Multi-Colored (Red, yellow, orange, to green crabapples (pomes) in fall; up to 2" dia. (larger is classified as an apple); Fruits often persist into winter)

Ultimate Height:

15-20 feet

Ultimate Spread:

15-20 feet

Bloom Times:

April 198

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Medium 203

Soil Notes:

Well-drained heavy loam soils

Range:

Cultivated origin

Maintenance:

High 16

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Malus has simple leaves in clusters on short spurs. Buds have several imbricate scales and are usually reddish-brown with hairs protruding under scales. Fruits have multiple seeds (as compared to the single seed pit of Prunus species). The bark of mature trees is gray to brown and scaly.

Ecological Functions:

Purdue Plant Doctor

Plant Doctor Page

Special Characteristics:

Additional Information

The Flowering Crabapple is a popular small ornamental tree with an extremely showy flower display in the spring. There are hundreds of types of crabapples available, and more being cultivated every day. Flowers can range from white to pink to purple to red and are followed by small pome fruits (crabapples) that can be red, yellow, orange, purple, or green. Tends to flower and fruit in alternate years. Well-drained heavy loam soils and full sun promote best growth. Can be susceptible to many pests and diseases, including apple scab, fireblight, Japanese beetles, leaf spot, cedar-apple rust, and powdery mildew. Many tend to look quite ragged at the end of the summer.

Plant Photo Gallery

Branching

Flowering Habit

Flowers

Flowering Habit

Flowers

Flowering Habit

Flowers

Fruit

Flowers

Fruit with Leaves

Leaf

Leaves

Summer Leaf

Fall Leaf

Trunk

Bark

Winter Habit

Fruit

When Malus × has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

No Fruiting Observations Available

167 Malus × found

Building Map...

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	ORIG_7615*A	FOPN
2	ORIG_7613*A	FOPN
3	ORIG_3603*A	PICK
4	ORIG_7624*A	TERM
5	2010_09171*A	RSC
6	ORIG_7630*A	AERO
7	2009_13224*A	HORTPARK
8	ORIG_0162*A	FWLR
9	ORIG_6179*A	PVA
10	ORIG_5509*A	PVA
11	ORIG_1792*A	PUSH
12	2010_09176*A	RSC
13	ORIG_3617*A	PICK
14	ORIG_3710*A	SHRV
15	ORIG_7616*A	TERM
16	ORIG_7633*A	AERO
17	2010_02112*A	WDCT
18	2015_00426*A	FRNY
19	2009_12558*A	HERL
20	2010_12094*A	HOCK
21	2010_09170*A	RSC
22	ORIG_8040*A	RSC
23	ORIG_8039*A	RSC
24	ORIG_0306*A	MRDH
25	ORIG_1793*A	PUSH
26	2015_00418*A	FRNY
27	ORIG_8046*A	RSC
28	ORIG_4075*A	CARY
29	ORIG_6089*A	PVA
30	ORIG_7631*A	AERO
31	2009_13809*A	HORTPARK
32	2009_13810*A	HORTPARK
33	ORIG_0014*A	HERL
34	ORIG_0794*A	LILY
35	2009_13209*A	HORTPARK
36	2009_13210*A	HORTPARK
37	2010_09178*A	RSC
38	2013_00617*A	HORTPARK
39	ORIG_1078*A	MEMMALL
40	2009_13568*A	HORTPARK
41	ORIG_5027*A	SCPA
42	ORIG_6895*A	LYNN
43	ORIG_5029*A	SCPA
44	ORIG_0576*A	VAWT
45	2015_00231*A	PWF
46	ORIG_5006*A	SCPA
47	2010_12040*A	HOCK
48	2010_12039*A	HOCK
49	ORIG_0010*A	HERL
50	2010_02348*A	HAMP
51	2010_00482*A	HORT
52	ORIG_7612*A	FOPN
53	ORIG_0860*A	PFEN
54	2013_00737*A	SMLY
55	ORIG_6184*A	PVA
56	ORIG_6185*A	PVA
57	ORIG_7634*A	AERO
58	ORIG_7611*A	FOPN
59	ORIG_0016*A	HERL
60	ORIG_4270*A	TARK
61	2015_00421*A	FRNY
62	ORIG_4277*A	TARK
63	ORIG_0308*A	SMLY
64	2010_09173*A	RSC
65	2010_02113*A	WDCT
66	2010_09172*A	RSC
67	ORIG_0518*A	WOOD
68	ORIG_5254*A	ROGA
69	2009_13243*A	HORTPARK
70	ORIG_6471*A	LSA
71	ORIG_0004*A	HERL
72	2009_13808*A	HORTPARK
73	ORIG_4624*A	ERHT
74	2010_09177*A	RSC
75	ORIG_5026*A	SCPA
76	2009_13249*A	HORTPARK
77	2015_00427*A	FRNY
78	ORIG_0015*A	HERL
79	ORIG_3616*A	PICK
80	ORIG_0019*A	HERL
81	ORIG_0020*A	HERL
82	2015_00420*A	FRNY
83	ORIG_3618*A	PICK
84	ORIG_8075*A	BCC
85	ORIG_5007*A	SCPA
86	ORIG_5541*A	PVA
87	ORIG_1831*A	PUSH
88	ORIG_3870*A	HLTP
89	ORIG_3929*A	HLTP
90	ORIG_5028*A	SCPA
91	ORIG_8041*A	RSC
92	ORIG_0314*A	MRDH
93	ORIG_6294*A	HERL
94	ORIG_4579*A	HARR
95	2015_00422*A	FRNY
96	2009_13189*A	HORTPARK
97	2009_13190*A	HORTPARK
98	2009_13200*A	HORTPARK
99	2018_00718*A	HOCK
100	ORIG_7506*A	ORIG
101	ORIG_7632*A	AERO
102	2013_00564*A	HORTPARK
103	2018_01338*A	ACKER
104	2018_01312*A	ACKER
105	2018_01310*A	ACKER
106	2018_01349*A	ACKER
107	2018_01311*A	ACKER
108	2018_01337*A	ACKER
109	2018_01289*A	ACKER
110	2018_01290*A	ACKER
111	2022_00042*A	PGW
112	2022_00043*A	HAWK	Heritage Plant Dedicated/Memorial Plant
113	2022_15755*A	BCHM
114	2022_00490*A	WARN
115	2023_00122*A	KNOY
116	2023_00168*A	HILL
117	2023_00168*C	HILL
118	2023_00343*A	HORTPARK
119	2023_00343*B	HORTPARK
120	2022_15779*A	HORTPARK
121	2022_15779*B	HORTPARK
122	2022_15779*C	HORTPARK
123	2022_15779*D	HORTPARK
124	2015_02464*A	2550
125	2023_00726*A	2550
126	2015_02464*B	2550
127	2024_00135*A	SMLY
128	PUI_ORIG_00009*A
129	PUI_ORIG_00018*A
130	PUI_ORIG_00027*A
131	PUI_ORIG_00038*A
132	PUI_ORIG_00044*A
133	PUI_ORIG_00095*A
134	PUI_ORIG_00108*A
135	PUI_ORIG_00110*A
136	PUI_ORIG_00113*A
137	PUI_ORIG_00115*A
138	PUI_ORIG_00117*A
139	PUI_ORIG_00133*A
140	PUI_ORIG_00136*A
141	PUI_ORIG_00145*A
142	PUI_ORIG_00148*A
143	PUI_ORIG_00159*A
144	PUI_ORIG_00176*A
145	PUI_ORIG_00180*A
146	PUI_ORIG_00190*A
147	PUI_ORIG_00194*A
148	PUI_ORIG_00198*A
149	PUI_ORIG_00201*A
150	PUI_ORIG_00226*A
151	PUI_ORIG_00235*A
152	PUI_ORIG_00237*A
153	PUI_ORIG_00255*A
154	PUI_ORIG_00262*A
155	PUI_ORIG_00267*A
156	PUI_ORIG_00285*A
157	PUI_ORIG_00304*A
158	PUI_ORIG_00313*A
159	PUI_ORIG_00318*A
160	PUI_ORIG_00319*A
161	PUI_ORIG_00355*A
162	PUI_ORIG_00381*A
163	PUI_ORIG_00383*A
164	PUI_ORIG_00393*A
165	PUI_ORIG_00428*A
166	PUI_ORIG_00436*A
167	PUI_ORIG_00449*A