Common crab apple, European crab apple
Malus sylvestris

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A shrub like tree. It grows to about 9 m high. There are many cultivated varieties. The leaves are alternate and oval and 4-10 cm long. The point is blunt. The base is rounded. There are fine teeth along the edge. The upper surface is dark green and it is densely hairy underneath. The wild crab apple has thorns. The flowers are white or pink. They are 3 cm wide and have 5 rounded petals. The fruit is the familiar apple. It can be a cultivated plant or a self sown or wild plant. It is 5-9 cm across and shiny red or yellow. It is sunken at the ends. The centre is a star shaped core. There can be 10 seeds.

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

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist soils near houses. In Argentina it grows between 1,000-1,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 3-9. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Balkans, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, Estonia, Europe, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, North America, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

The unselected fruit is bitter and is used for jelly, jam and wine. Unripe fruit can be used as a yeast in dough for bread. The fruit are eaten raw and also dried and stored to be eaten later. It can be used for vinegar. The flowers can be crystallised. The flowers are dried and used for tea drinks.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, flowers - tea

How it is grown

Seedling trees normally have poorer fruit. Grafted varieties are used for selected kinds.

Its other names

Local names

Basosagarra, Bhabuyee, Bhap, Crab Apple, Diva yabalka, Divlja jabuka, Divo jabolko, French crab apple, Jablon, Kiselitsa, Laukine obelis, Lesnika, Maella, Maguillo, Maillo, Melo selvatico, Molla e eger, Paloye,Shumsko jabolko, Vadalma, Vadoma, Villeple

Synonyms

Malus praecox Borkh.; Malus sylvestris subsp. praecox Soo;