About
Malus coronaria, the American crab apple, is a spreading, deciduous tree with oval, toothed, green leaves tinted red when young and turning orange and red in autumn. Large, perfumed, pale-pink single flowers are produced in late spring, sometimes fading to white, followed by green or greenish-yellow fruits in autumn. A beautiful and ornamental crab apple for a large garden.
About the genus
Malus, the crab apples, are small to medium-sized deciduous trees with showy white, pink or red flowers in spring and ornamental or edible fruit in autumn. Some species offer additional autumn foliage colour. Among the most popular of all flowering trees for garden use.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeTrees
HabitSpreading branched
FoliageDeciduous
Height8-12 metres
SpreadWider than 8 metres
Time to full height20-50 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens, City and courtyard gardens
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, deep, moist, loamy soil in a sunny position; will tolerate partial shade
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by seed, by hardwood cuttings or by grafting
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, including rosy apple aphid and woolly aphid, apple sawfly, fruit tree red spider mite, codling moth, apple leaf-mining moth and other caterpillars
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to apple canker, rust diseases, blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, honey fungus and powdery mildews. This species has some resistance to apple scab