. Length.—Averaging 50 mm-70 mm. Width.—Averaging 20 mm to 30 mm. Petioles.—10 mm to 15 mm long, about 1-2 mm in diameter. Overall shape.—Ovate. Margin.—Serrulate. Tip.—Acute. Base.—Acute. Lobes.—Sometimes present. Spring leaf color.—Green 140A. Summer leaf color.—Upper leaf surface: Green 137A to 137C. Lower leaf surface: Green 138B to 138C. Vein: Green 138C. Fall leaf color.—Foliage turns Orange Yellow 19A to Orange Yellow 21A. Fall color begins.—November 1.sup.st (Boring, Oreg. 2020). Fall color peak.—November 15.sup.th (Boring, Oreg. 2020). Fall color ends.—December 1st (Boring, Oreg. 2020). Pubescence.—None. Persistence.—Tree is deciduous. Flowers: Overall.—Number of flowers per cluster: 4 to 5 single flowers. Shape.—Symmetrical, rounded, 5 petals, not cupped. Size.—Approximately 28 mm to 32 mm in diameter. Flowers buds.—Buds emerge small & rounded Red-Purple 64B to Red-Purple 64C in color. Buds increase in size to 8-10 mm long by 4-5 mm wide. Before opening they are White 155B blushed Red-Purple 63C on the petal margins. Petals.—Five petals per flower, elongated oval in shape. 7-8 mm wide×15-18 mm long. Color White 155B. Petal margins.—Free relative to their position on the flower. Sepals.—Smooth, Acute, 6 mm in length, 3 mm wide at the base tapering to a point. Green 142A. Stamens.—About 15 to 20 stamens, 8-10 mm long, arranged concentrically around pistil. White 155B. Anthers.—Yellow Orange 22A. 1 to 1.5 mm long by 0.5 mm to 0.25 mm in diameter. Pistil.—Yellow Green 145A Compound, 3 to 5 branched, length 8 mm-10 mm. Pollen.—Abundant, Orange 26A in color. Pedicel.—18 mm to 24 mm long by 0.5 mm to 0.6 mm in diameter. Yellow Green 146B. Pubescence.—Yes on the upper side of the sepal. Fragrance.—Slightly sweet. Flowering date.—In Boring, Oreg. 2020 (An average Bloom Year). First bloom April 6th, peak bloom April 15th, last bloom May 1st. Fruit: Observations are from a sampling of typical fruit. Cluster.—3 to 5 fruits per cluster. Size.—Typical fruit is 7 mm to 8 mm in diameter by 10 mm to 12 mm long. Shape.—Ovoid, longer than wide. Skin.—Smooth. Lenticels.—None observed. Calyx.—Usually absent, small when present, 2-3 mm in diameter. Color.—Immature summer fruit is Yellow Green 144A ripening to Yellow Orange 17A in October. Seeds.—Typically 2-3 per fruit, ovoid to rounded, 3 mm long and about 2 mm wide with a smooth surface, Greyed Orange 164A to Greyed Orange 164B in color. Fruit production.—Moderate to heavy depending on the year. Fruit persistence.—80% still persistent Nov. 30, 2020. Usage.—Ornamental, non-edible.

COMPARISON TO THE SEED PARENT

(12) Compared to the seed parent tree ‘KW-83MX’, the claimed cultivar ‘JFS KW218MX’ has a more defined compact pyramidal shape. The fruit is 7-8 mm in diameter, as compared to 10 mm-12 mm diameter fruit of ‘KW-83MX’. The foliage is also of better quality with a glossy sheen as compared to ‘KW-83MX’.

COMPARISON TO OTHER SIMILAR VARIETIES

(13) The following table provides a comparison of ‘JFS KW218MX’ to ‘JFS-KW207’ (patented; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,954) and ‘Schmidtcutleaf’ (unpatented) varieties.

(14) TABLE-US-00001 Malus Malus Malus ‘JFS KW218MX’ ‘JFS-KW207’ ‘Schmidtcutleaf’ Form Upright Pyramidal Rounded Upright Vase Leaf Simple, entire. Simple, entire, sometimes with lobes Leaf 50 mm to 70 mm 70 mm to 90 mm to Length 80 mm 120 mm Leaf 20 mm to 30 mm 30 mm to 50 mm to Width 40 mm 60 mm Petiole 10-15 mm 20 mm 25 mm-30 mm Upper Green 137A Green 137A Green 189A Leaf to Green to Green to Green Color 137C 139A 139B Flowers Single. Single. Single. About 28 mm About 25 mm About 28 mm to 32 mm to 30 mm to 32 mm in diameter. in diameter. in diameter. White 155B White 155B White 155B Petals 7-8 mm wide 8-10 mm wide 6-8 mm wide 15-18 mm long 14-16 mm long 18-20 mm long Fruit Yellow Orange Yellow Orange Yellow Orange Color 17A 21B to Yellow 21A to Yellow Orange 22A Orange 23B Fruit 10 to 12 long × 8 to 10 mm 6 to 8 mm long × Size 7-8 mm wide long × 8-11 mm 8-10 mm wide wide Fruit Ovoid, longer Round Round Shape than wide