Looking for an ornamental tree that is also useful for making tea and cooking? Consider the Malus hupehensis, also known as the Chinese Crab Apple or Tea Crab Apple. With pink buds and fragrant white flowers, this vigorous branching tree grows up to 12 meters tall and makes a great windbreak. In the fall, its bright red, cherry-sized crab apples ripen from greenish-yellow to yellow, orange, and finally red. Young leaves may also be purplish and can be processed into a tea substitute, while the fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. Native to China and the Himalayas, this plant is commonly used as a stock for grafting apple trees in Hubei and Sichuan. It prefers well-drained soil and can grow in semi-shade or no shade. Plant it in your yard or garden to enjoy its beauty and usefulness!