Crab-apple trees
Crab-apple trees are one of our specialities - we have one of the widest selections of crab-apple trees available in the UK.
Admiration
Malus Admiration is one of the best crab-apples for small gardens, with clouds of white blossom followed by persistent fruitlets.£61.00buyBest seller- Flower colour: Pink - light
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Malus hallianaAros®
A small slow-growing upright crab-apple, with bronze-green leaves, beautiful dark pink flowers with white centres, and maroon fruits in the autumn.£47.50 - £62.00buy- Flower colour: Pink - dark
- Leaf colour: Bronze
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
- Awards: RHS AGM (former)
Malus toringoBelmonte
An improved form of the traditional Japanese crab-apple species, with white blossom and superb autumn leaf colours.- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Green / Red
Malus tschonoskiiButterball
Malus Butterball is named for its bright yellow fruits, which are also good for crab apple jelly.£36.75 - £61.00buyBest seller- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Yellow
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
MalusCandymint
A pretty and graceful spreading tree with a mass of pink / white flowers, and small red fruits.- Flower colour: Pink - light
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
Malus sargentiiCardinal
Also known as Princeton Cardinal, a bronze-leaved crab-apple with pink-red spring blossom and red fruitlets in the autumn.£61.00buy- Flower colour: Pink - dark
- Leaf colour: Bronze
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Malus hupehensisCinderella®
A naturally dwarf bushy-crab-apple. White blossom followed by tiny golden spherical fruitlets, and yellow autumn leaf colours.- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Gold
MalusComtesse de Paris
Comtesse de Paris can be considered as an improved Golden Hornet. It features the same white blossom and persistent yellow fruitlets, but grows with a better form.£36.75 - £61.00buyBest seller- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Yellow
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
MalusCoralburst®
Malus Coralburst is a naturally compact crab-apple with a superb blossom display and small persistent yellow-orange fruitlets.£72.00buy- Flower colour: Pink - dark
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Bronze
MalusCrimson Cascade
A new weeping crab-apple with dusky pink blossom and small dark red fruitlets.£44.00 - £72.00buy- Flower colour: Crimson
- Leaf colour: Bronze
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
Malus x purpureaDonald Wyman
Donald Wyman is a classic white-flowered crab-apple, with very small red fruits, which persist into mid-winter.£36.75buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red
MalusElk River
Elk River features large fragrant pink single flowers followed by small bright green crab-apples.£36.75 - £72.00buy- Flower colour: Pink - light
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Green
Malus coronariaEvereste
Malus Evereste is a popular traditional crab-apple with masses of white blossom, then red-yellow fruits.£61.00buyBest seller- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
MalusFimbriata
Malus Fimbriata is notable for its double-flowered blossom, very unusual in a crab-apple.- Flower colour: Pink - light
- Leaf colour: Green
Malus ioensisGolden Gem
A traditional crab-apple featuring a mass of white blossom in spring, followed by yellow crab apples.£61.00buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Yellow
MalusGolden Glory
A new British late-flowering crab-apple, with white blossom, russeted fruits, and strong autumn colours.- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Russet
Malus yunnanensisGolden Hornet
Malus Golden Hornet has pink / white blossom then small yellow crab apples which hang on late in the year.£36.75 - £61.00buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Yellow
- Awards: RHS AGM (former)
Malus x zumiGorgeous
Malus Gorgeous has pink/white blossom and spherical cherry-like red fruits which are good for jelly.£61.00buy- Flower colour: Pink - light
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red
MalusGuardsman
A very upright columnar species of crab-apple, with white flowers and small green fruitlets.- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Green
Malus trilobataHalloweenTM
Malus Halloween is named for its ribbed orange-yellow crab-apples, which resemble little pumpkins.£44.00 - £62.00buyBest seller- Flower colour: White
- Fruit colour: Yellow / Orange
MalusHarry Baker
Malus Harry Baker is a popular crab-apple with deep pink flowers and dark red fruits which are very good for crab-apple jelly.£36.75 - £61.00buy- Flower colour: Crimson
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red
MalusIndian Magic
An excellent all-round crab apple, with attractive bronze leaves, dusky pink blossom, and small persistent red fruits.£36.75 - £61.00buy- Flower colour: Pink
- Leaf colour: Bronze
- Fruit colour: Red
MalusJelly King®
White blossom followed by large orange-red fruits which are ideal for making crab-apple jelly.£36.75 - £61.00buyBest seller- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
MalusJohn Downie
John Downie is a traditional crab-apple, with white blossom and orange-red fruits, ideal for making crab apple jelly.£36.75 - £61.00buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (former)
MalusLaura
Malus Laura is a very upright dwarf crab-apple, with bronze leaves, crimson blossom and maroon fruitlets.£36.75 - £62.00buyBest seller- Flower colour: Crimson
- Leaf colour: Bronze
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
MalusLouisa
Malus Louisa is a pretty weeping crab apple with light pink blossom and small yellow fruitlets.£44.00 - £72.00buy- Flower colour: Pink - light
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Orange
MalusMalus baccata
The Siberian crab-apple, noted for its exceptional cold-hardiness, disease-resistance, attractive blossom and clusters of cherry-like fruitlets in autumn,£44.00 - £72.00buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
Malus baccataMalus florentina
Malus florentina is an unusual crab-apple with white blossom, tiny fruitlets, and serrated leaves which take on good autumn colours.£44.00 - £72.00buyBest seller- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Green / Red
Malus florentinaMalus floribunda
Malus floribunda is also known as the Japanese Crab. Pink / white blossom then red / yellow fruits.£44.00 - £72.00buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Yellow / Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Malus floribundaMalus hupehensis
A traditional garden crab-apple from China, with white blossom and small red-tinged fruitlets, a good choice as a specimen tree.£72.00buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Green / Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Malus hupehensisMalus sylvestris
Malus sylvestris is the native wild crab apple, easy to grow and ideal for native planting schemes.Malus sylvestrisMalus transitoria
Malus transitoria is known as the Cut-leaf crab-apple, has a mass of small white flowers, and clusters of tiny yellow fruitlets.£44.00 - £61.00buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Yellow
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Malus transitoriaMalus tschonoskii
A traditional Japanese crab-apple species, with white blossom and superb autumn leaf colours.- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Green / Red
Malus tschonoskiiNiedzwetzkyana
Niedzwetzkyana is a unique red-fleshed, red-skinned, red blossom crab-apple, originating from central Asia.- Flower colour: Red - dark
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
Malus domesticaNUVAR® Marble
A modern English crab-apple, with large fruits, ideal for early-season crab-apple jelly.£37.95buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
MalusPink Glow
Malus Dolgo, also known as Pink Glow, offers early-season white flowers and very attractive dark pink fruits. It is exceptionally cold-hardy.£61.00buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
Malus baccataPink Perfection
Malus Pink Perfection is a superb crab-apple with double pink scented flowers.£44.00buy- Flower colour: Pink
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Yellow / Orange
MalusPrairie Fire®
Malus Prairie Fire is a medium-size upright crab-apple tree, notable for its dark pink flowers.- Flower colour: Pink - dark
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red
MalusProfessor Sprenger
A well-proportioned crab-apple with profuse white blossom, and golden-orange fruitlets in autumn.- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Orange
Malus x zumiProfusion
Malus Profusion (also known as Directeur Moerlands) is a classic crab apple variety, with dense clusters of deep pink blossom followed by small crimson berry-like fruitlets.£36.75 - £61.00buy- Flower colour: Crimson
- Leaf colour: Bronze
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
Malus x moerlandsiiPurpurea Evelyn
Malus Purpurea Evelyn is a purple-leaved form of the Prairie crab.£72.00buy- Flower colour: Pink - dark
- Leaf colour: Dark purple
- Fruit colour: Green / Yellow
Malus ioensisRed Obelisk
Malus Red Obelisk is a compact upright crab-apple with white flowers, purple / green leaves, and red fruits.- Flower colour: White
- Flower colour: Pink - light
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red
MalusRed Sentinel
A deservedly popular crab-apple, Malus Red Sentinel has classic white apple blossom and a profusion of tiny scarlet persistent fruits.£36.75 - £61.00buyBest seller- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
- Awards: RHS AM
Malus x robustaRoberts Crab
An unusual red-fleshed crab-apple which has large purple fruits. The juice is a claret red colour.£61.00buy- Flower colour: Pink - dark
- Leaf colour: Bronze
- Fruit colour: Purple
Malus domesticaRosehip
Malus Rosehip features white blossom and large rosehip-shaped red fruits.£36.75 - £61.00buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
MalusRoyal Beauty
Royal Beauty is a compact weeping crab apple with crimson blossom and small crimson berry-like fruitlets.- Flower colour: Crimson
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
- Awards: RHS AGM (former)
MalusRoyalty
Malus Royalty has bright purple-red blossom, dark green-bronze leaves, and dark red fruitlets.- Flower colour: Red - dark
- Leaf colour: Bronze
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
Malus domesticaRudolph
Malus Rudoph features very large single deep pink flowers, and small orange fruits.£44.00buy- Flower colour: Pink
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Orange
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
- Fruit colour: Yellow / Orange
MalusScarlet Brandywine®
A new crab-apple featuring stunning pink scented double-flowers and good autumn colour.£44.00 - £72.00buy- Flower colour: Pink
- Flower colour: Pink - dark
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Orange
Malus x purpurea x ioensisScarlett
Malus toringo Scarlett is an ornamental crab apple with bronze leaves, dusky pink blossom, and dark red fruitlets.£36.95 - £61.00buy- Flower colour: Pink
- Leaf colour: Bronze
- Fruit colour: Purple
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Malus toringoSnowcloud
Snowcloud is named for its profusion of large white semi-double flowers.- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Yellow
MalusSun Rival
Malus Sun Rival is a popular weeping crab-apple, with pale pink blossom and small red berry-like fruitlets.£36.75 - £61.00buy- Flower colour: Pink - light
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
MalusThornhayes Tansy
A form of the Cut-leaf crab-apple, with particularly dissected leaves.- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Yellow
Malus transitoriaTina
Malus Tina is a small spreading crab-apple, useful as a patio tree.£61.00buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red
Malus sargentiiWedding Bouquet
Malus Wedding Bouquet features ivory-white blossom and tiny red berry-like fruitlets.£72.00buy- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Malus brevipesWhite Star
A modern English crab-apple with white star-like flowers followed by attractive russeted fruitlets.- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Fruit colour: Russet
- Fruit colour: Yellow / Orange
Malus
How to choose Crab-apple trees
Crab-apple trees belong to the genus Malus, and are therefore closely related to the mainstream apple (Malus domestica). They are grown primarily for their attractive blossom, and for the ornamental appeal of their pretty fruitlets in the autumn.
The fruitlets of many varieties are valuable in the kitchen for making crab-apple jelly. Several varieties retain their fruitlets into early winter (known as 'persistent'), providing a useful food resource for wildlife.
Many crab-apples also make excellent pollinators for fruiting apple trees, thanks to their profuse blossom and close genetic compatibility.
If planting a weeping variety it is generally best to tie the leader to a tall bamboo cane for the first few years. In the case of 2-year pot-grown examples you can cut back the tip by 3-5cm after planting, this will encourage more shoots to develop.
See this article for more advice on how to choose a crab-apple tree.