A tree eventually 20 to 30 ft high, branches somewhat erect on young trees; shoots grey-downy early in the season, becoming glabrous later. Leaves ovate, rounded or tapering at the base, pointed, coarsely and sharply toothed; glabrous and dark shining green above, paler and at first downy beneath, becoming glabrous in autumn except on the midrib; on the flowering twigs the leaves are 2 to 3 in. long and about half as wide, but on vigorous maiden shoots as much as 41⁄2 in. long by 3 in., and sometimes lobed. Flowers often semi-double, 11⁄2 in. across, pale rose, produced in May in umbels of six to ten flowers each on a downy stalk 1 to 11⁄2 in. long; calyx woolly, especially inside. Fruits globose, yellow, 5⁄8 in. thick, calyx-teeth usually persisting at the top.
A hybrid between M. floribunda and M. prunifolia, put into commerce by Späth of Berlin in 1888. Through M. floribunda it inherits the ‘blood’ of M. sieboldii, as is occasionally evidenced by the lobing of the leaves on vigorous branches. On young trees clean shoots 3 to 4 ft long are made in one season, at every bud of which there appears the following May a cluster of six to ten large blossoms. It is thus possible to cut branches a yard or more long, wreathed from end to end with flowers. Unfortunately, this crab has a poor constitution and has now become rare in the trade. ‘Hillieri’, described on p. 715, is as fine and a better grower.