Types of Apple Trees for UK Gardens
Choosing among types of apple trees in the UK starts with rootstock and pollination group — not just fruit flavour. Use this guide to match tree size to your plot.
By rootstock (size)
- M27 / M9: very dwarfing — patio pots and tiny gardens
- M26: dwarfing — small gardens and cordons
- MM106: semi-vigorous — most suburban gardens
- MM111 / M25: vigorous — orchards and large plots
By form
- Bush / standard: classic free-standing trees
- Cordon / espalier: space-saving trained forms on sunny walls
- Patio fruit trees: dwarfing rootstocks in large containers (see our pot size calculator)
Eaters, cookers, and dual-purpose
Dessert apples are eaten fresh; cookers such as Bramley suit pies and sauces; dual-purpose varieties do both. Check flowering group so neighbouring trees can cross-pollinate — or choose a self-fertile cultivar for a single tree.
Planting tips
Plant bare-root trees November–March in full sun with well-drained soil. Stake young trees, water in dry spells for two years, and prune to an open goblet shape (our pruning calendar shows when).