John Downie stands out as an excellent option for creating delicious crab apple jelly, showcasing white blossoms and vivid orange-red fruits. In terms of gardening skill, it requires a moderate level of proficiency. Its flowering period falls within Group 4, ensuring favorable pollination compatibility. With a diploid genetic makeup, this crabapple maintains a consistent bearing pattern and follows a spur-bearing fruiting habit. Notable for both its attractive flowers and appealing fruit, John Downie is self-fertile, possessing the capability for self-pollination.