Southern Crabapple

Malus angustifolia

NOTE: As with all of our other plants and trees, all of our fruit plants are grown in containers outdoors so they are fully rooted and landscape-ready upon arrival.

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Deciduous Fruit Tree

Height at Maturity: 15-20′ depending on location

Width at Maturity: 10-15′ depending on location

Spacing: 25′ feet for space between trees

Growth Habit / Form: Open Rounded with Age, Spreading Branches

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: Soft Pink to Near White

Flower Size: 1″, in clusters

Flowering Period: Spring

Flower Type: Single, in clusters

Fragrant Flowers: Yes

Foliage Color: Medium Green, Yellow to Red in fall

Fragrant Foliage: No

Fruit: Yes

Fruit Color: Red Yellow Green

Sun Needs: Full to Mostly Sun or Part shade

Water Needs: Average, drought tolerant when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sandy(amended), Silty

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well-Drained, drought tolerant when established

Soil pH: 5.0 – 7.5 (Acid to Neutral); prefers slightly acid

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Butterflies, Beneficial Pollinators, Birds, Mammals

Resistances: Drought (when established), Heat, Cold

Description

A native that will tolerate both the heat in the South and the cold in the North, the Southern Crabapple tree is a very easy-to-grow and low maintenance fruit tree for the edible landscape. In spring, a profusion of showy and sweetly fragrant soft pink 5-petaled flowers nearly cover the canopy. Following the flowers are an equal abundance of 1-inch diameter crabapples that ripen to a bright red. The fruits are edible but sour and are therefore best used for making jellies and jams. Or you can just leave them on the tree for the birds, deer and other mammals to enjoy!

Wildlife Value
Bloom pollen is especially useful for bees as a food source in early spring as this tree blooms early. The small apples in late summer and fall are eaten by multiple birds and small woodland and neighborhood mammals (ex., opossums, squirrels, rabbits) of all kinds, including deer.

NOTE: As with all of our other plants and trees, all of our fruit plants are grown in containers outdoors so they are fully rooted and landscape-ready upon arrival.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 15 to 20 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide with a rounded form when young that transitions to an upright rounded shape with age, the Southern Crabapple is ideal for use as a specimen or in grouping in landscape and woodland borders. Also a fine addition to bird and wildlife gardens, native plant gardens, edible landscapes and cottage gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 25 feet for space between trees

Growing Preferences

The Crabapple Tree grows best in most any moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full to mostly sun. Established trees are very drought tolerant. Light shade is tolerated.

Note: Find helpful advice from our experts under the Planting & Care tab above on desktop screens and below on mobile phones.

Plant Long & Prosper!

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Not only was, I glad to have found our true native, southern crabapple, but my experience with this company was terrific, and they shipped me 3 foot tall, 1 gallon plants that were super healthy and well packaged. I will be shopping with them again!————————————————–We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG