Balkan crabapple, Italian crabapple
Malus florentina
Family: Rosaceae
What it is like
A deciduous tree. It grows 8 m high. It is a broad column shape. The bark is red to purple-brown. It flakes into small thin squares. The bark is orange-yellow when freshly exposed. The leaves are broadly oval. They are 6 cm long by 5 cm wide. They have teeth and lobes. They are deep green above and densely hairy underneath. They turn purple and red in autumn. The flowers are white and 2 cm across. There are 5 petals and yellow anthers. The flowers are in clusters. The fruit are round or pear shaped and reddish-orange. They are 1 cm across.
There are about 35 Malus species and very many cultivated varieties.
Where it is found
It is native to N. Italy and N. Turkey. It grows in scrub and on rocky slopes. Temperate. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.
Countries/locations it is found in
Albania, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Croatia, Europe, Italy, Mediterranean, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit