Malus sylvestris

RHS Plant Profile
crab apple

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crab apple RHS
crab apple Dorling Kindersley 2003
crab apple visionspictures.com

Other common names

European apple, wild crab, afalau surion bach

Synonyms

Malus acerba
Pyrus acerba
Pyrus malus

Plants for pollinators
Trees
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A small, rounded tree, about 9m tall, with mid-green leaves to 8cm long and clusters of pink-tinged white flowers to 5cm across in late spring, followed by yellow-green, sometimes red-flushed fruits 2-3cm across

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
4-8 metres
Max Height
8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
Yes
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
Although generally edible when cooked, seeds contain toxins so these should be removed if you are considering eating the fruitusually grown as an ornamental shrub. see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
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
Plant Range
Europe, Turkey

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, will tolerate partial shade. Ideal specimen trees for small gardens

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in a seedbed in autumn or by chip budding in late summer. Grafting can be carried out in midwinter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Edible fruit

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, woolly aphid, fruit tree red spider mite and caterpillars

Diseases

May be susceptible to apple scab, honey fungus, apple canker, fireblight, blossom wilt and Powdery mildews