aura is one of the best of the columnar crab-apple trees, with a striking upright form, superb dusky pink blossom, dark red fruits - and also easy to grow.
Laura has a compact upright columnar or "fastigiate" habit. It is also naturally dwarfing and slow-growing, so it makes a good choice if you are looking for a an interesting crab-apple that will not take up much space in the garden.
The young leaves are bronze when they emerge, turning to a light bronze-green over the summer.
The blossom appears at about the same time as the leaves. It is very attractive, feating dark pink flowers with lighter centres. The blossom stays on the tree for several weeks, noticeably longer than for regular apple trees.
The maroon-coloured fruits are large and persistent. Their size makes Laura an excellent choice for crab-apple jelly - and the red flesh lends a pretty red tint. Although it always remains a small tree, once established you should achieve a yield of 2kg of crab apples or more in good conditions, which will produce about 800ml after cooking, suitable for further processing into deep red jelly or sauce.
