Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database

Kingdom Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae

Order Rosales

Family Rosaceae – Rose family

Genus Malus Mill. – apple

Species Malus fusca (Raf.) C.K. Schneid. – Oregon crab apple

Often growing in thickets, this small tree grows moderately fast to reach 40.’

It is native to low elevations from coastal Alaska to northwestern California, USDA zones 6 – 9.

Its leaves resemble those of cultivated apple tree leaves, turning red or orange in autumn.

The branches are armed with distinctly sharp spur-shoots.

White, clustered flowers are smaller than those of cultivated apples but equally fragrant.

Fruits are but 1/2" and hang in clusters on long stems. These tart fruits can be picked when immature and stored until ripe – a wise idea as the birds may otherwise beat you to the tasty fruit! Crabapples make a flavorful juice (yielding as much as 2 cups of nutritious juice per lb. of fruit!) or jelly.

Crabapples like moist areas and sun or shade.