British Champion

Planted: 1926

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This tree is on the south side of the Malus Avenue.

British Champion

Distribution:Rare in the wild, native to west and central China, and Myanmar. Found in mixed forests on slopes or by streams.
Planting Date:1926 supplied by Hillier Nurseries, Romsey, Hampshire
Growth Habit:Tall with wide crown and erect branches.
Bark:Dark grey-brown, peeling in flakes to expose younger orange brown bark. Patches of smooth grey with lenticels.
Leaf:Broadly ovate, pointed at the tip and heart shaped at the base. Slightly toothed and marginally lobed. Matt green upper and paler below.
Flowers:8 to12 flowered corymbs of about 5 cm to 9 cm across.  Small (1.2 cm) flowers, creamy white, with five petals, in clusters on short stout stems and triangular persistent sepals.
Fruit:Small, hard and round in clusters, slowly turning from green to rosy red and yellow.
Toxicity:Flesh is astringent and gritty with stone cells.
Tree size in April 2023Height 14 m and girth 154 cm (at 0.1 m)
Uses:Ability to grow in challenging conditions gives it value as a rootstock for other apples in its native range.
Plant Hunter:Ernest Wilson on behalf of Veitch Nurseries, Exeter
Introduction Date:1901
Anecdotes and CommentsIn 2023, rated ‘British Champion’ by The Tree Register on account of its height and rated English Champion; height and girth.