American Crabapple (Sweet Crabapple)

Malus corornaria

• Family: Rosaceae
  
  
• Hybrid species very frequent thus identification of specific species difficult
  
  
• American Crabapple has short trunk, several stout branches
  
  
• American Crabapple remains short; reaches height around 4.5-9m (15-30’)

Leaves

• Alternate with sharp teeth
  
  
• Round or heart-shaped at base; 5-10cm (2-4”) in length
  
  
• Leaf tip either heart-shaped or narrowly long-pointed
  
  
• Yellow-green coloring from above; paler from below

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Twigs & Fruiting Structures

• End buds true and sharp-pointed, glandless leafstalks; 3 bundle scars; spur branches present; thorns found only on older wood, not on twigs; some species thornier than others
  
  
• American Crabapple flowers: pink or white clustered with 5 rounded petals; highly fragrant, nearly 4 cm (1.5”) wide
  
  
• American Crabapple fruit: several-seeded, bitter; appears between September and November; 2.5-3 cm (1-1.25”) in diameter

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