What soil does Crabapple grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Crabapple be planted?

Plant it at least 2 m from buildings. Keep it at least 1.5 m from paving.

When does Crabapple flower?

Flowering: April–May, white, pink, red.

How much water does Crabapple need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Crabapple cost?

It sells for roughly €26 to €280 in local shops, depending on size.

Crabapple

Malus Ornamental Group

Crabapple (Malus Ornamental Group) is a small tree. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €26.

Illustration of Crabapple — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A group of ornamental trees small enough for modest gardens: in April and May they are covered in white, pink or purple-red blossom, and in autumn in cherry-sized yellow, orange or red apples that on many cultivars hang on until midwinter and are eaten by birds. Cultivars differ in flower, leaf and fruit colour (some have purple leaves) and in shape: most make a rounded crown 4 to 6 m tall, but there are narrow columnar and weeping forms too. When choosing, look at disease resistance first, because susceptibility to scab, mildew and fire blight varies a great deal between cultivars, and check whether the fruit stays on the tree or drops. The small sour apples are good for jelly and jam, and the long-flowering tree is a good pollinator for apple trees.

Watch out for

Crabapples share the diseases of apple, and susceptibility varies widely between cultivars. Scab causes spotted leaves that drop by midsummer after a wet spring (purple-leaved Royalty, for example, is distinctly prone), and powdery mildew distorts the shoot tips. Fire blight is present in Central Europe too: flowers and shoot tips turn black and bend over like a hook; cut the affected part back well into healthy wood, and avoid pruning in spring. So choose a resistant cultivar. Aphids and spider mites can also be a nuisance. Many water shoots and rootstock suckers can come up from the base; remove them at their origin. On cultivars that drop their fruit, the apples rot on paving and lawn and attract wasps, so beside a terrace or parking space plant one that holds its fruit.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 4 m × 3 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–May, white, pink, red

Group	Small tree
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	4 m × 3 m
Ultimate size	2–9 m × 1–9 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, white, pink, red
Harvest	September–October
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 2 m
Distance from paving	at least 1.5 m
Litter	Fruit
Planting distance	500 cm
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €26

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
100-125 cm	approx. €120
150-175 cm	approx. €140
175-200 cm	approx. €180
size not stated	approx. €26 – €280

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Small ornamental trees Plants with edible fruit

Compare with similar plants

Crabapple vs Persian silk tree

Looks good next to it

Heavenly bamboo

Nandina domestica

Heartleaf bergenia

Bergenia cordifolia

Small-leaved cotoneaster

Cotoneaster microphyllus