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Malus coronaria
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

American crab apple

A deciduous crab apple tree, with a spreading habit and oval-shaped, toothed green leaves that are tinted red when young and turn shades of orange and red in autumn. Large, fragrant pale pink single flowers are produced in late spring, sometimes fading to white; these are followed in autumn by green or greenish yellow fruits

Other common names
garland crab apple
sweet scented crab apple
see moresweet-scented crab
wild sweet crab
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Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
Wider than 8 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring White Pink Green Red
Summer Green
Autumn Green Red Orange Yellow Yellow Green
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Rosaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Spreading branched
Genus

Malus are small to medium-sized deciduous trees with showy flowers in spring and ornamental or edible fruit in autumn; some have good autumn foliage colour

Name status

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, deep, moist, loamy soil in a sunny position; will tolerate partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed, by hardwood cuttings or by grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, including rosy apple aphid and woolly aphid, apple sawfly, fruit tree red spider mite, codling moth, apple leaf-mining moth and other caterpillars

Diseases

May be susceptible to apple canker, rust diseases, blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, honey fungus and powdery mildews. This species has some resistance to apple scab

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