Crabapple
Malus spp. · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Ornamental, Flowering, Fruit Tree
Variety / Cultivar
General species representation, highly variable across hundreds of cultivars like 'Prairiefire' or 'Snowdrift'
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 8, exhibiting good cold hardiness and adaptability
About This Tree
Small to medium-sized deciduous tree with a rounded, spreading, or oval canopy, twiggy branching structure often featuring short spur shoots, and prolific small fruits
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, ovate to elliptic leaves, finely toothed or serrated margins, sometimes slightly lobed on vigorous shoots, green turning yellow in fall
Bark Characteristics
Gray-brown to reddish-brown bark, smooth when young, becoming ridged, furrowed, and slightly scaly with age
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere including North America, Europe, and Asia
Growing Season
Leafs out in early spring, produces abundant fragrant flowers in mid-spring, forms small pome fruits in summer persisting into autumn/winter, and enters dormancy in late autumn
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for best flowering and fruiting, moderate watering needs once established, and prefers well-drained loamy soils
Mature Size
Typically reaches 15 to 25 feet in height with a similar spread, moderate growth rate, and a lifespan of 30 to 70 years
Special Characteristics
Highly valued for ornamental spring blooms and persistent colorful fruits, moderate tolerance to urban pollution, though susceptibility to diseases like apple scab varies by cultivar
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides excellent ecological value by supporting various pollinators with spring nectar, offering nesting sites for songbirds, and supplying winter food sources for birds and small mammals via persistent fruits