American Crabapple Malus coronaria
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- MAY-lus kor-oh-NAIR-ee-uh
- Description
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Sweet Crabapple is a native small tree in the rose family. It grows 15 to 30 feet tall with a broad open crown. Its preference is for a sunny spot with moist loamy soil but will tolerate part shade. In its southern range, it is usually found in the mountains.
In spring it is covered in fragrant pink flowers. The fruits are small and bitter but can be used for making preserves or cider. Wildlife uses this tree as a food source, cover and nesting site.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to insects and diseases, especially rust. Plant at least 500 feet from cedars. Insects are aphids, leafhoppers, treehoppers, and other insects. Rabbits and deer will browse the foliage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Malus
- Species:
- coronaria
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America, NC
- Distribution:
- USA: AL, AR, DC, DE, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA, WI, WV, WY Canada: BC, ON
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar from flowers attracts native bees and honey bees. Fruits are a food source for birds as well as raccoons, rabbits, opossum, squirrel, and foxes. Branches provide cover and nesting sites for birds and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- Fruits are used to make preserves or cider.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Erect
- Open
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Pomes are ¾-1½" across. It is fragrant and yellowish-green or yellow at maturity, slightly juicy and sour-tasting. Fruits display from September to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Cymes of 2-6 flowers appear in May. Individual flowers are 1-1¾" across, consisting of 5 pink-petals that fade to white with age.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1½-3" long and ¾-2" across ovate yellow-green leaves are coarsely toothed, and often shallowly cleft. Undersurface is pale green
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- The bark is variable but is often reddish gray-brown, rough-textured, and covered with longitudinal scales.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Reddish gray smooth stems. Thorns can occur on the larger branches.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems