Midget crabapples (Malus micromalus Makino, in Chinese "西府海棠", literally "crabapple of the western mansion") at the palace are renowned throughout Beijng, with the phrase "exquisite beauty" used to describe the enchanting scene when the crabapple blossoms are in full bloom.
The Chinese species name for the flowering tree originates from its association with the specific mansion that it grows – Prince Kung's Palace, which locals referred to as the "western palace" because it neighboured Mongolian Alshaa Prince's Palace in the east. Conversely, the latter was referred to as the "eastern mansion".
The best viewing spots are the courtyards located in East Sector 1, the Rear Building and Chenghuai Xiexiu, with the peak flowering period occurring around mid-April.
