Chinese apple, Pear-leaf Crabapple, Qiu zi, Plum-leaved apple
Malus prunifolia

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It grows 10 m tall. It is a broad spreading shape. The bark is purple-brown to grey-brown. It flakes into rectangular plates. The bark is red-brown when freshly exposed. The leaves are narrowly oval and 10 cm long by 6 cm wide. They are dark green and have teeth. The flower buds are pink. The flowers are white. They are 4 cm across and have a scent. They occur in clusters of up to 10. The fruit are rounded and bright red. They are 2.5 cm across. They are woolly sepals at the top which persist.

There are about 35 Malus species and very many cultivated varieties.

Where it is found

Temperate. It suits hardiness zones 3-9. It is resistant to frost and drought. In north China it grows from sea level to 1,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China (country/location of origin), Japan, Mexico, Russia, Siberia

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh. They are also preserved in sugar.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Pyrus prunifolia Willd.;