Apples, Wild Crabapples | Eat The Weeds and other things, too Wild Apple tree in October in Pownal Maine. Photo by Green Deane Malus sieversii, Hard-Core Apples Wild Apples are one of the most common over-looked foraging foods. People take one taste, spit it out, and go on their way. Because of the story of Johnny Appleseed (who was a real person) most folks think apples aren’t native to North America. There were plenty of apples here when Europeans arrived, but they were Wild Apples not cultivated apples. What’s the difference? Taste and size. Most wild apples are small and sour, domesticated apples tend to be larger and sweeter. What most people don’t know is that wild apples can be baked or roasted (as in near an open fire or in an oven) and made very tasty. While some wild apples are too bitter to eat even after cooking many are transformed into good eats. Well-treated wild apples can be sweet. When I was a kid foraging in the Maine woods wild apples were very common. In fact, of the eight or so feral apple trees I knew of only one had a cultivated heritage.

It was a Golden Delicious, and my least favorite. The rest were usually sour raw but wonderful when roasted by a campfire (and no pots to clean.) Unfortunately there are few if any Wild Apples in this area of Florida. It is simply too hot. They like northern climes and people liked wild apples, too. No less a person than New England native Henry David Thoreau wrote a 10,000 word essay on the Wild Apple. Many wild apples are better cooked than raw. The domestic apple as we know it has been around some 6,000 years and came from Kazakhstan. There apple trees growing to 60 feet were the dominant species of the forest. That is something to think about, apple trees the size of Oaks, a forest of them… Orchards there today are remarkable in that the trees are very resistant to disease, unlike commercial crops. Further, two apples from that area — the Red Delicious and the Golden Delicious — are the parents of 90% of modern commercial eating apples. The Red Delicious was hybridized into the Fuji and the Empire, and the Golden Delicious into the Gala, the Jonagold, the Mutsu, the Pink Lady and the Elstar.

The Granny Smith (below right) however, came from a back yard in Australia. One Granny Smith sprouted in 1868 It originated in 1868 from a chance seedling propagated by Maria Ann Smith (née Sherwood) born 1799, died 9 March 1870. Researchers think the now well-known green apple was a chance cross between Malus sylvestris, a European Wild Apple — perhaps from France via Tasmania — with the domestic apple M. domestica. Widely propagated in New Zealand, it was introduced to the United Kingdom around 1935 and the United States in 1972. Each Granny Smith apple today is a clone. Actually every commercial apple is a clone. One cultivated apple that does grows in Florida is the Apple Anna, which was a chance seedling found in the Bahamas and can withstand the summer heat. Worldwide some 55 million tons of apples are harvested annually worth some $50 billion a year. Americans eat on average, as of this writing, 126 apples a year each. Meanwhile wild apples, which are free, feed mostly wildlife.

Often a wild apple’s taste will be moderated because of hybridizing with cultivated apples. There are no hard and fast rules identifying which are edible raw. You just have to taste and experiment with each wild apple tree you find. They also usually have more cholesterol-reducing pectin than cultivated apples thus are added to other fruits and domestic apples when making jelly. Incidentally, there is no such species as a “crabapple” per se. Crabapple, like “pearl onion” is a reference to size. Crabapples, like pearl onions, are small and any small apple can be called a crabapple, any small onion can be a pearl onion. The fascinating aspect of apples is that every apple seed is totally different than the parent. Something like snow flakes no two apple seeds are genetically alike thus what kind of tree each will produce is a mystery. Every named apple you eat came originally from just one seed and one tree. As mentioned above they are clones which is why it takes a long time to get a new apple into production. Besides foraging for wild apples I used to help my father make pieces of apple wood into tobacco pipes.

We’d find a suitable size piece, rough cut and drill it then boil it for a few hours to drive the sap out of it. Then it was carved and sanded, and a bit of bass wood became the stem. I still have one of them around after more than 50 years. You can read about that here. If you are a hunter wild apples trees are a good place to find game. When I roamed the woods as a boy wild apple trees were the prime place to flush partridge in the fall and later find deer. A huge variety of wildlife like the apple, among them foxes, raccoons, bears, coyotes, opossums, rabbits, squirrels, grouse, prairie chickens, and quail. They know good food when they find it. Johnny Appleseed (Howe’s Historical Collections of Ohio) Malus sieversii (MAL-us see-VER-see-eye) is the botanical title for these wild fruits. Malus is the Dead Latin word for apple, and Sieverrii honors Ivan Sievers, a Russian botanist who discovered the wild apples in 1793 in Kazakhstan but died before describing the species.

The name was given by Carl Friedrich von Ledebour, who got there in 1830. The word “apple” is also from Dead Latin and means fruit. All that said what about Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman, September 26, 1774 – March 11, 1845.) While he wore a tin pot for a hat and a burlap sack for a shirt, and went barefoot even in the winter, he was an astute businessman. He bought or got land grants ahead of settlers and started apple tree nurseries so when the settlers arrived he had trees to sell. Then he would leave his nurseries in the hands of a local and set out for the frontier again. While I am on the topic, what about eating apple seeds? There are two things we know for certain: Eating a few at a time is fine, eating a huge amount can make you ill and possibly kill you. What’s a few? What ever seeds you find in one apple is no big deal. In fact, my mother — who died at 88 — often ate a quarter of a cup of seeds at a time but that was living dangerously.

For the average person of average weight the fatal dose would be around 114 average-size seeds thoroughly chewed. And what about the story that a man saved up a cup of seeds, ate them, and died from that? Kingsbury’s book was the standard. The story got legs when a prominent expert on toxicology, Dr. John M. Kingsbury included it in his book Poisonous Plants of the United States and Canada, Prentice-Hall, 1964. Kingsbury was an associate professor of botany at New York State College of Agriculture and lectured on poisonous plants for the veterinary college. Everyone presumed Kingsbury had proof. But in 1998 in the Journal of Clinical Toxicology there was a letter to the editor grousing about folklore and “plantlore” specifically mentioning Kingsbury. That got me interested in the veracity of the death-by-appleseed story. To be specific I wanted to know the name of the man who ate a cup of apple seeds, where, and when did he die? Basic facts. After all, Kingsbury’s inclusion in his book gave the story legitimacy and it has been quoted extensively ever since.

Kingsbury’s bibliography quoted two authors more than two decades earlier: Reynard, G.B., and J.B.S. Norton in Poisonous Plants of Maryland in Relationship to Livestock. Maryland Agricultural Experimental Station, Technical Bulletin. A10, 1942. 312pp. That would make sense as they and Kingsbury had an interest in plants that were toxic to farm animals. On page 276 of the 72-year old bulletin Reynard and Norton write about prussic acid harming livestock. (Amygdalin is essentially a sugar and cyanide molecule which is safe until digested where upon it releases hydrogen cyanide which used to be called prussic acid.) The cyanide blocks the uptake of oxygen by red blood cells causing asphyxiation. How much material, how chewed the material is, the liquid dilution of the material in the stomach, and how many stomachs you have and your size all affect the extent of the poisoning.

In the listing of plants that can harm animals via prussic acid Reynard and Norton include flax, wild black cherry, wild red cherry, choke cherries, peach (kernels) plums, cherry (seeds) apple (seeds) sorghum, lima beans, arrow grass and manna grass. Original Apple Seed Reference They note in the last paragraph (to your left:) “Apple seeds are mentioned, not as having caused stock-poisoning, but because of the fact that one instance was recorded from personal inquiry in which an adult man was killed following eating a cup of these seeds at one time. The seeds had been saved up, apparently thought to be a delicacy in small amounts and upon being eaten developed enough of the deadly prussic acid to cause this tragic death. The instance is recorded here as a caution to others who might attempt to eat more than a few of these seeds at any one time. Previous investigators have reported that apple seeds contain appreciable amounts of amygdalin from which prussic acid is developed, but actual reports of poisoning are rare. “ So rare they didn’t or couldn’t say who actually did die from eating apple seeds if anyone ever did.

Their reference — a personal inquiry — is as weak as Kingsbury’s. Without a name, a time and place it is but an early urban legend. It may be that someone indeed did died from eating a cup of apple seeds. It is theoretically possible. I say theoretically because if it did happen it was before 1942 and no one thus far in any professional paper has ever identified who it was if anyone. The best one can come up with is a no-reference warning in a livestock bulletin 72 years ago. A 130-year search by this writer of the New York Times of 437 stories involving prussic acid revealed suicides, murders and a few accidental medicinal deaths. None by an appleseed overdose. I think that would have made the newspaper. The point is the seeds in one apple a day won’t kill an adult. To be on the safe side however, kids, because they are so much smaller, should not eat apple seeds. For some of the above material I want to give special thanks to Stephanie M.

Ritchie, Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library, 10301 Baltimore Avenue, Room 132, Beltsville, MD 20705 Green Deane’s “Itemized” Plant Profile IDENTIFICATION: A tree seldom more than 20 feet high with a contorted and rigid crown, branches often short and spur like, thorn-like twigs, leaves alternating saw-toothed, obvious network of veins on either side of the leaf. Quintet of pinkish or white petals, scented. If you cut the apple through at the equator you should see a star shaped core where the seeds develop. TIME OF YEAR: Fall, if not late fall ENVIRONMENT: Likes all terrain that is not bone dry or sopping wet, often found on the south side of hills. METHOD OF PREPARATION: Jelly, fruit, drink, source of pectin. Often they are improved greatly by roasting near a fire or in an oven. If you would like to donate to Eat The Weeds please click here .

{ 28 comments… read them below or add one } Tim March 16, 2016 at 12:53 Crab apples are popular for making cider. Sour, tannic apples are the best for cider. And I’m talking about real cider where the sugars are fermented into alcohol, not the post-prohibition idea of cider that’s nothing more than spiced up apple juice warmed up on a stove, which I call false-cider. Reply Derek Miller March 11, 2016 at 20:53 Hi I would like to purchase some hedge apple capsules could you contact me with the price ect. or you can call me at 567 231 3047 Thanks Reply Heather November 13, 2015 at 11:42 My dad had a quick way of knowing whether or not an apple was worth trying (at least here in Ontario). If you know it’s an apple in front of you, check if the underside of the leaf is downy. If it’s downy, it’s more likely to be a seedling from an edible (m.

domestica) apple and less likely to be mouth-puckeringly tannic. If it’s smooth on the underside, it’s more likely to be tannic and bitter. Reply Eli October 6, 2015 at 20:57 Just watched the wild apple video. Loved it. Liked some of those crab apples. A crab apple is 2 inch diameter and under an apple is 2 inch diameter an over. A wild apple has thorns. Many modern varieties of apple have been discovered on a fence row by chance breeding. Just because the apple looks small don’t mean the tree always produced little apples. Crab apples make the best jellies. Stores only sell around 10 varieties check your local farmers market for better selection. Some crab apples are super sweet. Trina August 31, 2015 at 08:57 Hi there, I live in Ontario and recently found a wild apple tree in my yard. Many of the apples have been damaged by Apple maggots and Codling moth. However, I was able to use a ladder to get some from high off the tree that look nice. My little girls had eaten a few before I learned about these pests.

I notice that some that look nice but have a tiny black “sting” on the skin and look clean on the inside. If we have accidentally eaten the eggs of the maggot will we get sick or simply pass them with our food? Should I stop letting my girls eat these wild apples? I was so excited about having our own apple tree. Thanks. tomg October 18, 2015 at 23:13 the black ‘sting’ is probably just from apple scab and is harmless to eat. Marie July 6, 2015 at 14:11 Hello Green Deane, I live on Long Island , NY and moved into a home that has a tree that produces these small green misshapen apples and I was wondering if these are “wild apples” and if so can we eat them raw or cooked. Can I send you a picture of the tree and the apple I would for you to see exactly what I have so that I don’t end up eating something that is not good. Thank you for your time, Marie Reply Bendy September 8, 2014 at 11:31 I love reading your articles.

I was reading about when to harvest Jerusalem artichokes and I found the answer in your article about them. I was “born and raised” in West Virginia. The only history class I ever truly enjoyed was 8th grade West Virginia History where I learned about everything from Aaron Burr and Harman Blennerhassett to the origins of the original Golden Delicious apple tree and the surveys of Daniel Boone and George Washington in what is now West Virginia. As a side note, the Grime’s Golden also has its origins in West Virginia. Reply Ken August 6, 2016 at 01:20 The Golden Delicious was a chance seedling, possibly a hybrid of Grimes Golden and Golden Reinette. The original tree was found on the Mullins’ family farm in Clay County, West Virginia, United States and was locally known as Mullin’s Yellow Seedling and Annit apple, sold to Stark brothers nurseries, which first marketed it as a companion of their Red Delicious in 1914. Reply Crystal July 15, 2014 at 15:16 I also live in Florida and was just wondering if you’ve ever run across a pond apple.

I have some by me and though they taste more like a melon they are pretty sweet. They grow in standing water or swamp areas. The Best Crabapple Trees for Your Garden - Brooklyn Botanic Garden The Best Crabapple Trees for Your Garden By Erik A. Draper, James A. Chatfield, and Kenneth D. Cochran | March 1, 2005 As cooperative extension specialists and researchers based in Ohio, we're often asked to recommend small (under 25 feet), low-maintenance trees that provide landscape interest for three or four seasons. Our advice is always unanimous: crabapples! Among the showiest of spring bloomers, crabapples are also wonderful foliage plants in summer and fall, and they provide beautiful fruit displays late in the season. Furthermore, they come in a range of sizes and forms, many of which create interesting silhouettes in the winter landscape. Known also as crab trees, crabs, wild apples, and schoolboy apples, crabapples belong to the Rosaceae, or rose family. They share the same genus—Malus—as apples. All apples, including crabapples, are believed to have originated in the mountains of Kazakhstan.

Though it's not clear how they arrived here, at least three crabapple species are native to North America: Malus coronaria, M. fusca, and M. ioensis. Most of our other crabapple species, native to Europe and Asia, prospered when brought here as seeds or cuttings by colonists. To a crabby few, it's still a matter of unscientific contention that apples and crabapples reside in the same genus. But the difference is arbitrary. It's a rare instance in which size does matter: A Malus tree with fruit that's two inches or more in diameter is considered an apple, while a Malus tree with fruit smaller than two inches is considered a crab. That's it. All crabapple fruits are technically edible, though (as their common name suggests) most are bitter tasting. Perhaps the best description of that special "crabbed" flavor comes from Henry David Thoreau's essay "Wild Apples": "sour enough to set a squirrel's teeth on edge and make a jay scream." More: Learn how to plant mountain laurel , a native shrub with gorgeous flowers, in your garden or backyard.

The quest of early apple planting in America wasn't to obtain an apple for eating, but rather an apple for drinking—cider, that is. It led to a massive but totally random hybridization effort that resulted in many fruits that were bitter and acrid. Fruits too sour to eat were known as "spitters," but it was soon discovered that certain fermented combinations of these (many of them crabs) and sweeter apples made an excellent beverage. Crabapples have other uses too, of course. They often contain high amounts of pectin, which helps to firm up jellies, jams, and apple butter. They are also valuable to wildlife. Birds, especially cedar waxwings, often attack crabapple fruits with gusto as the crop softens and ages with successive freezes in the fall. True to their rugged, mountainous origin, crabapples are tough and adaptable, and they can thrive in many different climates and environments. The trees need well-drained soils and tolerate pH ranges from 5.0 to 7.5, though they prefer it slightly acidic (6.2–6.8).

Most are hardy from USDA Zones 4 to 7 and should be planted in full sun to maximize flower and fruit development. When propagated in containers or raised as ball-and-burlap nursery stock, crabapples may be planted anytime. If purchased as bare-root plants, however, crabapples should be planted in early spring, before they begin to leaf out. After they become established, crabapples require minimal care. Most of the maintenance involves elimination of branches that cross over or rub against others, as well as the removal of water sprouts, suckers, and branches that grow too vigorously (four to eight feet per season). Crabapple species and cultivars have historically been susceptible to a wide range of diseases, especially apple scab fungus, cedar-apple rust, and fire blight. Many modern cultivars possess superior resistance to these diseases. Following are ten highly recommended crabapples chosen from the Crablandia II research plot at Ohio State University's Secrest Arboretum, in Wooster, Ohio. They are among 68 crabapple cultivars (most of them planted in 1998) currently being evaluated at the plot for their disease susceptibility and general aesthetics.

We chose these ten trees based on their impressive bloom and fruit, and the fact that they are unaffected by apple scab. Our vigorous discussions about which plants to include (there are so many great crabapples!) sometimes ended peacefully, but often they were terminated by a good old-fashioned crabapple fight. Malus 'Adirondack' Attributes: This is a pleasing, narrow, strongly upright tree with medium-green leaves. Profuse, showy white flowers emerge from rose-pink buds and line its branches in spring. The plant's oblong, half-inch-wide, deep orange-red fruits are impressive from late August through mid-December. Drawbacks: 'Adirondack' is somewhat slow to establish; leafhoppers appear to relish the foliage but do little damage. Malus 'Excalibur' Attributes: This globe-shaped dwarf crabapple grows up to eight feet tall. Petite white flowers line its branches in spring. Tiny, glossy, golden-yellow fruits develop and are outstanding from mid-September to mid-December. They mature to a pleasing shiny, cider-brown color. When lined with fruit, this tree creates a striking statement in the landscape.

Drawbacks: The flowers may be hidden by rapidly expanding foliage, and the fruits are hidden within the plant interior until leaves drop. Apple mosaic virus was noted on it in the Crablandia II plot. Malus 'Firebird' Attributes: Tiny white flowers accent this upright, vase-shaped tree in spring. Very small, red-orange fruits are dispersed along the branches from late September to early January. Due to top grafting, this tree maintains its unique form, so it's perfect for size-restricted spaces. (If it's unavailable, try another fabulous top-grafted red-fruited crabapple called 'Lollipop'.) Drawbacks: 'Firebird' is slow to establish and grow. The flower and fruit displays are steady but scattered and never dazzling. Malus 'Hozam' Holiday Gold Attributes: This rounded, open-form tree produces clusters of impressive fragrant white blooms year in and year out. It's one of the best of the new yellow-fruited crabapples. Lasting from late August to late January, the fruit mellows from an attractive cream-yellow to a deep gold-yellow and can develop a nice rose blush in exposed sites.

(If it's unavailable, try another great yellow-gold fruited crabapple named 'Bob White'.) Drawbacks: The tree's form can become awkward due to repeated fruit loads, and a trace of fire blight was noted in the plot. Malus 'Louisa' Attributes: Gorgeous, true pink flowers enhance the classical weeping form of this crabapple in spring. It's one of the best weepers, with arching, graceful branches that are upswept at the tips. Scattered lemon-gold fruits are noticeable from late July to mid-November. They darken to gold-orange with a tan-brown blush. Drawbacks: Fruit set is light and scattered. Malus baccata 'Jackii' (Siberian crabapple) Attributes: Lightly scented white flowers accent this large, fast-growing, broadly rounded tree. The large, glossy green leaves are by far the best of any crabapple in the plot. Maroon-red fruits color up by late July and last until mid-December. The contrast between the red fruits and the fall yellow-and-rust-colored leaves is outstanding. Frost can cause the bark of the tree to take on an orange cast.

Drawbacks: The fruit set is relatively sparse, so 'Jackii' has a fairly mediocre winter appearance. Malus sargentii 'Tina' Attributes: Creamy-white flowers densely pack this dwarf (five-foot), mounded, spreading crabapple in spring. They arise from diminutive pink buds and almost encircle the tree's branches. Petite red-purple fruits provide color from early August and drop rapidly in late November. Its miniature form and dainty twigs and foliage give this tree a bonsai-like quality. Drawbacks: 'Tina' is a very slow grower, and it requires annual pruning. Malus 'Prairifire' Attributes: Striking coral-red flowers seem to fill up the rounded, open form of this tree in spring. The blooms contrast well with emerging, red-tinged green foliage. Purple-red fruits are immediately noticeable in late June and hang until early December. They age slowly to a cherry red. The tree has an attractive speckled bark. Drawbacks: This cultivar has a mediocre winter and early-summer appearance. It has also shown traces of scab for the past three years in the test plot.

Malus 'Red Jewel' Attributes: This upright, open tree is decked with very attractive snow-white flowers in spring. Sparkling, phenomenally firm, cherry-red fruits adorn it in early September and remain impressive into mid-April. Drawbacks: 'Red Jewel' has a mediocre late-winter to early-spring appearance. It is slow growing and a bit awkward looking. In the test plot, it had a trace of scab, but just in 2000, along with some fire blight problems. Malus 'Royal Raindrops' Attributes: One of the best new cultivars, 'Royal Raindrops' is a broadly rounded tree with vibrant and abundant burgundy-red spring flowers. Red-purple fruit appear in mid-July and remain firm until early October. The tree has beautiful, cut-leaf foliage. New leaves are wine red in color and mature to green with burgundy overtones and eventually turn orange-red in fall. Drawbacks: The flowers can get lost amid emerging foliage; the fruit only becomes noticeable late in the growing season. Nursery Sources: Erik A. Draper, James A. Chatfield, and Kenneth D. Cochran is an Ohio State University cooperative extension agent for Geauga County, Ohio.

Jim Chatfield is an OSU extension specialist based in Wooster, Ohio. Ken Cochran is curator of OSU's Secrest Arboretum, in Wooster, Ohio. Share This Article Discussion Al C. December 11, 2016 I have read that the crabapple can serve as a pollinator for domestic orchard apple varieties. Does the native <em>Malus fusca,/em> serve this purpose? BBG Staff September 1, 2016 Yes, Malus ‘Adams’ grows in Zones 4, 5, 6, and 7. jen August 6, 2016 I’ve heard great things about the Adams crabapple, which is Zone 4. Will the Adams grow well in Zone 7? Julia April 17, 2016 Great article! I was leaning toward crabapples and away from cherry trees for a Brooklyn rooftop garden—this decided the question. Ana August 2, 2015 We have ‘Royal Raindrops’ growing in the front yard. Pretty at the present time and when apples are bigger, is there anyway that they can be processed for canning or whatever to be edible?

BBG Library Staff July 30, 2015 According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension , the following cultivars are resistant to fire blight: ‘Adams’ (but poor resistance to Japanese beetles), ‘Adirondack’, ‘Baskatong’, ‘Candied Apple’, ‘Centennial’, ‘Dolgo’, ‘Donald Wyman’, ‘Henningi’, ‘Jewelberry’, ‘Louisa’, ‘Molten Lava’, ‘Prairie Fire’, ‘Professor Sprenger’, ‘Robinson’, and ‘Selkirk’. Check with your local nursery to see what they have available. Nurseries are very hands-on and tend to be familiar with what truly grows well locally. Mark Kraemer July 1, 2015 I have fireblight in my orchard and would like to replace the dead or dying trees with a blight-resistant variety that has fruit large enough to use for cider or canning. Lisa Phillips June 16, 2015 I am searching for the perfect crabapple to harmonize with my existing ‘Professor Sprenger’ crabs and native redbuds.

My dream tree would be highly disease resistant, have a horizontal growth habit, 15’ to 20’ height, be covered with medium to light pink blooms, have green foliage, and bear attractive persistent fruit in either yellow or red to complement the heavy crop of orange fruit produced by ‘Professor Sprenger’. Any suggestions? Mary June 11, 2015 I just purchased a two-year-old ‘Donald Wyman’ crabapple tree at local nursery in Minnesota. What comments can you provide? BBG Staff May 27, 2015 Angela: Any of the three cultivars you mentioned would meet your criteria. Soil, moisture, temperature, and other local conditions can have some effect on color, so it’s difficult to say precisely which crab would be brightest in your garden. Of the three, ‘Prairifire’ perhaps has the most vibrant blooms. Angela Anderson May 25, 2015 We are replacing our dead crabapple, and want something more colorful this time. Our old crabapple had pale pink flowers, and had very sparse branches. We live in Minneapolis and Prairifire, Royal Raindrops, and Purple Prince are available locally.

It is hard to tell what they will look like matured from the saplings at the nursery, and googling photos is confusing, as the photos that come up aren’t necessarily the species wanted. Which of those three has the brightest blossoms and more importantly, the most vibrant colored leaves/bark for the rest of the year? We do not want anything pastel or muted, we want lively color for as much of the year as possible! BBG Library Staff April 17, 2015 Hi, Eva: Depending on the size of your terrace and container, Malus ‘Adirondack’ may be too big for your terrace, as it grows to almost 20 feet. It does not grow quickly, so depending on conditions (soil, water, sunlight, weather), it may be fine for a few seasons and then need to be root pruned and/or transplanted to a spot in the ground. We suggest looking for dwarf varieties, such as Malus ‘Tina’ or ‘Excaliber’, which grow to 6 to 10 feet tall. It is unwise to try to prune a tree that wants to be full-sized into something smaller.

Not only does it require extra work, but it also damages the health and structure of the tree. If your terrace short on space, you may want to look for varieties that include descriptions like “upright” or “vase shaped” for branches with less horizontal spread. BBG Library Staff April 16, 2015 Hi Randall: It’s best to contact a local nursery and choose from what is in stock. Aesthetic variables to consider in addition to habit include flower color, foliage color in spring, summer and fall, and fruit color. That said, some popular upright, or vase-shaped, crabapples include Malus ‘Prairifire’, M. ‘Adirondack’, M. ‘Rejzam’, and M. ‘Hargozam’. This chart from the Colorado State University Extension may be helpful, as it provides habit, height, and width, and flower color (be aware that performance notes are based on trials in the Fort Collins, CO, area).

BBG Staff April 16, 2015 Joan: The question of whether a cultivar of a native species can be considered a native is a matter of debate, but most arguments point to “no.” Nevertheless, ‘Louisa’ is unlikely to cause any ecological harm and will appeal to bees and birds. Joan Martorano April 8, 2015 I want to plant ‘Louisa’; is it considered a native? Does is support bees, birds, and butterflies? Jane Mendelson March 29, 2015 I’m looking for a very small, perhaps the smallest, dwarf, light-pink-flowering (not white) crab to plant behind a bench in my small city garden. I’ve heard of ‘Coralburst’, but perhaps there are others you would recommend. If so, can you also suggest where I might purchase them? I live in St. Louis, if that’s any help.Thank you. Randall Towne March 8, 2015 Anticipating planting crabapple trees along 300 foot driveway. Plenty of room. Any suggestions on the variety that would be appealing? Prefer taller vase shaped, upright tree.

Eve Dorfzaun February 16, 2015 Can crabapple ‘Adirondack’ be planted on a NYC terrace in a container, and if so, what are the best dimensions and material for the container? Sandra Sweeney January 29, 2015 I am looking for a crabapple which will attract mason and leaf cutter bees when in flower and make fruit attractive to birds in winter. Disease resistance is very important. I live near Philadelphia. BBG Library Staff October 17, 2014 There are hundreds of ornamental crabapple varieties to choose from. If you are choosing entirely based on appearance of blooms, keep these elements in mind: • Size: dwarf or standard—how much room do you have? • Bloom times: Do you want them to bloom at the same time or in succession? Perhaps you could choose two crabapples whose bloom times overlap. • Color: Crabapple blossoms range from deep pink to white. You may choose high contrast (a pure white with a red/pink, for example), or pinks that complement one another (a pale warm pink with a deep warm pink).

Keep in mind that crabapple buds are often one color and open to a different color. • Bloom type: Do you prefer double or single flowers? If you are concerned about longevity and/ or maintenance of your trees, look for cultivars with disease resistance that grow well in your area. To learn more about these types of crabapples, refer to Oregon State University’s crabapple fact sheet . This pdf and chart info designates blossoming period, cultivar name, and timing of attractive fruiting period. Many newer cultivars are also likely available. And of course, ask your local nursery which cultivars perform well in your area and are available. Rebecca Rama October 8, 2014 I’m putting in an area of crabapples along with flowering cherries, red maples, and a couple of redbuds. I want to make sure the blossom colors of two varieties of crabapples are gorgeous and complimentary. I’m in northern Oregon, Zone 8. Can you recommend two varieties that would do the trick? Thanks.

Jonathan McRae September 4, 2014 Do you know of anywhere in Ohio (near Wooster) that sells the crabapple varieties ‘Hewes’, ‘Dolso’, or ‘Chestnut’? BBG Library Staff August 12, 2014 None of the cultivars listed in our article are particularly known for their cider- and jam-making properties, but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t get a decent product of some kind. Three recommended varieties toward this end would be ‘Hewes’ (also called Virginia crab) (USDA Zones 5–9) ‘Dolgo’ (Zones 5–9), and ‘Chestnut’ (Zones 3–7). Catherine Elliott August 6, 2014 I have a Malus ‘Red Jewel’ crabapple tree. Is this tree good for making jelly? Rebecca Willis August 6, 2014 I’m looking for crabapples for their fruit—to make cider, to pickle, to make spiced apples—and as a pollinator for other apples in the garden. Which three do you think would work in Silver City, New Mexico, with 165 frost-free days?

Thanks. BBG Staff June 17, 2014 Malus ROYAL RAINDROPS (‘JFS-KW5’) does lose its leaves in fall, but its fruit persists on the tree well into autumn and is a good source of food for birds. Tom A June 16, 2014 I am thinking about ‘Royal Raindrops’ and was wondering how messy they can get. I assume they drop their leaves in the fall and the small crab apples through out the growing season? Dale April 30, 2014 Can anything be done to eliminate or slow the growth of suckers coming off the roots of crabs? Older the tree gets the more and stronger suckers appear. I’m replacing 7-year-olds due to winter loss and considering an alternative due to due the suckers. BBG Staff November 7, 2013 Many crabapple species do indeed have thorns, including Malus ioensis, M. coronaria, and M. angustifolia. Cultivated varieties tend not to have thorns when young but may develop some in maturity.

Dawn Shover November 6, 2013 Hi, I purchased quite a few different Malus flowering crab varieties and am concerned about some of them having thornlike branches…almost like a hawthorne tree…is this common for a crabapple tree? Thanks! BBG Staff June 13, 2013 Most likely, the crabapple originally found in this part of New York State was Malus coronaria, one of the three or four species native to North America. Anne June 9, 2013 What is the name of the crabapple found in Cheektowaga, New York, which is named for the Seneca word for “land of crabapple”? Thank you, Anne Mary April 2, 2013 ‘Indian Summer’ is a fantastic crabapple that blooms profusely in April with deep pink buds and flowers. Emerging foliage is red and the fall color is a spectacular reddish orange. The red fruits are tiny and last all winter long. You wouldn’t believe how wonderful this tree looks when it snows. The fruits are starting to drop now. Robins and finches eat them up in the spring.

The tree tops out at about 35 feet and needs annual pruning to weed out water sprouts. I’ve had my crab for 20 years and am still in love with it. Submit a Comment Please keep your comments relevant to this article. Comments are moderated and will be posted after BBG staff review. Your email address is required; it will not be displayed, but may be needed to confirm your comments. Submit comment Is Crab Apple Tree Fruit Dangerous? | Last Updated: Dec 18, 2013 Peter Mitchell Based near London, U.K., Peter Mitchell has been a journalist and copywriter for over eight years. Credits include stories for "The Guardian" and the BBC. Mitchell is an experienced player and coach for basketball and soccer teams, and has written articles on nutrition, health and fitness. He has a First Class Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) from Bristol University. A close-up of crab apple tree branches with fruit. Photo Credit Zanna Karelina/iStock/Getty Images At 1/4 to 2 inches in diameter, crabapples look like miniature versions of regular apples. However, a crabapple has a sour, pithy taste.

Despite their unpleasant sharpness, crabapples generally aren't dangerous. Crabapples might give you a sore stomach if you eat a few, but they won't cause poisoning. Like regular apples, their seeds do contain toxins. However, you would have to eat them in huge doses to experience any serious problems. Crabapples Crabapples usually aren't grown for their fruit. The little crabapples are so sharp and bitter that most people just spit them right out again. You can use some slightly mellower larger crabapple varieties for jam making. Flowering crabapple trees are attractive in gardens. Like their close cousin, the apple, crabapple trees often bloom in pretty white or purple flowers. This makes them useful as an ornamental species. Toxicity Crabapples are essentially the same species as apple trees. The seeds of both of these trees contain a form of cyanide called cyanogenic glycosides. Cyanide is a toxic, potentially fatal poison. However, the average American eats around 16.9 pounds of fresh apples every year and reports no toxic effects. Despite the presence of cyanide in the seeds, most people don't eat the core.

Even when apple seeds are ingested, they usually pass through the gut without being broken down. You would have to eat lots of crabapple seeds and grind or chew them up for the cyanide to take effect. Pets Crabapples may present more danger for pets, such as dogs. Animals that consume a few crabapples may show signs of discomfort, according to experts at the ASPCA. In serious cases, if a pet eats lots of crabapples, including stems, leaves and seeds, they could show signs of cyanide poisoning. Dogs rarely eat enough plant matter for this to cause a real problem. Horses, sheep, cows and other herbivorous animals may eat crabapples in large enough quantities to trigger some toxic effects. Considerations If you're worried that crabapple fruit is dangerous, remove the core, stem, leaves and any seeds from the fruit before use. These are the only parts with the toxic cyanogenic glycosides. The tart flesh of crabapples doesn't contain the poisonous substance. You can use the white flesh alone in your jams, jellies and bitter tarts without exposing yourself to danger. Of course, as with any fruit, avoid rotten or moldy fruit which can cause food poisoning.

Related Searches THE LIVESTRONG.COM MyPlate Nutrition, Workouts & Tips GOAL Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week GENDER Edibility of Ornamental Tree Fruit | Horticulture and Home Pest News Edibility of Ornamental Tree Fruit This article was published originally on 8/8/2003 Byline: by Richard Jauron, Department of Horticulture Ornamental trees, such as crabapples and purple-leaved plums, are planted in the home landscape for their flowers or colorful foliage. While chiefly ornamental, these trees also produce fruit resembling those on fruit trees. As the fruits mature, questions concerning their edibility often arise. Fruit from ornamentals, such as crabapples and purple-leaved plums, are edible. However, the eating quality of some ornamental fruit is rather poor. These trees were selected for their ornamental characteristics rather than the eating quality of their fruit.

The crabapple (Malus spp.) is an example of a common ornamental that also produces edible fruit. Apples and crabapples are differentiated strictly on the size of their fruit. Crabapples are defined as those varieties with fruit 2 inches or less in diameter. Those with larger fruit are apples. At maturity, crabapple fruits vary from yellow to orange to bright red. The fruit of some crabapple varieties color and ripen in August, others mature in the fall. (The colorful, persistent fruit of many of the newer crabapple varieties are actually an important ornamental characteristic.) While all crabapple fruit can be used in making jellies and preserves, large-fruited varieties, such as Whitney and Chestnut, are the best. Purple-leaved plums (Prunus cerasifera), such as Newport, Thundercloud, and Mount Saint Helens are planted in the home landscape for their white or pink flowers and purple foliage. In most years, ornamental plums produce little or no fruit as they bloom so early that pollination is generally poor. Occasionally, however, they produce a good crop of fruit. At maturity, the edible fruits are approximately 1 inch across and dark purple in color.

The new growth of Canada Red and Schubert chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) emerges green, but quickly turns to a maroon red. The small trees produce clusters of white flowers in spring followed by round, 1/3-inch diameter fruit. At maturity, the fruit are dark purple to black. Though bitter, the mature fruit can be used for jams, jellies, and juices. Autumn Blaze, Chanticleer, and Redspire are ornamental pears (Pyrus calleryana) grown for their glossy dark green foliage and small white flowers in early spring. Ornamental pears generally produce only small numbers of fruit. The inedible fruit are roundish, 1/3-inch across, and tan to brown in color.A word of caution. If you are uncertain of the identity of a tree or shrub, don t eat the fruit. It s better to be safe than sorry. This article originally appeared in the 8/8/2003 issue.

Year of Publication: Eating Fruit from Ornamental Trees (ornamentalsfruit) | Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County | University of Nebraska–Lincoln Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County Eating Fruit from Ornamental Trees (ornamentalsfruit) Trees & Shrubs Helping Nebraskans enhance their lives through research-based education. Eating Fruit from Ornamental Trees & Shrubs by Don Janssen, UNL Extension Educator email this page to a friend Ornamental trees, such as crabapples and purple-leaved plums, are planted in the home landscape for their flowers or colorful foliage. While chiefly ornamental, these trees also produce fruit resembling those on fruit trees. As the fruits mature, questions concerning their edibility often arise. Fruit from ornamentals, such as crabapples and purple-leaved plums, are edible. However, the eating quality of some ornamental fruit is rather poor. These trees were selected for their ornamental characteristics rather than the eating quality of their fruit. The crabapple is an example of a common ornamental that also produces edible fruit. Apples and crabapples are differentiated strictly on the size of their fruit. Crabapples are defined as those varieties with fruit 2 inches or less in diameter.

Those with larger fruit are apples. At maturity, crabapple fruits vary from yellow to orange to bright red. The fruit of some crabapple varieties color and ripen in August, others mature in the fall. (The colorful, persistent fruit of many of the newer crabapple varieties are actually an important ornamental characteristic.) While all crabapple fruit can be used in making jellies and preserves, large-fruited varieties, such as 'Whitney' and 'Chestnut,' are the best. Purple-leaved plums, such as 'Newport,' 'Thundercloud,' and 'Mount Saint Helens' are planted in the home landscape for their white or pink flowers and purple foliage. In most years, ornamental plums produce little or no fruit as they bloom so early that pollination is generally poor. Occasionally, however, they produce a good crop of fruit. At maturity, the edible fruits are approximately 1 inch across and dark purple in color. The new growth of 'Canada Red' and 'Schubert' chokecherry emerges green, but quickly turns to a maroon red. The small trees produce clusters of white flowers in spring followed by round, 1/3-inch diameter fruit.

At maturity, the fruit are dark purple to black. Though bitter, the mature fruit can be used for jams, jellies, and juices. 'Autumn Blaze,' 'Chanticleer,' and 'Redspire' are ornamental pears grown for their glossy dark green foliage and small white flowers in early spring. Ornamental pears generally produce only small numbers of fruit. The inedible fruit are roundish, 1/3-inch across, and tan to brown in color. A word of caution. If you are uncertain of the identity of a tree or shrub, don't eat the fruit. It's better to be safe than sorry. (This resource was added August 2007 and appeared in the Lincoln Journal Star Newspaper Sunday edition. For information on reproducing this article or using any photographs or graphics, read the Terms of Use statement) University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County is your on-line yard and garden educational resource. The information on this Web site is valid for residents of southeastern Nebraska. It may or may not apply in your area.

If you live outside southeastern Nebraska, visit your local Extension office Contact Information Crab apple trees for sale | Buy fruit trees online Recommended by the RHS as one of the best yellow-fruited crab-apples. compare Early-season Malus Profusion is a notably compact crab apple variety, with dense clusters of deep pink blossom. compare Very late-season A white-flowered crab-apple notable for its very persistent small red fruits. compare Late-season Evereste is one of the most well-known crab-apples, featuring white blossom and red-yellow fruits. compare Late-season An attractive spreading crab-apple tree with white blossom and red / yellow fruits. compare Late-season Golden Gem has bright white blossom followed by yellow crab apples. compare Very late-season Malus Golden Hornet is a traditional white blossom crab apple, with persistent yellow fruits. compare Very late-season Malus Gorgeous features light pink blossom and is good for crab apple jelly. compare Late-season Malus Harry Baker is a useful culinary crab-apple with deep pink flowers and dark-red fruits. compare Very late-season A superb all-round crab apple, bronze leaves, and persistent red fruits. compare Late-season A compact crab apple, with unusually large persistent fruits - excellent for crab apple jelly.

compare Late-season John Downie is a good crabapple for making crab apple jelly. White blossom and orange-red fruits. compare Late-season A dwarf upright crab apple with bronze leaves and crimson blossom. compare Late-season Malus Louisa is a pretty weeping crab apple with light pink blossom. compare Early-season Pink Glow (also known as Malus Dolgo), has early-season white flowers and dark pink crab-apples. compare Late-season Malus Red Sentinel has white blossom and small scarlet persistent fruits. compare Early-season A red-fleshed crab-apple, with dark pink blossom, and purple fruits. Useful for cooking and juicing. compare Late-season Malus Rosehip is notable for its large rosehip-shaped red fruits. compare Late-season A popular small weeping crab apple tree with crimson blossom. compare Mid-season Malus Royalty is an ornamental crab apple with green-bronze leaves and dark red blossom. compare Very late-season Malus toringo Scarlett is an ornamental crab apple with purple/green leaves and pink blossom. compare Mid-season Malus Sun Rival is a crab apple with white flowers, red fruits, notable for its weeping growth habit.

compare Very late-season Malus Red Sentinel crab apple trees for sale | Buy online Pollination partners Red Sentinel features a mass of delicate white blossom in spring, followed by clusters of small persistent red fruits in autumn, which are a good resource for birds in early winter. Red Sentinel is also one of the most disease resistant of crab-apples, and it grows with an attractive upright spreading habit. Malus Red Sentinel crab apple trees for sale Order now for delivery from week commencing 23rd January. Mature size*

Question: If you ate the fruit of a Malus tree what would you be eating?
Answer: An Apple