Plant DetailShow Menu

Plants that fill a similar niche:
Prunus americana Form in bloom
Vaccinium corymbosum Leaves
Vaccinium macrocarpon Vaccinium macrocarpon
Malus coronaria has some common insect problems:
Aphids Found on Flowers and Foliage
Malus coronaria has some common disease problems:
Cedar Apple Rust
Malus coronaria has some other problems:
White-Tailed Deer

Sweet Crabapple Malus coronaria

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
MAY-lus kor-oh-NAIR-ee-uh
Description

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:
Tags:
#deciduous#honey bees#nectar plant#native bees#cover plant#small mammals#NC native#playground plant#edible fruits#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#nesting sites#larval host plant#food source summer#food source fall#food source herbage#bird friendly#mammals#food source soft mast fruit#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#wildlife friendly
 
Form
Form T. Davis Sydnor, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org CC BY 3.0
Close up of flower
Close up of flower Cbaile Public Domain Mark 1.0
Fruit
Fruit T. Davis Sydnor, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org CC BY 3.0
bark
Bark Rob Duval CC BY-SA 3.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#honey bees#nectar plant#native bees#cover plant#small mammals#NC native#playground plant#edible fruits#pollinator plant#Braham Arboretum#nesting sites#larval host plant#food source summer#food source fall#food source herbage#bird friendly#mammals#food source soft mast fruit#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#Audubon#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Native Plant
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Broad
    Erect
    Open
    Texture:
    Medium
    Appendage:
    Thorns
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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