Southern crab apple, American crab apple, Narrow-leaf crab apple
Malus angustifolia

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A small tree. The trunk is short. The branches are spreading. The crown is open. It grows 9 m high. The bark is grey or brown and cracks into narrow scaly ridges. The leaves are 2.5-7 cm long and 12-19 mm wide. They are narrowly oval and often have a blunt tip. They are wavy along the edge and have teeth. They are dull green above and paler underneath. They turn brown in autumn. The leaf stalk is slender and 12-19 mm long. The flowers are 2.5-4 cm wide with 5 rounded pink petals. The flowers occur in clusters on long stalks. The fruit are 2-2.5 cm wide and yellow-green. They have long stalks and are sour.

There are about 35 Malus species and very many cultivated varieties. They suit cool temperate regions. Apparently all Malus have edible fruit but some are not very palatable.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in moist valleys and along fences. It grows to 610 m altitude in the SE region of USA.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit is used for preserves, pickles, jellies and sauces. The fruit are sliced and sun dried.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Pyrus angustifolia Aiton;