Crab apple trees

We have a huge range of crab-apple trees, with blossom colours from white to dark crimson, and fruitlet colours from red to orange to yellow, and lots of different sizes and forms.

It is well-known that many crab-apples (especially the ones with white blossom and green leaves) are excellent pollinators for mainstream apple varieties. This is because they produce huge quantities of pollen, usually over a long period, and with good compatiblity. Evereste, Golden Gem, Golden Hornet, John Downie and Red Sentinel are popular for this purpose.

While crab-apples are primarily used for their ornamental value, many are also useful for crab-apple jelly, and providing natural pectin for cooking with. Have a look at Laura, Jelly King, Pink Glow, and Harry Baker.

Admiration
Also known as Malus Adirondack. A dwarf upright crab-apple with masses of light-pink / white flowers.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink - light
- Fruit colour: Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Aros®
A small slow-growing upright crab-apple, with bronze-green leaves, beautiful dark pink flowers with white centres, and maroon fruits in the autumn.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink - dark
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
- Awards: RHS AGM (former)
Barbara
Malus Barbara has dark pink blossom and small purple fruitlets.
- Blossom colour: Pink - dark
- Fruit colour: Purple
Butterball
Malus Butterball is named for its bright yellow fruits, which are also good for crab apple jelly.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Yellow
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Candymint
A pretty and graceful spreading tree with a mass of pink / white flowers, and small red fruits.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink - light
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
Cardinal
Also known as Princeton Cardinal, a bronze-leaved crab-apple with pink-red spring blossom and red fruitlets in the autumn.
- Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink - dark
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Comtesse de Paris
Comtesse de Paris can be considered as an improved Golden Hornet. It features the same white blossom and persistent yellow fruitlets, but grows with a better form.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Yellow
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Crimson Cascade
A new weeping crab-apple with dusky pink blossom and small dark red fruitlets.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Crimson
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
Donald Wyman
Donald Wyman is a classic white-flowered crab-apple, with very small red fruits, which persist into mid-winter.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Red
Elk River
Elk River features large fragrant pink single flowers followed by small bright green crab-apples.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink - light
- Fruit colour: Green
Evereste
Evereste is one of the most well-known crab-apples, featuring white blossom and red-yellow fruits.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Golden Gem
A traditional crab-apple featuring a mass of white blossom in spring, followed by yellow crab apples.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Yellow
Golden Glory
A new British late-flowering crab-apple, with white blossom, russeted fruits, and strong autumn colours.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Russet
Golden Hornet
Malus Golden Hornet is a traditional white blossom crab apple, with persistent yellow fruits.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Yellow
- Awards: RHS AGM (former)
Golden Raindrops
Golden Raindrops features a mass of small white flowers, and clusters of tiny yellow fruitlets.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Yellow
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Gorgeous
Malus Gorgeous has pink/white blossom and spherical cherry-like red fruits which are good for jelly.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink - light
- Fruit colour: Red
HalloweenTM
Malus Halloween is named for its ribbed orange-yellow crab-apples, which resemble little pumpkins.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Yellow / Orange
Harry Baker
Malus Harry Baker is a popular crab-apple with deep pink flowers and dark red fruits which are very good for crab-apple jelly.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Crimson
- Fruit colour: Red
Indian Magic
An excellent all-round crab apple, with attractive bronze leaves, dusky pink blossom, and small persistent red fruits.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink
- Fruit colour: Red
Jelly King®
A compact crab apple, with unusually large persistent fruits - excellent for crab apple jelly.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
John Downie
John Downie is a traditional crab apple for making crab apple jelly. White blossom and orange-red fruits.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (former)
Laura
Malus Laura is a very upright dwarf crab-apple, with bronze leaves, crimson blossom and maroon fruitlets.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Crimson
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Louisa
Malus Louisa is a pretty weeping crab apple with light pink blossom and small yellow fruitlets.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink - light
- Fruit colour: Orange
Malus baccata
The Siberian crab-apple, noted for its exceptional cold-hardiness, disease-resistance, attractive blossom and clusters of cherry-like fruitlets in autumn,
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
Malus florentina
Malus florentina is an unusual crab-apple with white blossom, tiny fruitlets, and serrated leaves which take on good autumn colours.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Green / Red
Malus floribunda
Malus floribunda is also known as the Japanese Crab. Pink / white blossom then red / yellow fruits.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Yellow / Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Malus hupehensis
A traditional garden crab-apple from China, with white blossom and small red-tinged fruitlets, a good choice as a specimen tree.
- Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Green / Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Niedzwetzkyana
Niedzwetzkyana is a unique red-fleshed, red-skinned, red blossom crab-apple, originating from central Asia.
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Red - dark
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
NUVAR® Marble
A modern English crab-apple, with large fruits, ideal for early-season crab-apple jelly.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
Pink Glow
Malus Dolgo, also known as Pink Glow, offers early-season white flowers and very attractive dark pink fruits. It is exceptionally cold-hardy.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
Pink Perfection
Malus Pink Perfection is a superb crab-apple with double pink scented flowers.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink
- Fruit colour: Yellow / Orange
Prairie Fire®
Malus Prairie Fire is a medium-size upright crab-apple tree, notable for its dark pink flowers.
- Blossom colour: Pink - dark
- Fruit colour: Red
Profusion
Malus Profusion (also known as Directeur Moerlands) is a classic crab apple variety, with dense clusters of deep pink blossom followed by small crimson berry-like fruitlets.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Crimson
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
Purpurea Evelyn
Malus Purpurea Evelyn is a purple-leaved form of the Prairie crab.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink - dark
- Fruit colour: Green / Yellow
Red Obelisk
Malus Red Obelisk is a compact upright crab-apple with white flowers, purple / green leaves, and red fruits - a good choice for making crab-apple jelly.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Blossom colour: Pink - light
- Fruit colour: Red
Red Sentinel
Malus Red Sentinel has classic white blossom and a profusion of tiny scarlet persistent fruits.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
- Awards: RHS AM
Roberts Red
Roberts Red or Roberts Crab is an unusual red-fleshed crab-apple, with dark pink blossom, and purple fruits. Useful for cooking and produces a claret red colour juice.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink - dark
- Fruit colour: Purple
Rosehip
Malus Rosehip is notable for its large rosehip-shaped red fruits.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
Royalty
Malus Royalty has bright purple-red blossom, dark green-bronze leaves, and dark red fruitlets.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Red - dark
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
Rudolph
Malus Rudoph features very large single deep pink flowers, and small orange fruits.
- Blossom colour: Pink
- Fruit colour: Orange
- Fruit colour: Orange / Red
- Fruit colour: Yellow / Orange
Scarlet Brandywine®
A new crab-apple featuring stunning pink scented double-flowers and good autumn colour.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink
- Blossom colour: Pink - dark
- Fruit colour: Orange
Scarlett
Malus toringo Scarlett is an ornamental crab apple with bronze leaves, dusky pink blossom, and dark red fruitlets.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink
- Fruit colour: Purple
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Sun Rival
Malus Sun Rival is a popular weeping crab-apple, with pale pink blossom and small red berry-like fruitlets.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: Pink - light
- Fruit colour: Red
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
Tina
Malus Tina is a small spreading crab-apple, useful as a patio tree.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Red
Wedding Bouquet
Malus Wedding Bouquet features ivory-white blossom and tiny red berry-like fruitlets.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Red - dark
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
White Star
A modern English crab-apple with white star-like flowers followed by attractive russeted fruitlets.
- Self-fertility: Self-fertile
- Blossom colour: White
- Fruit colour: Russet
- Fruit colour: Yellow / Orange

Need more help choosing crab apple trees?

See our guides and recommended collections: