Sweet Crab Apple

(Malus coronaria)

Sweet Crab Apple (Malus coronaria)

Michael Ellis

CC BY 4.0

Image By: Michael Ellis

Recorded By:

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Malus coronaria, commonly known as Sweet Crab Apple, is a deciduous tree or large shrub native to open woodlands, forest edges, and scrub areas in the Eastern and Central USA and Ontario. It can grow as a bushy shrub with rigid, contorted branches or as a small tree reaching up to 33 feet (10 meters) tall, with a broad, open crown. The bark is grayish-brown, and the wood is reddish-brown with yellow sapwood; it is heavy, close-grained, but not particularly strong. The flowers are perfect, meaning they contain both male and female reproductive parts, and are rose-colored and fragrant, blooming about two weeks later than the domestic apple. The flowering season is in spring, and the flowers are quite showy. The fruit, a pome or apple, ripens in October, is fragrant, and clings to the branches on clustered stems long after the leaves have fallen, providing visual interest in the landscape.

Sweet Crab Apple is valued for its fragrant, showy flowers and persistent fruit, which can be used to make preserves and cider. It is often used in naturalized plantings, as a specimen tree, or for wildlife gardens due to its appeal to birds and other wildlife. It requires rich, moist soil and performs best in full sun with medium water needs and well-drained soil. While generally easy to maintain, it can be susceptible to apple scab and fire blight, and may require pruning to maintain a desirable shape and to remove any diseased wood.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Tree
Height: 20-30 feet
Width: 20-30 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Pink, White
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Medium

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers

Natural Habitat

Native to open woodlands, forest edges, and scrub areas in the Eastern and Central USA and Ontario

Other Names

Common Names: Garland Crab, American Crabapple, Sweet Crabapple, Wild Crabapple, Pommier Américain, Pommier Odorant

Scientific Names: , Malus coronaria, Pyrus coronaria, Malus lancifolia, Malus glaucescens, Malus glabrata, Malus bracteata, Malus coronaria var. coronaria, Malus coronaria var. lancifolia, Malus coronaria var. elongata

GBIF Accepted Name: Malus coronaria (L.) Mill.