Fragrant Crabapple Malus coronaria
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Crataegus coronaria
- Malus lancifolia
- Pyrus coronaria
- Phonetic Spelling
- MAY-lus kor-oh-NAIR-ee-uh
- Description
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The sweet crabapple is a small, deciduous, flowering native tree that grows 15 to 30 feet tall, is densely branched, and has a broad, open, irregular crown. It is often found in open woods and forest edges from Ontario, Canada, to the North Central and Southeastern United States. The sweet crabapple has a short trunk with reddish-brown to gray bark. Its larger branches tend to produce thorns. Fragrant, pinkish-white flowers bloom in the spring and are followed by yellowish-green, bitter fruits, which are often used to make jellies and preserves. This tree also provides food, nesting sites, and shelter for many kinds of birds and small mammals. The specific epithet coronaria is Latin, meaning garland or crown. This ornamental and fragrant tree belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae).
Prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soils of various types. Hardy in zones 4 through 8. Provide good air circulation, and avoid planting near members of the juniper family due to the risk of cedar-apple rust. Prune in late winter to remove dead or diseased branches. As the tree ages, it may form colonies from seeds or root suckers.
Consider the sweet crabapple as a specimen or ornamental flowering tree for a cottage garden or pollinator garden. Planting an insect- or disease-resistant cultivar may be a better option, plus they usually lack thorns.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Unfortunately, this tree is susceptible to insect pests and diseases, especially rust. Rust is particularly problematic when the sweet crabapple is planted near a juniper, which is prone to cedar-apple rust. This tree is susceptible to scale, borers, aphids, and Japanese beetles, and is also at risk for fire blight, apple scab, and canker. Rabbits and deer will browse the foliage.
Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses: The stems, leaves, and seeds contain cyanide and can cause difficulty breathing, dilated pupils, and shock.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Charlottae'
Pink buds, double pale pink flowers, and large, dark green fruits; fall foliage orange and red; and good disease resistance - 'Elk River'
Small tree, rounded habit, with pink flowers, bright green fruits, and good disease resistance
- 'Charlottae'
- 'Charlottae', 'Elk River'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Charlottae'
Pink buds, double pale pink flowers, and large, dark green fruits; fall foliage orange and red; and good disease resistance - 'Elk River'
Small tree, rounded habit, with pink flowers, bright green fruits, and good disease resistance
- 'Charlottae'
- 'Charlottae', 'Elk River'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Malus
- Species:
- coronaria
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used the fruit as food and medicine. Early English settlers used the wood to make tools or use as
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Canada to the North Central and Eastern United States
- Distribution:
- Native: United States--Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin; Canada: Ontario. Introduced: Minnesota
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers' nectar attracts native bees and honey bees. Birds, raccoons, rabbits, opossums, squirrels, and foxes enjoy the fruits. Branches provide cover and nesting sites for birds and small mammals. This tree is a larval host plant for many butterflies, including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Wildlife Nesting
- Edibility:
- Fruits are used to make preserves (crab apple jelly) or cider.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 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
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- 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:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a globose, smooth, waxy, yellowish-green pome, measuring 0.75 to 1.5 inches in diameter at maturity. The initial fruit is green. The ripened pome is fragrant, slightly juicy, and sour-tasting. Fruits are displayed from August to October. Each fruit contains several seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flower buds are pink, and corymbs of 4 to 6 fragrant, white to whitish-pink blossoms cover the bare branches in May for about 2 weeks. Each flower is 1 to 1.75 inches in diameter and has 5 pink petals that fade to white with age. The petals are oblong to ovate. Each bloom has 20 stamens with pink or purple anthers and 5 styles.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are alternately arranged, yellowish-green, measuring 1.5 to 3 inches long and 0.75 to 2 inches wide. They are lanceolate to ovate, with either a rounded, cordate, or cuneate base and an acute or rounded apex. The margins are serrated and sometimes lobed. The leaf surfaces are smooth except along the veins on the underside. The undersurface is pale green. The petioles are light green to bright red, measuring 0.75 to 2 inches long, and may be hairy or smooth. The fall color is usually green to yellowish-green, and sometimes bright yellow.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Fissured
- Scaly
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Irregular
- Bark Description:
- The bark is variable but is often reddish-brown to gray, rough-textured, and covered with irregular longitudinal scales. As the tree matures, the bark becomes fissured and scaly.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are reddish-gray and initially hairy. Thorns can occur on the larger branches. The buds are ovoid, reddish-brown, and covered in dense, woolly hairs along the margins.
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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
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
