Flowering Crabapple - Malus Floribunda Rose Family (Rosaceae)

Most crabapples are considered four-season trees.2

  • Crabapples are best suited to zones 4-8. They enjoy 6 hours of sun a day to look their best,
  • Flowering crabapples are available in pink, white or magenta blooms, and all fruiting trees will have tiny fruits that look like berries but can be up to 2 inches wide. That’s the crabapple itself!
  • Malus varieties can come with green, bronze, or purple foliage, depending on cultivar.
  • You wouldn’t enjoy eating the crab apples straight from the tree as they are very tart; crabapples do make excellent jams or jellies.
  • This tree is an excellent choice for along sidewalks size wise; sadly, the fruits can stain walkways or patios.
  • The dark green leaves are alternate, simple, elliptical, 2-4″ long with serrated margins

PRO TIP: Botanically there is NO difference in a crabapple tree and a normal apple tree. Horticulturists note that any fruit smaller than 2 inches is a crabapple; every fruit larger is a species of apple.

References:
  1. Malus floribunda. Missouri Botanical Garden. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=286525. No Publication Date. Accessed January 24, 2024.
  2. The Flowering Crabapple. Cooperative Extension Service. https://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/id/id68/id68.pdf. No Publication Date. Accessed January 24, 2024.
  3. https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/sX4UVpHsIJWuhwxOFNuvpDOclKA=/3072×2304/filters:fill(auto,1)/crabapplemomshouse-84852026048648769439d22b0c5512a5.jpg
  4. https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.cb79f573d40584dcd2301281524ab81e?rik=JWUAzDR44mDcjg&riu=http%3a%2f%2f3.bp.blogspot.com%2f-qxyUTu8T7ng%2fTzq2yvw1rwI%2fAAAAAAAAALI%2fdh-AfrXZwsI%2fs1600%2fmalusWhiteCandle2.jpg&ehk=Wg5fKR%2f65NiRbJu9s8wpk4sBQJf%2ffGF1SeOtnX1HoOE%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw&r=0
  5. https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Rosaceae/malus-floribundaba-bpatterson2.jpg
  6. https://kiwinurseries.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Starlite-Crabapple-5.jpg