Apple / Crabapple
Also known as: Malus · Apple · Crabapple
11 types of apple / crabapple
Antonovka Apple
also: Malus pumila var. Antonovka
Cold-hardy Russian heirloom apple — famous rootstock.
Common Apple
also: Malus pumila, Paradise Apple
Orchard apple species — parent of most cultivated apples.
Cutleaf Crabapple
also: Malus toringoides, Cutleaf Crab
Deeply lobed leaves — ornamental crab.
European Crab Apple
also: Malus sylvestris, European Wild Apple
Wild ancestor of European domestic apples.
Manchurian Crabapple
also: Malus baccata 'Mandshurica'
Extra-hardy Manchurian form.
Oregon Crab Apple
also: Malus fusca, Pacific Crabapple, Western Crapapple
Small native crabapple of Pacific Northwest wetlands.
Pear-leaf Crabapple
also: Malus prunifolia, Plum-leaved Apple, Plumleaf Crab Apple
Ornamental crab with small yellow-red fruit.
Roselow Sargent's Crab Apple
also: Malus sargentii 'Roselow'
Rose-pink flowered selection of Sargent crab.
Sargent's Crab Apple
also: Malus sargentii, Sargent's Apple, Sargent's Crabapple
Compact spreading crab — white flowers, tiny red fruit.
Siberian Crab Apple
also: Malus baccata
Hardiest crabapple — tiny red fruits, wildlife food, rootstock species.
Sweet Crab Apple
also: Malus coronaria, Sweet-scented Crab Apple
Native fragrant pink-flowered crab.
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Consult species-specific guidance. Most benefit from good drainage, patience, and matching zone.
Grower's tip
Grow from seed for rootstock or wildlife; graft named cultivars for reliable fruit.
Soil preferences
Deep, rich, well-drained soil with high organic matter.
6.0–6.8 for most; strawberries and blueberries prefer 4.5–6.0.
Compost annually; mulch with wood chips for perennial fruits.
Watering
1–2 in per week; deeper as plants establish.
Soak the root zone, not the foliage. Drip irrigation is ideal for long-lived plantings.
Overwatered: fruit split, root rot, mushy fallen fruit. Underwatered: shriveled berries, dropped flowers, sunscald.
Prefers top-watering — Trees are always top-watered — deep slow soak at the drip line, never at the trunk. Bottom-watering only makes sense for nursery seedlings.
Temperature tolerance
70–85°F (21–29°C)
55–70°F (13–21°C)
Tropical fruits (passionfruit, pepino, naranjilla) frost-tender. Temperate fruits (pomegranate, fig, sea buckthorn) tolerate hard freezes once established.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
10+ gal (38 L) for tree fruit; 3–5 gal for berry canes; 12 in deep for strawberries
Choose dwarf or patio cultivars for containers; overwinter tender types indoors.
Succession planting
Perennials fruit on their own schedule — no succession. For annual fruiting (tomatillo, ground cherry, roselle) treat like a warm-season vegetable.
Detailed harvesting
Pick fully ripe — fruit sweetens on the plant, not the counter. Test with a gentle tug; ripe fruit releases easily.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Refrigerate soft fruit unwashed 3–7 days. Freeze on trays, then bag. Dehydrate slices at 135°F. Jam or preserve surplus.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Fresh eating, jam, wine, syrup, drying. Use imperfect fruit for cooking; keep the best for the table.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Most perennial fruit are insect-pollinated and often not true-to-type from seed.
Named cultivars must be propagated by cutting, division, or graft to stay true.
Rinse seeds from ripe pulp; dry 1–2 weeks. Many need cold stratification before sowing.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for apple / crabapple in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
From your kitchen — grow apple / crabapple from what you already have
For fleshy fruits (tomato-family, melons, ground cherries), ferment the seed out. For dry-seeded fruits (roselle, hibiscus family), just let capsules dry on the plant.
- 1Fleshy fruit: scoop seeds and pulp into a jar of water; ferment 2–4 days until it molds; rinse, dry.
- 2Dry-seeded fruit: let capsules turn brown on the plant, then split and tap seeds out.
- 3Perennial fruits (fig, pomegranate, sea buckthorn): far easier from cuttings, division, or suckers than seed.
- 4Store all seed cool, dark, and dry in labeled envelopes.
Storage: 3–6 years dry.
My Apple / Crabapple notes
Apple / Crabapple seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
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