Related to culinary apples, crab apples are small to medium-sized trees, bearing masses of spring blossom followed by small, apple-like fruits in August and September. Theyre hugely popular in gardens as they have lots of value as ornamental trees. Theyre traditionally used as pollination partners for apple trees and, because they flower over a longer period, crab apples can act as a pollination partner for several culinary apple varieties. They make excellent trees for small gardens.
Crab apples are well loved by wildlife, too, from the bees that pollinate their blossom in spring, to the birds and small mammals that eat their fruit in autumn. Crab apple flowers can be single (wildlife-friendly) or double. Their fruits vary in size, from 10mm to 5cm across, and in colour from yellow, orange and red to purple. Many crab apples bear edible fruit that can be used in a number of ways but is most traditionally made into a crab apple jelly.
Our native crab apple, Malus sylvestris, is rarely seen in garden displays. Instead, most are cultivars of some of the other wild species that grow in parts of Europe, Asia and North America.
Many gardeners are unaware of the variety of crab apple trees available, with a choice of blossom and fruit colour. Browse our list of the best crab apples to grow, below.
As an apple grower, ensuring proper pollination for your apple trees is crucial for maximizing fruit production. While many apple varieties are self-fertile, planting crab apples throughout your orchard can improve pollination and increase yields. But with hundreds of crab apple cultivars to choose from, it can be overwhelming to select the best crab apples for pollinating your specific apple varieties. In this article, we’ll explore the top crab apple trees that serve as excellent pollinators to complement your apple orchard.
Crab apples or Malus species, are small wild apple trees that bear fruit ranging from cherry-sized to golf ball-sized. While their fruit is generally too sour or bitter for fresh eating, crab apples have an extremely important role in the orchard as pollinizers.
Compared to standard apple trees crab apples tend to bloom earlier in the spring with an extended flowering period. They also produce an abundance of pollen. When interplanted with other apple varieties crab apples cross-pollinate your trees, leading to better fruit set and ideally shaped, marketable apples.
While crab apples make great pollinators, it’s important to select varieties that overlap in bloom time with your desired apple cultivars Proper crab apple selection ensures an adequate pollen source is available during the critical pollination window
Top Crab Apple Trees for Pollinating Common Apple Varieties
Here are some excellent crab apple trees to consider for pollinating popular apple cultivars:
For Early Bloomers Like Gala, Jonagold, and Honeycrisp
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Chestnut Crabapple – Blooms early with profuse white flowers. Pollinates most early and mid-season varieties.
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Evereste Crabapple – Features white flowers with a pink blush. Extended bloom period from early to mid-season.
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Sargent Crabapple – Bears bright pink buds opening to white flowers. Blooms early.
For Mid-Season Varieties Like Red and Golden Delicious
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Magdeburg Crabapple – Prolific light pink blooms. Flowering overlaps with many mid-season apples.
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Brandywine Crabapple – White flowers with a hint of pink. Blooms mid-season.
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Profusion Crabapple – Dark pink buds open to bright rose flowers. Ideal for Delicious group pollination.
For Late Bloomers Like Fuji, Braeburn, and Pink Lady
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Golden Hornet Crabapple – Abundant white flowers with deep pink buds. Blooms mid to late season.
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White Angel Crabapple – Large white flowers. Extends bloom into late season for Fuji pollination.
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Prairie Fire Crabapple – Bright pinkish-red flowers. Blooms late.
Key Crab Apple Selection Criteria
When selecting crab apples, keep these key criteria in mind:
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Overlapping Bloom Period – Crab apple bloom should coincide with your desired apple variety for effective pollination.
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Flower Color – Bees tend to visit flowers of a similar color. For best results, choose crab apples with flower color similar to your apples.
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Flower Abundance – Seek out heavy flowering crab apples that produce copious amounts of pollen.
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Tree Size and Shape – Compact, upright crab apples are ideal for fitting into orchard design. Avoid large, spreading types.
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Disease Resistance – Select disease-resistant varieties to minimize pest issues. Common apple diseases like apple scab and fire blight can also infect crab apples.
Crab Apple Pollination Tips and Considerations
To make the most of crab apples for pollination:
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Situate crab apples throughout the orchard, not in solid rows. Scattered placement encourages better cross-pollination.
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Use a ratio of 1 crab apple for every 5-10 apple trees. Higher ratios around 1:5 are better for more effective pollination.
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Plant crab apples on the same or slightly more vigorous rootstock as your apple trees. Avoid overly vigorous rootstocks.
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Prune and maintain crab apples diligently to promote flowering and control size. Crab apples tend to bear on 1-year old wood.
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Monitor for ripe crab apples dropping in late summer/fall and clean up promptly to reduce pest issues.
Incorporating the right crab apple trees in your orchard can significantly improve pollination, fruit set, fruit quality, and yields for your apple crop. Pay close attention to bloom timing, flower attributes, disease resistance, and tree form when selecting crab apple pollinizers. With proper planning and care, crab apples will be a valuable addition to your apple plantation.
Where to buy crab apples
One of the most prolific crab apples, Malus hupehensis is a compact tree with a rounded shape and upright branches. In spring, the branches are covered in pure white single-flowered blossom, which opens from pink buds. The blossom is followed in summer by small, dark red crab apples, which remain on the tree throughout winter.
- H x S: 5m x 4m
This yellow-fruited crab apple bears pink-flushed, white, single blossom in spring, followed by attractive yellow fruits, sometimes with a hint of red. The fruits are perfect for using to make crab apple jelly in autumn, but can also be left on the tree to provide interest and food for wildlife throughout winter.
- H x S: 4m x 4m
Advice on buying crab apple trees
- Always choose a healthy specimen with no signs of damage, yellowing leaves or pest infestations
- Make sure you buy the right crab apple for you and your garden – pay attention to its growing requirements, eventual size and type of fruit, especially if you want to cook with them
- Most crab apples are available as bare-root trees in autumn, so availability may be low at other times of the year, or you can pre-order for autumn delivery. Pot-grown trees are more convenient and available for longer, but you may have less choice of variety if you choose this option
Top 5 Most Popular Apple Trees (and Their Pollinating Partners!) | NatureHills.com
FAQ
What is the best pollinator crab apple?
Flowering crab apples with proven value as pollinators: Malus aldenhamensis has a weak growing habit with slender twiggy branches easily distinguishable from most fruiting varieties of apple. It flowers regularly and abundantly and the flowers produce large quantities of viable pollen.
Which apple tree is the best pollinator?
Orchard owners often plant crab apple trees amongst high-value apples such as Honeycrisp, Gala and Fuji. Crab apples produce a lot of flowers and thus a lot of pollen for bees to spread around to the other trees.Oct 11, 2017
What are the disadvantages of a crabapple tree?
Drawbacks to crabapples include root suckering and messy fruit in the early spring. There are many factors to consider when selecting a crabapple for your garden, including bloom color, fall foliage color, fruit size, tree size, and disease resistance.
What is the best tree for making crab apple jelly?
As its name suggests, Malus ‘Jelly King’ is one of the very best varieties for making crab apple jelly.