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Crabapple

Malus hybrids (e.g. Malus 'Evereste', Malus × robusta 'Red Sentinel', Malus 'John Downie')

Ornamental treeDeciduousFrost HardyToxic

Crabapples are small ornamental Malus trees grown for their profuse spring blossom and small, long-lasting decorative fruit. Popular garden cultivars include 'Evereste', 'Red Sentinel' and 'John Downie', which are hardy and suited to small gardens.

Overview

Height4–8 m
Crown diameter3–8 m
Root systemHeart-rooted
ShadeMedium shade
SunFull Sun
WaterMedium
HardinessUSDA zones 4–8

Seasons

Flowering (Central Europe)Apr, May

Planting time for bare-root trees. Container trees can be planted whenever the soil is workable.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

  • Apple

    Crabapples are used as pollen donors in apple orchards because they bloom longer than apples; 'Evereste' blooms early to midseason and is listed as a good pollinizer.

Bad Companions

None

Shared disease: fire blight

Other hosts in the database: Apple, Pear, Quince, Rowan, Serviceberry. An infected tree can pass the disease on to them.

Only relations with a documented cause are listed.

Toxicity

SeverityMildly toxic
Toxic toDogs, Cats, Humans

Seeds, leaves and stems contain cyanogenic glycosides (amygdalin), particularly when leaves wilt; ASPCA lists apple incl. crabapples as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The fruit flesh is edible when cooked, but seeds should be removed.

Planting Tips

LocationFull sun for best flowering and fruit; tolerates partial shade and exposed sites.
SoilModerately fertile, moist but well-drained soil; tolerates clay, loam, sand and chalk and a wide pH range.
WateringWater thoroughly in dry spells for the first two years after planting; established trees are fairly drought tolerant.
FertilizingModerately fertile soil is sufficient; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding, which promotes soft growth susceptible to fire blight.

Care Tip: Choose scab-resistant cultivars such as 'Evereste'; watch for apple scab, powdery mildew and fire blight and cut out blighted shoots well into healthy wood.

Sources