Malus coronaria (American Crabapple)

Native to North America, Malus coronaria (American Crabapple) is a deciduous tree with a short, often crooked trunk and a wide-spreading irregular crown. In late spring or early summer, its usually thorny branches are covered with pretty clusters of 2-6 pleasantly scented, white flowers tinged with rose, up to 2 in. across (5 cm). The blossoms are followed by non-showy, smooth and waxy, greenish-yellow fruits, 1 in. wide (2.5 cm). Attractive to birds, they are slightly juicy and sour-tasting and can be made into preserves and cider. The foliage of ovate, coarsely toothed leaves is glabrous on the undersurface when mature. The bark is usually reddish gray-brown, rough-textured, and covered with longitudinal scales that often curve. This small tree is quite attractive during the spring when its relatively large flowers are in bloom. Wildlife uses this tree as a food source, cover, and nesting site. This flowering crabapple is subject to rust.

• Grows up to 20-30 ft. tall and wide (6-9 m).
• A full sun or partial sun lover, this tree is easily grown in moderately fertile, moist to dry-mesic, well-drained soils.
• Perfect as a specimen plant, in city gardens or cottage gardens.
• Require only minimal pruning in late winter, to remove damaged, diseased, or misplaced growth.
• This small tree is vulnerable to a variety of insect pests and foliar disease organisms. It should not be planted near Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar), which can spread cedar-apple rust.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
• Native to North America.