A collection of ornamental apple trees representing ornamental traits and taxonomic diversity and cultivars of Lithuanian breeding.

Ornamental apple trees are summer-green trees or shrubs. There are about 35 species in the genus Malus Mill, which is found naturally in Europe, Asia, and North America. In Asia, apple tree cultivars with outstanding ornamental qualities are mainly derived from the spectacular apple tree (M. spectabilis (Aiton) Borkh.), the berry apple tree (M. baccata (L.) Borkh.), M. sieboldii (Regel) Rehder, and the large-bloom apple tree (M. floribunda Siebolt ex Van Houtte).

In America, cultivars are mainly derived from brown apple tee (M. fusca (Raf.) C.K. Schneid.), prairie apple tree (M. ioensis (A.W. Wood) Britton.), narrow-leaved apple tree (M. angustifolia (Aiton) Michx.) species. The most spectacular and smallest hybrids are derived from the large-bloom apple tree (M. floribunda Siebolt ex Van Houtte). The main criterion for distinguishing an ornamental apple tree from a normal apple tree is the size of the fruit. It can range from 6 to 50 mm. Ornamental cultivars also include hybrids, which have a strict crown shape, multi-coloured leaves, blooms and fruit.

VU botanical garden aims to collect the most suitable cultivars and species of ornamental apple trees for cultivation in Lithuania. The most ornamental apple tree cultivars, representing a diversity of ornamental traits, are selected for the collection. The aim is also to collect all Lithuanian ornamental apple tree cultivars and all apple tree species that can be grown in Lithuanian conditions.

Written records mention ornamental crabapple trees as early as the 15th century. The first ornamental apple tree was planted in the Vilnius University botanical garden in the Vingis section around 1949. This cultivar of Indian apple tree (Malus pumila) 'Niedzwetzkyana' still exists today. The berry apple tree (M. baccata (L.) Borkh.), which grows well in the Lithuanian climate, was also introduced to the Vingis section around 1949. The first ornamental apple tree was planted in Kairėnai in 1991, and the collection was expanded in 2002. The first Lithuanian ornamental apple tree was added to the collection in Kairėnai in 2012.

For the ornamental apple tree collection, we select the apple trees with the best winter cold tolerance, which can grow in cold hardiness zones 4-5. Efforts are also made to select cultivars with different crown shapes, such as columnar, globular, oscillating or umbrella-shaped. Another selection criterion is the colour and shape of the apple tree leaves. Leaves can be green, purple or red. They are usually simple, but there are cultivars with three-lobed leaves. The blooms of the cultivars can range from white to dark red, purple, or burgundy. Another inherent ornamental feature is the colour of the fruit, which varies according to maturity. The apples may be green, red, burgundy, yellow or orange. 

	Apple tree (Malus)   A deciduous tree with a broadly pyramidal crown and annual growth of up to 40 cm. The leaves are elongated, continuous, and dark green. The edge of the petiole is saw-toothed. Blooms very profusely in May with single, white, scattered, clustered, large blooms. The fruit is a small, cylindrical apple, about 1,3 cm in diameter, burgundy in colour, with burgundy pulp. The fruits are long-lasting, last through the winter, attract many birds and are not only ornamental but also edible. Developed in Lithuania, auth. Dr. B. Gelvonauskis.
	Apple tree (Malus)  A deciduous tree with a narrow, columnar crown and an annual growth of up to 35 cm. The leaves are elongated, continuous, and dark green. The edge of the petiole is saw-toothed. Blooms very profusely in May with single, large, dark pink, scattered, rounded blooms. The fruit is a large, 4-6 cm across, roundish-cylindrical, reddish-yellow apple, both ornamental and edible. Developed in Lithuania, auth. Dr. B. Gelvonauskis.
	Crabapple tree (Malus x zumi) 'Professor Sprenger' It is a deciduous, pyramidal crown tree or large shrub, 4-5 m tall, with ovate, continuous, dark green leaves. The petiole has a saw-toothed margin. Blooms profusely in May with single, white-pink blooms, the blossom buds are pink. The fruits are small, 1,5-2 cm across, rounded, yellow-orange, pinkish apples, ornamental and edible.
	Flowering crabapple tree (Malus x purpurea) 'Royalty' A compact, summer-green tree about 3-5 m tall. Leaves are simple, continuous, and dark red. Leaf blade edge saw-toothed. Blooms very profusely in May with large, bright purple-red blooms 3,5-4 cm across. Fruits are small, dark red, ornamental apples.