For centuries, humans have turned to the natural vegetation around them. It has long been noted that wild plants possess a range of beneficial properties that set them apart, primarily their greater resilience to adverse environmental conditions. Even today, despite the vast array of cultivated varieties available, wild flora remains a vital source for developing new plant cultures. The ancestors of all cultivated apple varieties—of which there are currently around 15,000—are wild species. The genus Malus includes about 50 species of wild apples that thrive in temperate, moderately warm, and subtropical climates of the Northern Hemisphere. In our country, 17 species of wild apples can be found. The main progenitors of domestic varieties are the forest apple, the eastern apple, the Siberian apple, and the apple of Sivers. In the natural apple forests of the Voronezh and Kursk regions, the forest apple and early apple are prevalent; in the mountains of Central Asia—specifically in the Tian Shan and Pamir ranges—you can find the Kyrgyz apple and Sivers apple; and in Siberia, particularly in Buryatia, the Chita region, Khabarovsk Krai, and the Amur region, the Siberian apple thrives.
Beyond their culinary uses (including fresh, dried, cooked, and preserved forms, as well as making jams, jellies, pastes, cider, and wine), wild apple species are widely utilized in breeding programs to create new drought-resistant, winter-hardy, and disease-resistant varieties. For instance, to develop red-colored varieties like Yakhontovoe, Red Standard, and Belyfler Red, I.V. Michurin used the Nedzvedsky apple; in creating varieties such as Belyfler Kytayka, Kytayka Zolotaya, Kandil Kytayka, and Pepin Shafran, the resilient and winter-hardy leaf apple played a role.
Wild apples are also highly decorative. They bloom and bear fruit abundantly each year, showcasing a wide variety of flower and fruit colors. They are particularly striking in spring when the trees are adorned with vibrant purple or dark pink blossoms; notable varieties include Nedzvedsky, purple, and blood-red apples. These species are characterized by their purple leaves and waxy, violet-red fruits. It’s worth mentioning that the Nedzvedsky apple, found in the Tian Shan mountains, is in need of protection and is listed in the Red Book of endangered species.
One of the most ornamental apples is the Remarkable apple from China, known for its dark pink buds and large pale pink flowers measuring 4-5 cm in diameter. This variety is one of the longest-blooming apples, flowering for about a month. Among the tall varieties, the Manchurian apple stands out, reaching heights of up to 30 meters with large white flowers.
In addition to whole-leaf apples, there are also varieties with lobed leaves resembling those of maples, rowans, and hawthorns. One such species is the Torin-go-like apple, which grows in the mountains of Southwest China at altitudes of 3,000 to 3,600 meters. It is characterized by its five-lobed leaves and abundant flowering and fruiting.
In Moscow, wild apples bloom from May to June. The show begins with our European species, followed by Siberian, Far Eastern, East Asian species, and finally, North American apples. By combining red-leaved apples with green-leaved varieties and selecting them based on their flowering times, one can create picturesque groupings for our gardens. The most decorative apples can be planted individually or in small groups. Tall apple species (like Manchurian and Tsumi) are suitable for lining roads and creating avenues in community gardens or rural areas.
Given that wild apples have a robust and highly branched root system, they can be planted on slopes, serving an anti-erosion purpose. Apples are also excellent honey producers—one hectare of apple orchards can yield about 20 kg of honey.
Most wild apples reproduce from seeds; however, some species (like the Kyrgyz apple and Sivers apple) tend to propagate vegetatively through branch rooting. Cultivated varieties are grafted onto wild species, using forest, leaf, or Siberian apples as rootstocks.
It’s important to note the exceptional polymorphism (diversity) of wild species, particularly among apples growing in mountainous conditions. For example, the Central Asian Kyrgyz apple exhibits remarkable variation in fruit taste, size, and color. Renowned researcher A.A. Fedorov has identified around 100 primary forms of this apple.
Another characteristic of wild apples is their ability to withstand pruning and trimming, allowing for the shaping of the plants into various forms. While the lifespan of cultivated apple varieties ranges from 30 to 100 years depending on the variety, wild apples can live for 300 years or more.
Even from this brief overview of the apple genus, it’s clear what an immense treasure our wild apple forests represent and what a unique breeding resource we have at our disposal. It is our duty to protect these invaluable natural treasures.