Apple (Malus domestica)
The ubiquitous apple tree is actually one of the basic teaching plants used to instruct aspiring permaculturists about plant guilds. The apple tree guild is quite often one of the first guilds explained to help people understand what a plant guild is and how it works. One reason is that so many people are familiar with apple trees. Hopefully the following list will add some new info to your mental database on apple trees.
- Edible - each cultivar is edible in its own special way, some for cider, some for applesauce, some for apple pie, some for fresh eating, some are multipurpose, etc.
- Medicinal - both the fruit and the bark are said to have medicinal properties
- Tree - as an apple matures, especially if it is standard size, it provides more and more of the benefits that most any tree supplies to its vicinity, such as wind protection, vine support, bird refuge, shade, significant leaf litter, weather moderation and microclimate generation, wood for fuel or lumber, and much more. I will repeat some of this in the list, just in case some readers miss the above benefits.
- Insectary - when blossoms are on
- Nutrient accumulator - this is common for most trees, as they have significantly larger root systems than other plant types, however apples are especially good at accumulating potassium in their leaves
- Wildlife habitat - as mentioned, as a tree it tends to be befriended by birds, as well as other wildlife.
- Fodder - rabbits really like to eat the bark and buds off of pruned branches and twigs
- Woodworking - apple wood is a hardwood that is fine-grained and is often prized for woodworking projects. It is also a good selection when making tool handles and canes.
- Fuel - the wood makes an excellent fuel, burning long and even. Apple wood chips also considered as a great wood for smoking meats, making slow-cooked barbecue, or even grilling.
- Aesthetically appealing - in other words, its pretty, especially when it is covered with blossoms
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| Apple tree with blossoms |
- Teeth cleaner - the descriptive word is dentrifice, which means that eating a whole raw apple will actually help clean your teeth and gums as you eat it.
- Yield - dwarfs and semi-dwarfs typically produce one to two bushels of apples in their third or fourth year. Standard trees produce four to five bushels after five to eight years.
- Hardiness - different cultivars have different levels of hardiness. There are cultivars for as cold as zone 3 and as warm as zone 8.
- Storage - they can keep for up to six months in a cool location. Beware to not store them with potatoes, as this causes them to lose their flavor. Also, carrots and potatoes stored with apples will acquire a bitter flavor. Apples store better if wrapped in maple leaves or if the apples come from a tree that was surrounded by a lot of clover.
References
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