All ornamental apples are edible - not all of them are a pleasure
Ornamental apples are not poisonous. In view of their picturesque jewelry value, the harmlessness is still called into question. Such a cornucopia of floral beauty is not infrequently accompanied by a bad poison content in the wild. In fact, you can safely eat the small fruits because they do not contain any ingredients that have an unpleasant effect on humans or animals.
also read
- When is crabapple in full bloom?
- How to process crabapple into jelly, puree and fruit schnapps
- Is the crabapple poisonous?
How it is with culinary enjoyment is of course another matter. The smaller the fruit, the firmer and tart the pulp. As a rule, you can only eat the larger ornamental apples fresh from the tree, whereas the pea-sized ones tend to tighten your palate.
These varieties taste fresh from the tree
The following apple varieties are a feast for the senses. They not only enchant with their picturesque blossoms and lush green leaves, they also give us juicy fruits that you can eat during the harvest.
- John Downie: A historic variety that has produced yellow-orange, red-flamed, sour fruits since the 19th century
- Eleyi: Wine-red apples with a sour, fruity taste thrive on slightly overhanging branches
- Butterball: The 3-4 cm large, yellow fruits present themselves with red cheeks in autumn and invite you to snack
At this point it should not be concealed that ornamental apples cannot hold a candle to their big brothers Malus domestica when it comes to fruit enjoyment. The true value of Malus hybrids is based on their high jewelry value, which extends over all seasons.
Recipe ideas for everything to do with crab apples
Don't you like to eat ornamental apples fresh from the tree? Then there is an abundance of delicious preparation options. We have put together some of the smartest recipe ideas for you here:
- Crab apple jam, e.g. B. from 1.2 kg of fruit, 500 g of preserving sugar, seasoned with lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger and a dash of rum
- Fruit schnapps, e.g. B. from 400 g apples and 1 l fruit brandy, leave for 14 days
- Crabapple-orange jelly, e.g. B. from 800 g ornamental apples, 2 oranges, 500 g sugar, seasoned with cardamom and cloves
Ornamental apples are particularly tempting as a cake topping on the table. For this purpose, the peeled fruits are boiled for 5-10 minutes in a mix of water, calvados and lemon juice. Mix butter, sugar, eggs, cream, flour and baking powder into a cake batter that is poured into the hollows of a baking tray for muffins. Pre-bake for 10 minutes, press in the ornamental apples and finish baking.
Tips
The root system is designed to be so tolerant that you can decoratively plant ornamental apples with other spring flowers and perennials. With tulips, daffodils, forget-me-nots or wood anemones, you can create a romantic appearance during the flowering period in spring. As the year progresses, summer perennials are added, such as cranesbills, yarrow, asters, phlox and daisies.
