The plants are grown primarily as ornamentals, although a few growers produce the fruit commercially. The fruit is preserved or pickled or it is used in making jellies. No production data are available on the quantity of fruit that is used commercially. Most crabapples are grown for their ornamental value, and cultivars are chosen because of their beautiful flowers, foliage, or fruit. The general appearance is similar to a small bearing apple tree.
Culture is also similar to the culture of apple trees.
The flower is similar to that of the apple. Nectar secretion and pollen production has not been studied in detail. Like the apple, the crabapple appears to require cross-pollination between cultivars by insects. Little is known about which insect pollinators are of most value to crabapples. Considering that the only difference between the crabapple and the apple is fruit size, the deduction would appear reasonable that the most effective pollinator of apples, the honey bee, should be equally effective on the crabapple.