They make excellent trees for small gardens. Crab apples are well loved by wildlife, too, from the bees that pollinate their blossom in spring, to the birds and small mammals that eat their fruit in autumn. Crab apple flowers can be single (wildlife-friendly) or double.
What are the benefits of a crabapple tree?
Not only are crabapples trees beautiful, they’re also an important early source of pollen for bees and a source of food for birds that overwinter here in Iowa. Crabapples are also an excellent option for cross-pollinating other apple trees in the area.
Which crabapple tree is best?
Harvest Gold. A late-flowering crabapple with pink buds that open to single white blooms, Harvest Gold (or ‘Hargozam’) is often considered the best gold-fruited crabapple. Its bright yellow fruits last into winter, and its green foliage turns yellow in fall.
Can you eat the fruit from a crabapple tree?
Are crab apples poisonous? A crab apple’s flesh is perfectly safe for people to eat. But like other apples, the seeds contain a toxic compound that can turn into cyanide when eaten. But don’t worry — these apples are safe as long as you avoid the seeds and core.
Can I plant a crab apple tree near to the house?
If you have a two-story home and would like to plant a large crabapple tree nearby, you should give your plant about 15 feet of space from the house. This will give your tree plenty of room to allow the canopy to fully mature and hang beautifully over your home.
Do crabapple trees attract rats?
In fact, wild crabapple trees are a natural and important winter food source for mice, reports the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Illinois. Leaving crabapple fruit on the ground will attract mice.
Do crabapple trees attract bees?
Crabapple trees are truly excellent pollinators — even professional apple orchardists plant them systematically to cover any possible pollination gaps in their apple selection. A crabapple tree also makes a beautiful food source that attracts bees, birds, and other wildlife.
How messy is a crab apple tree?
Crabapple trees provide beauty in the spring but a mess in the fall once the fruit drops. During the summer months, a tree can throw shade and reduce air conditioning costs.
Are crabapples toxic to dogs?
These tiny, tart apples can be a healthy treat for dogs, if served properly. Though the flesh of the apple is safe, the leaves, stems and pips are all toxic to mammals – even humans, if they consume a large quantity.
Do crabapple trees have invasive roots?
Are crabapple tree roots invasive? Crabapple tree roots are not invasive but you should take into consideration any hardscape features in your landscape before planting crabapple trees too close. Their root system is basically the size of their canopy.
How long do crab apple trees live?
Whether you have a crabapple tree in your garden or want to plant one, expect it to live between 30 to 70 years. From what we found, most crabapple varieties have similar lifespans and will produce flowers each spring. When it comes to how fast they grow, crabapples are slower-growing trees versus other species.
Are crab apples poisonous to humans?
Safety of eating crab apples
A common misconception is that crab apples are toxic. This is not the case, as long as you don’t eat the core and seeds, just like with bigger apples, they’re perfectly edible.
Do birds eat crab apples?
Crabapples. With their long-lasting fruit, Crabapple trees are an excellent source of food for birds in the winter. Cardinals, cedar waxwings, and robins are especially drawn to crabapples.
How quickly do crab apple trees grow?
How to care for crab apples
| Flowering season(s) | Spring |
|---|---|
| Soil moisture | Moist but well-drained |
| Ultimate height | Up to 12m (40ft) |
| Ultimate spread | Up to 5m (16ft) |
| Time to ultimate height | 10-20 years |
Where is the best place to plant a crabapple tree?
full sun
Choose a location in full sun with well-drained soil. Trees that are shaded develop an open canopy instead of a more attractive, dense growth habit. Shaded trees produce fewer flowers and fruit, and they are more susceptible to disease. Dig the hole for the tree as deep as the root ball and two to three times as wide.
Is crabapple fast growing?
The growth rate of crabapple trees is slow to moderate, advises Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, but some cultivars grow faster than others. The Sargent crabapple (Malus sargentii), hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8, is one of the slower-growing trees.
Do squirrels like crab apples?
Squirrels and Crab Apples
Squirrels do like crab apples but I noticed that in side by side offerings of a crab apple vs. a sweet apple variety, the squirrels will usually take the sweeter variety.
What wild animals eat crab apples?
The flowers will attract insects (the number one source of food for wild birds) and even Hummingbirds and Orioles may probe the tree for nectar. The crabapples themselves (which mature in fall) are eaten by many birds, including the Cedar Waxwing and American Robin. The fruit will also attract insects.
How do you take care of a crabapple tree?
During its first year of growth, crabapple trees need regular watering. Keep the soil evenly moist over the root zone, about an inch per week. Once it is well established, crabapples are very drought tolerant and shouldn’t need supplemental watering unless the season is extremely dry.
When should I plant a crabapple tree?
The best time to plant a crabapple tree is in the spring or fall, when the soil is moist and temperatures are cool. (See What to Plant in Your Fall Garden). However, if you avoid freezing temperatures and extreme heat, you can plant a crabapple almost any time of year.
How do you keep a crabapple tree small?
When pruning crabapple trees, start by removing suckers and water sprouts. The suckers grow from the rootstock of your tree and if you allow them to develop, they can grow into new trunks, possibly of a completely different tree type. This is because your crabapple was grafted onto the rootstock of a different variety.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.