Pollinator plant

Apple

Malus domestica

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Common names

21 names

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

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

English
Dutch
French
German
  • Kultur-Apfel[3]
  • Kulturapfel[2]
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish

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

[1] Malus domestica — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Apple — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Malus domestica.
  • Apples — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Malus domestica.
[2] Malus domestica — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • apple — results[0].names[0]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • Appel — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • Pomme — results[0].names[66]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • Kulturapfel — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • apple tree — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • Common Apple — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • domestic apple — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • orchard apple — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • manzana — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • manzana agria — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • manzano — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • pommier commun — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • Mela — results[0].names[81]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • Melo — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • pomo — results[0].names[82]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • Eetappel — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • macieira — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
  • maçã — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 469472; Malus domestica.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Malus domestica ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Apple (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 172069; taxon VK8LK.
  • Kultur-Apfel (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 172070; taxon VK8LK.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Malus domestica is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Rosaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
4.57–9.14 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
4.57–9.14 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Dense; Erect; Rounded

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Central Asia to Afghanistan

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Malus species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

Genus-level guidance, not a rating for this individual species or a particular cultivar. RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Fruit tree
Size
S,M
Dimensions
7.00 m high × 6.00 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-8
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Fruit, Oil
Functions
Oil, Pectin, Timber, Pollinator plant
Edibility
5 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

Fruit: eating raw, cooking, or drying. Apples are one of the most common and cultivated types of fruit in temperate climates. There are various types of apples with a range of flavors, from sour to sweet, and textures from dry to juicy. They also vary in ripening periods, with some apples being ripe as early as the end of July, while others are not ripe until late autumn. Some apples contain a lot of pectin, making them ideal for making jam. Edible oil can be extracted from the seeds of an apple.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Malus domestica — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 5294596; ID VK8LK; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 5294596; ID VK8LK; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Malus domestica — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Malus species (top 82 pt)

    Source checked on .