Crab Apple | Malus trees

A crab apple tree is a small, ornamental tree known for its vibrant spring blossoms and small, colorful fruits. The blossoms range from white to deep pink, often with a subtle fragrance. The leaves are green, turning to shades of yellow or red in the fall. The tree's fruits are small, about 2 inches in diameter, varying in colors from red to yellow.

Crab Apple Trees: Nature's Tiny Treasures


Crab apple trees are known for their small, tart, and tangy apples, perfect for jellies and jams. Moreover, their vibrant blossoms in spring and colourful fruits in autumn make them highly ornamental and a great addition to any garden. Due to their resilience and adaptability, they are suitable for a variety of conditions and are very popular among gardeners.

Crab Apple Tree Sale UK: Arundel Arboretum


If you want to buy crab apple tree, our Arundel Arboretum nursery is the right place for you to go! We are located in the heart of West Sussex, in the historic town of Arundel near Chichester. Our experts are ready to walk you through our impressive selection of crab apple trees and help you find the best for you.

If you’d prefer to buy crab apple trees online, explore our web store and our carefully curated selection of large and small crab apple trees for sale. Find your ideal tree and let us handle the rest! Buying crab apple trees has never been easier.

Finding Your Perfect Crab Apple Tree: A Simple Guide


Here are some crab apple tree varieties available in our nursery, each with its main characteristics to help you choose the perfect tree for your garden.

Malus ‘Evereste’

  • Flowers: Pure white
  • Fruit: Orange-red
  • Foliage: Green

Malus tschonoskii

  • Flowers: White or pale pink
  • Fruit: Red to yellowish, inedible
  • Foliage: Red, orange, and purple in autumn

Malus toringo 'Scarlett'

  • Flowers: Pink
  • Fruit: Yellow-green
  • Foliage: Crimson and purple in autumn

Malus Fruitilicious - Culinary Crab Apple

  • Flowers: White
  • Fruit: Green to pink-red
  • Sweeter in taste, great for culinary uses

Malus 'Golden Hornet'

  • Flowers: Profusion of fragrant, pink-white flowers
  • Fruit: Golden-yellow
  • Foliage: Green

Malus ‘Direktoer Moerland’

  • Flowers: Fragrant, red-purple
  • Fruit: Purple
  • Foliage: Coppery-red when young, yellow-bronze in autumn

Malus ‘Neville Copeman’

  • Flower: Lilac-pink
  • Fruit: Purplish-red
  • Foliage: Purple when young, green flushed with purple later

Malus ‘Royalty’

  • Flowers: Fragrant, crimson-purple
  • Fruit: Dark-red to black, inedible
  • Foliage: Dark purple-green, vivid red in autumn

Malus ‘Red Sentinel’

  • Flower: Fragrant, white
  • Fruit: Deep-red
  • Foliage: Green

Malus ‘Harry Baker’

  • Flower: Deep-pink
  • Fruit: Crimson to maroon
  • Foliage: Green

Malus ‘Profusion’

  • Flowers: Fragrant, pink-rose, growing in profusion
  • Fruit: Blood-red
  • Foliage: Reddish-purple when young, bronze-green during the season, and amber, orange, and red in autumn

Malus 'Butterball'

  • Flowers: Fragrant, white
  • Fruit colour: Golden-yellow
  • Foliage: Green

Malus ‘Yellow Siberian’

  • Flowers: White
  • Fruit: Yellow
  • Foliage: Green

Malus Floribunda 'Coccinella'

  • Flowers: Pink to white, very ornamental
  • Fruit: Red to orange
  • Foliage: Green

Weeping varieties:

Malus ‘Crimson Cascade’

  • Flowers: Crimson
  • Fruit: Dark-purple
  • Foliage: Purplish-green, gradually turning bronze-green

Malus ‘Red Jade’

  • Flower: Fragrant, white to pale pink
  • Fruit: Bright red
  • Foliage: Green

Malus ‘Royal Beauty’

  • Flowers: Fragrant, deep-pink to light-purple
  • Fruit: Dark-purple, inedible
  • Foliage: Dark green, deep-purple underneath, yellow and bronze in autumn

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a crab apple? Crab apple is a small, wild apple from the Malus genus and the ancestor of the cultivated apple species Malus domestica. Its flavour varies from tart to mildly sweet. It is excellent for cooking, especially for making jellies and jams because of its high pectin content.
  • What's the difference between apples and crab apples? The main difference between apples and crab apples is their size; crab apples are smaller. Also, crab apples are usually tangy and tart which makes them less desirable for eating fresh but excellent for jellies and jams.
  • How do you make crab apple jelly? Wash and quarter crab apples, put them in a pot, and cover with water. Cook them until soft and then extract the juice through a jelly bag. Add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. Boil the juice with sugar until it reaches the gel point. Pour into sterilized jars and seal.
  • How to plant a crab apple tree UK? The best time to plant crab apple trees is from late autumn to early spring, during the dormant season. Choose a place with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. The soil has to be well-drained because crab apple trees do not like waterlogged soils. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root and deep enough to level the root ball with the ground. Water thoroughly after planting and maintain consistent moisture during the first year. If needed, stake it to provide support.
  • When to prune crab apple tree UK? The best time to prune crab apples in the UK is late winter or early spring, before the new growth emerges. Depending on the local climate, that could be from late February to early April.
  • How to prune a crab apple tree? With clean and sharp pruning tools, remove: Dead, diseased, and damaged branches. Branches that are crossing and rubbing against each other Less important branches to thin out crowded areas. Sprouts and suckers growing along the trunk or main branches. In the end, adjust the height and width of the tree and improve its natural shape.
  • When do crab apple trees blossom UK? In the UK, crab trees blossom in spring, usually from late April to early May. In warmer southern regions, early varieties can start blooming in mid-April. In cooler northern areas, they may not bloom until late May.
  • Is there a dwarf crab apple tree UK? Yes, several dwarf crab apple tree varieties can be found in the UK, such as Malus ‘Tina’ which reaches only 1.5m in height or Malus ‘Royal Beauty’, a weeping variety that grows up to 2-3 metres in height. They are ideal crab apple trees for smaller gardens or for growing in containers.
  • What can you do with crab apples? Crab apples can be used in many different ways. Due to their high pectin level, they are perfect for making jellies and jams. They can be used in sauces and chutneys, as well as in baked products – tarts, pies, muffins. Crab apples can be canned and pickled and used for making cider or vinegar.
  • Are crab apples toxic? Crab apples are not toxic but their seed contain amygdalin that releases cyanide when metabolized in the body. However, for any toxic effect, a very large amount of seed should be consumed. You would have to eat more than 100 seeds in one setting to feel cyanide toxicity. Consuming several seeds accidentally is harmless.
  • What are the most common crab apple tree diseases UK? In the UK, crab apple trees are susceptible to several common diseases. Some of them are apple scab, powdery mildew, fire blight, and apple canker.
  • Is there a crab apple tree for sale near me? If you are looking to buy a crab apple tree near you, your search can end here! Visit our Arundel Arboretum nursery in Arundel, Chichester, South of England, to discover top-quality crab apple trees from our crab apple tree farm. Or, explore our online store and find your ideal crab apple tree for sale there. We’ll take care of the rest. If you have any questions about the crab apple tree sale UK or if there's anything else we can assist you with, do not hesitate to contact us.
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