Crabapple Tree Identification

Crab apple fruits are very small and normally green, ripening to yellow. They are less than 3.5cm in diameter and have a long stalk. It is by the fruit that you can best identify a crab apple – in fact, they are almost like cherries in shape and size. They are very sour to the taste.

What do crab apples look like on the tree?

It has serrated margins along the edge. So it's kind of like a knife they're symmetrical so if you

Can I eat crab apples?

Yes, you can eat crab apples. Generally, they're too tart to eat raw, but their appliness is intense when cooked. Crab apples have a really high pectin content, great for jams and jellies.

What does a crabapple tree look like in the fall?

Dark reddish-green foliage turns orange and bronzy red in fall. Photo by: Zydree / Shutterstock. Magenta-pink, nearly red flowers pop against purple-tinged foliage in spring. In fall, the leaves turn a fiery orange, creating a striking contrast with the dark red crabapples.

Do all crab apple trees have thorns?

Crabapple trees belong to the genus Malus, a member of the thorny rose family of plants (Rosaceae), hence the numerous thorns on wild species. Hybrid flowering crabapple cultivars either do not have thorns or only develop thorns on mature trees.

Can you eat crab apples from tree?

Some crab apples were bred for their beautiful flowers, while others were bred for their not-so-tasty but very decorative fruits. Still, if you want to give them a try, there are many ways to enjoy them, such as raw, fresh off the tree, or tossed into salads or smoothies.

Will birds eat crab apples?

Crabapples. With their long-lasting fruit, Crabapple trees are an excellent source of food for birds in the winter. Cardinals, cedar waxwings, and robins are especially drawn to crabapples.

Are crab apple trees messy?

Crabapple trees provide beauty in the spring but a mess in the fall once the fruit drops. During the summer months, a tree can throw shade and reduce air conditioning costs.

Are crab apples toxic to dogs?

Why Crab Apples Are Poisonous to Dogs. Crab apples contain a compound called cyanogenic glycoside, which yields cyanide. Cyanide is in the apple seeds and apple stem as well as many parts of the tree, including the branches and leaves. Eating these parts of a crab apple can lead to cyanide poisoning.

Do squirrels eat crab apples?

Squirrels and Crab Apples Squirrels do like crab apples but I noticed that in side by side offerings of a crab apple vs. a sweet apple variety, the squirrels will usually take the sweeter variety.

What can crabapples be used for?

They're excellent in desserts such as pies, chips, and tarts. Crab apple enthusiasts also love making them into jelly or jam. The high levels of pectin in these fruits help to give jelly or jam its jiggly texture. It's up to you how you use these little apples.

What month do crabapple trees bloom?

In What Month Do Crabapple Trees Bloom? Flowering crabapple trees will flower in the spring months. These are typically around April and May. However, this will vary by the cultivar and the overall growing conditions for the plant.

Do crabapple trees lose leaves in winter?

The tree is deciduous, so it loses its leaves in the winter. Crabapple flowers have white, pink or red petals with darker buds that bloom during April and May.

Why do people plant crabapple trees?

There are numerous reasons to consider planting a crabapple tree. Their ability to help pollinate other fruit trees, the tasty fruit, and their beautiful blooms make them a great asset for your yard or orchard. There are other great fruit trees to consider, too!

Are there any crab apple look alikes?

Look Alikes Crab apples are most likely to be confused with other members of the rose family, notably wild plums (Prunus spp.) and hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) Fortunately, the fruits of both plants are edible, so if you do mistake them, it's not a huge deal.

How tall do crabapple trees get?

It is an annual bloomer with red buds that open to white flowers. The fruit is yellow to red. It grows 15 to 25 feet tall. It is slightly susceptible to scab and powdery mildew and moderately susceptible to fire blight.

Do crab apple trees smell?

Crabapple Fragrance Many crabapple blossoms are delightfully fragrant but some are not. Some have the wonderful fragrance of apple blossoms, others have an exotic Oriental fragrance resembling cinnamon or cloves.

Do deer eat crab apples?

Deer congregate around fruit- and nut-bearing trees. In fact, white oak and sawtooth acorns, persimmons, and crabapples are what deer will eat first, even before a lush food plot.

Are crab apple tree roots invasive?

Crabapple tree roots are not invasive or aggressive. In fact, the only known cases of crabapple roots growing through home foundations or sidewalks occurred because there were already cracks for which the roots could emerge.

Do you need two crabapple trees?

Do you need two crabapple trees to produce fruit? Yes, all apple trees need a suitable pollinator to set fruit, and crabapples are no different. There are certain varieties of crabapple that do not produce fruit, but all of the cultivars that do need cross pollinators.