Dwarf Roadside Apple Evaluation (Original Tree Now Destroyed) - Washington State
I've been eyeing a feral apple pippin for the past few years. It *had been growing on the edge of a small grove of trees bordering an on-ramp to I-5 a little south of Seattle, WA. While I've long noticed the plethora of feral apples/crabapples growing along the roads here, this one caught my eye for a few reasons: It appeared to be a natural dwarf with a single short main trunk with all branches emerging rather lax and semi-droopy. As it grew on a slope some of the branches ended up being lower in elevation than the lowest point where the trunk touches the ground! All fruit can therefore be picked from the ground without a ladder or pole picker. No reaching up either! This is a very utilitarian habit as it would allow this tree to be grown on its own roots in gardens where there is not space for a larger tree (own root apples have a reputation for living longer than trees grafted to dwarf rootstocks). It was growing in a very dry location; a mounded berm of soil surround