Flowering Crabapple Trees

View as

Crabapple Trees For Sale At Nature Hills Nursery!

Crabapple Flowers

Crabapples Trees are among a select group of Apple tree relatives and ornamental flowering trees that provide four-season pleasure to the eye!

Crabapples are also known as Wild Apples, Crab trees, Crabs, and Schoolboy Apples! There are over 35 species and about 700 varieties of Crabapples. Botanically, they belong to the genus Malus along with all other Apples!

Historically, they have been traced back to the mountains of Kazakhstan, and the United States is home to about three native species that are mixed in with cuttings and seeds introduced by colonists from Europe.

Crabapples, for the most part, are edible! The name Crab may allude to the taste of Crabapples, as they are bitter-tasting and sour, and often have a pithy flavor and texture.

All Crabapples are extremely beneficial to pollinators and overwintering/migrating songbirds!

In spring, your Crabapple is graced with beautiful flowers, and then summer brings attractive foliage! Followed by fall leaves that create a tapestry of colors before dropping and revealing the showy fruit! Winter snows show off the branch structure! Plus, these unique fruiting trees can be dripping with colorful fruits that persist all autumn and winter!

Using Crabapples in the Home and Landscape!

The spring flowers are scented and a delight to see each April through May! Ranging from white to pink, they can further deepen to near reds, coral and salmon, and lavender tints too!

Lasting for weeks on the tree and even looking gorgeous in a vase, Crabapple flowers feed pollinators and even a few passing hummingbirds! These blooms also help pollinate your fruiting Apple trees to increase yield in the orchard!

Cedar Wax Wing eating Crabapples

Wildlife also thrives on Crabapple fruits! Robins and other songbirds swarm Crabapple fruits after several frosts and freezes have softened the hard fruit.

Crabapples were first used in America for making cider! Crabapples are just as excellent for juicing as their larger fruited apples. Crabapples contain high amounts of pectin, which is the ingredient that helps firm up jellies, jams, and apple butter!

Crabapple trees come in many sizes and shapes and several flower colors. They are excellent for adding color and texture to yards and landscapes. Ranging from dwarf, to grandiose, columnar to round and shrubby, there is sure to be a Crabapple for your landscape needs!

  • The Dolgo Crabapple is a great edible pollinator 
  • Tasty Chestnut or Hyslop Edible Crab
  • Pretty April Showers™ Weeping Crabapple or Lollipop® Crabapple specimens
  • The Coralburst® has coral-pink spring blooms
  • You and your songbirds will love the shiny red fruit of the Pink Sparkles® Crabapple!

Great as small accent and ornamental trees, and lawn specimens, to large shade and focal points, Crabapples fill every niche you need for a double-duty landscape tree!

Enhance a street-side planting with a narrow-growing columnar or weeping Crabapple to add that boost of curb appeal near your home's entry!

Crabapple fruit

Caring For Crabapple Trees

Crabapple trees are hardy, tough, and adaptable to many spoils and climates!

Plant Crabapples in full sun for best flowering and fruiting, anything less than 6 hours a day will result in fewer flowers and fruit.

Plant in any well-drained soil with good organic matter. The suggested soil pH for Crabapples is 5.0 to 7.5. All trees appreciate a 3-4 inch thick layer of mulch over their entire root systems for insulation and moisture protection.

Water new trees using the Finger Test method regularly to help them get established. After their first year, Crabapples appreciate supplemental moisture while fruiting and during extended hot/dry summers and drought.

Buy Crabapple Trees today!

Get started growing your own double-duty ornamental tree in your landscape from Nature Hills today!

FAQS for Buying Flowering Crabapple Trees Online

What are the best uses for Crabapple trees in landscaping?

Crabapple trees are ideal for ornamental focal points, curb appeal accents, small shade trees, wildlife-friendly gardens, and even pollinator-friendly orchards. Their spring blooms, colorful fruit, and winter interest make them versatile for every season.

Are Crabapple trees edible, and how can you use the fruit?

Yes, most Crabapples are edible, although they are often tart. They are perfect for making homemade cider, jams, jellies, and apple butter due to their high pectin content and unique flavor.

Do Crabapple trees attract pollinators and wildlife?

Absolutely! Crabapple flowers are a favorite for bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds in spring, while the fruit feeds overwintering birds like robins and cedar waxwings throughout fall and winter.

How much sunlight do Crabapple trees need to thrive?

Crabapple trees need full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, for optimal flowering, fruit production, and overall tree health. Less sun can lead to fewer blooms and reduced vigor.

What care do Crabapple trees need to stay healthy?

Plant Crabapples in well-drained soil, mulch generously over the root zone, water regularly until established, and prune during dormancy to maintain shape and remove dead wood. Supplemental watering during hot, dry periods keeps them looking their best.

Back to top

Find Your Garden's Growing Zone!

Your Current Growing Zone:

Zone

ZIP Code:

✓ Growing Zone Set Successfully!

Your zone has been saved and will be used throughout the site.

⚠ Unable to locate a growing zone for that ZIP code.

Please check your ZIP code and try again.

Looking up your growing zone...

When ordering a tree or plant, make sure to know your planting zone.

You can determine your garden's USDA hardiness zone by entering your Zip Code below.