When it comes to delicious fruit, crabapple trees aren’t usually the first tree that comes to mind. This is because many people use crabapple trees to dress up their property or landscape instead. After all, crabapple trees are some of the prettiest trees that you can plant.
So, do crabapple trees produce fruit? The short answer is that yes, crabapple trees grow fruit. However, they’re not exactly apples, and they definitely don’t taste like their bigger cousins.
Learn more about crabapple trees and the fruit they produce in our guide.
What Exactly Is a Crabapple Tree?
A crabapple tree belongs to the Malus genus, and they tend to be small to medium-sized trees. On average, crabapple trees tend to reach around 10 to 25 feet in height, and they don’t tend to be more than a few feet wide towards the base.
More often than not, you’ll find that crabapple trees are used as ornamental trees, and this is due to their dense foliage, small fruits, and longevity into the winter months. Some common colors for crabapple trees that you’ll find include pink, white, deep red, and salmon. Still, combinations and other color combinations may be available.
Overall, crabapple trees are great to have on your property year-round; you don’t have to worry about high maintenance, either, just make sure you use well-hydrating soil and prune them during the winter months.
Do Crabapple Trees Produce Fruit?
Yes, crabapple trees produce fruit. However, it’s not the same as a larger apple. While they share the same shape and colors, crabapples tend to be two to four inches smaller in diameter than apples. Moreover, crabapples tend to be more tart than apples, which is why they’re more useful in jelly, jam, and other fruits.
Can You Eat Crabapples?
Yes, you can eat crabapples. While you can eat them, that doesn’t always mean you should. Due to their tart flavor, crabapples are best for baking, so they’re not a fruit that most people will just take a bite out of.
Still, some people may prefer the flavor of a crabapple, and it’s not unsafe to eat one.
Do Crabapple Fruits Attract Wildlife?
Are you someone who loves wildlife? If you are, you may want to consider crabapple trees for your backyard. Why? Because they’ll attract birds, squirrels, and other animals.
So, even if you don’t like the taste of crabapples, the rest of the animal kingdom may take you up on your offer of free crabapples.
Are There Fruitless Crabapple Trees?
So, crabapple trees are beautiful, but their fruit isn’t great. Therefore, you may be wondering if there are any fruitless crabapple trees. Well, the good news is that you can opt for unique crabapple varieties, like Spring Snow. This crabapple tree is sterile, so you won’t have to worry about those pesky little apples collecting in your backyard.
Other options include the Prairie Rose and Marilee crabapple trees, although the latter trees may produce some small crabapples, a lot less than your average crabapple tree.
Where to Get Crabapple Trees
Now that you’ve learned a lot about crabapples, you may be curious about where you can get them from. Well, the good news is that there are plenty of places to source crabapples. If you want to go the in-person shopping route, hardware stores and local garden shops are the best options.
However, if you don’t mind taking things online, one of our favorite options is Crabapple Tree Nursery. This online provider has a collection of the best crabapple trees around, and you don’t have to worry about hauling them home yourself.
For this reason, we recommend starting online, especially if you don’t have a pickup truck in your possession. Plus, you’ll have tons of options, colors, and crabapple fruit options.
Do Crabapple Trees Produce Fruit? Our Final Thoughts
So, do crabapple trees produce fruit? In summary, yes, crabapple trees produce fruit. While they produce fruit, they don’t produce fruit in the same way that your average apple tree does. Instead, the apples are smaller, more tart, and harder to work with unless you plan on baking with them. It’s for these reasons that most people seek out crabapple trees: they’re beautiful, not delicious.
