Plant Details

Malus prunifolia

Chinese Apple, Plumleaf crab apple

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Common names

29 names · 15 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Chinese Apple
  • Pear-leaf Crabapple[1]
  • Plum-leaved Crab[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Plumleaf crab apple
Other languages (14)
Dutch
  • Chinese appel
French
  • Pommier de Chine
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 圓葉海棠[1]
Czech
  • jabloň třešňolistá[1]
Estonian
  • hiina õunapuu[1]
  • kitaika[1]
  • ploomilehine õunapuu[1]
Finnish
  • siperianomenapuu[1]
Japanese
  • イヌリンゴ[1]
  • ヒメリンゴ[1]
Korean
  • 꽃사과[1]
  • 벚잎꽃사과나무[1]
Lithuanian
  • Slyvalapė obelis[1]
Polish
  • Jabłoń śliwolistna[1]
Russian
  • Китайка[1]
  • Райка[1]
  • Райская яблоня[1]
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • Яблоня китайская[1]
  • Яблоня сливолистная[1]
Slovak
  • jabloň slivkolistá[1]
Swedish
  • kinesisk apel[1]
  • pyramidapel[1]
  • sibirisk apel[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Malus prunifolia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Pear-leaf Crabapple — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • Plum-leaved Crab — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • ploomilehine õunapuu — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • hiina õunapuu — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • kitaika — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • 꽃사과 — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • Яблоня сливолистная — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • siperianomenapuu — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • jabloň třešňolistá — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • Slyvalapė obelis — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • イヌリンゴ — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • ヒメリンゴ — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • Райская яблоня — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • Райка — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • Яблоня китайская — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • Китайка — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • sibirisk apel — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • 벚잎꽃사과나무 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • 圓葉海棠 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • 楸子 — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • Jabłoń śliwolistna — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • 海棠果 — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • kinesisk apel — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • pyramidapel — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.
  • jabloň slivkolistá — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 58735; Malus prunifolia.

General information

Scientific name: Malus prunifolia
Accepted name (Kew): Malus prunifolia (Willd.) Borkh. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [3]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Malus (WCVP v16).

Sources [3]
Also known as: Chinese Apple, Plumleaf crab apple
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Fruit tree
Catalogue size class: Medium
Height: 8.00 m
Spread: 8.00 m
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous

Leaf retention described in the New England flora.

Sources [1]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3-7
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Bee forage

Description

Malus prunifolia is a deciduous crabapple tree with white flowers and small fruits. Its fruit is used for jelly, and palatability varies. Harvest timing depends on the region and plant material.

Sources [1] [2]

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Crown

Crown shape: Broad pyramidal
Crown density: Dense crown

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Native Plant Trust Malus prunifolia — Go Botany
    Supports: DescriptionFoliage
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Facts and species identification characteristics
    • Foliage: Leaf duration

    Source checked on .

  2. International Dendrology Society Malus prunifolia — Trees and Shrubs Online
    Supports: Description
    Relevant sections
    • Description: Species account; botanical description and cited horticultural observations

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 282839; name ID 2950387; Malus Mill.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1437547; name ID 2950833; Malus prunifolia (Willd.) Borkh..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.