Malus sylvestris - Crab Apple

A pretty, rounded tree, attractive both in blossom and in fruit. A British native, it is one of the ancestors of all our cultivated apples and is often seen in hedgerows. It makes a pretty specimen tree for the garden and is a good pollinator for other apples. It is a useful addition to woodlands, where it will support a range of insects and birds.

Site and soil

Prefers well-drained soil, but will cope well with heavier sites. Very hardy.

Leaf and bark

The leaves are ovate, mid-green 4-8cm long. The bark is dark brown, cracked into rectangular plates. Sometimes thorny.

Flower, seed and fruit

The saucer-shaped five petalled white flowers are tinged pink and open in May. The small round green fruits ripen in autumn to yellow, flushed red. They are very sour even when ripe.

Uses

Crab apples are too sour to eat raw, but can be made into jams or added to other fruits where their high pectin content ensures a good 'set'. The have also been added to cider and were an ingredient of the medieval drink Lamb’s Wool. The close-grained wood is prized for wood turning, and it is also valued as a sweet-scented fuel.

Wildlife

Bees are attracted to the flowers, and birds and small mammals eat the fruits. Insects shelter in the crevices of the bark where they are a food source for birds.