American crabapple

Scientific name: Malus coronaria

Family: Rosaceae (Rose family)

American crabapple, also known as Wild Crabapple or Sweet Crabapple, is present throughout all of Ohio and predominates as a spreading tree native to the upper two-thirds of the Eastern United States, especially the Midwestern States. It is known for its very fragrant, white-to-white-pink blossoms that are the last among the Crabapples to bloom. Its fruits are very bitter (Sweet Crabapple refers to the scent of both the flowers and fruits, not the taste of the fruits) and greenish-yellow when mature, but make excellent jelly or jam due to their high pectin and high acid content (enough added sugar makes anything taste good). It is also used as a rootstock on which to graft some cultivated forms of apple, giving the grafted tree cold hardiness and adaptability to local soils.

Identification

LEAF: Leaves of American Crabapple are alternate, ranging from triangular and ovate to narrowly elliptical, and serrated. Larger leaves found on vigorous suckers and watersprouts may even be slightly lobed. Fall color is usually green to chartreuse, but can have some leaves that are bright yellow.

TWIGS AND BUDS: Reddish gray smooth stems. Thorns can occur on the larger branches. 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds

FLOWER: 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. They are noted as being extremely fragrant and have longer pedicels than most other members of the genus Malus

FRUIT OR SEED: Pomes are ¾-1½” across. They are fragrant and yellowish-green or yellow at maturity, slightly juicy and sour-tasting. Fruits display from September to October.

BARK: Mature bark is fissured into irregular-sized gray plates.

SHAPE: American Crabapple, like most small trees and large shrubs found in open fields, crowded fence rows, and woodland edges, is often multi-trunked, has dead interior branches from self-shading, and may lean with age.

MATURE HEIGHT: 15-30 feet.

Information credits: Ohio DNR, NC State Extension

Photo credits: Rob Duval, Paul Cooper, Chris Light, Purdue University