Pollinator plant

Crab Apple

Malus sylvestris

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Common names

40 names · 27 languages
EnglishYour language
+3 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (26)
Dutch
French
Afrikaans
Bulgarian
  • Киселица[3]
Catalan
  • Pomera silvestre[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 欧洲野苹果[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 歐洲野蘋果[3]
Croatian
  • Divlja jabuka[3]
  • Šumska jabuka[3]
Czech
  • jabloň lesní[3]
Danish
  • Skov-æble[3]
Estonian
  • mets-õunapuu[3]
Finnish
  • metsäomenapuu[3]
German
Hungarian
  • közönséges vadalma[3]
  • Vadalma[3]
Italian
Lithuanian
  • Miškinė obelis[3]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Jabłoń dzika[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Яблоня лесная[3]
Slovak
  • jabloň planá[3]
Slovenian
Spanish
Swedish
Turkish
  • Yabani Avrupa Elması[3]
  • Yabani Elma[3]
Ukrainian
  • Яблуня лісова[3]
Sources & name notes (4)

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.

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

[1] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • crab apple — Page 2, column 2, row top 427 pt; common-name cell after Malus sylvestris.; Malus sylvestris.
[2] Malus sylvestris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Crab Apple — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • European crab apple — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Wilde Appel — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Pommier sauvage — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • European Wild Apple — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Europäischer Wildapfel — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Holzapfel — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Krabapfel — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Manzana — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Boquettier — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Pommier des bois — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Melo selvatico — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Appel — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Macieira-brava — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
[3] Malus sylvestris — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

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

Source records
  • Crab Apple — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • European crab apple — results[1].names[23]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Wilde Appel — results[1].names[24]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Pommier sauvage — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • European Wild Apple — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Europäischer Wildapfel — results[1].names[35]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Holzapfel — results[1].names[34]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Krabapfel — results[1].names[36]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Manzana — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Boquettier — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Pommier des bois — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Melo selvatico — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Appel — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Macieira-brava — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Pomera silvestre — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • jabloň lesní — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Vildapel — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Skov-æble — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • mets-õunapuu — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Яблоня лесная — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • villeple — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • metsäomenapuu — results[1].names[17]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Jabłoń dzika — results[1].names[18]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Miškinė obelis — results[1].names[19]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • jabloň planá — results[1].names[20]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • 欧洲野苹果 — results[1].names[21]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • 歐洲野蘋果 — results[1].names[22]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Киселица — results[1].names[25]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Appel — results[1].names[26]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • lesnika — results[1].names[27]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Яблуня лісова — results[1].names[28]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Vadalma — results[1].names[29]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • közönséges vadalma — results[1].names[30]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Šumska jabuka — results[1].names[31]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Divlja jabuka — results[1].names[32]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Yabani Avrupa Elması — results[1].names[33]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
  • Yabani Elma — results[1].names[37]; taxon id 61223; Malus sylvestris.
[4] Malus sylvestris — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

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

Source records
  • European Crab Apple — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Malus sylvestris.
  • Apple — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Malus sylvestris.
  • Common Crabapple — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Malus sylvestris.
  • Crabapple — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Malus sylvestris.
Plant references

Source-backed information

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

Botanical family
Rosaceae

Genus-level classification for Malus; this does not confirm the complete catalogue name.

Sources [1]
Taxonomy
NC State Extension publishes a profile under Malus sylvestris.

Profile-name match; no accepted-name status is asserted.

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)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

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

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); 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
Europe and Turkey

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: bees, 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 sylvestris in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

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
10.00 m high × 6.00 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
4-8
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

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

This fruit can be eaten both raw and cooked and is often used for jelly, jam, and juices. The flavor improves significantly when the fruit is harvested before it is fully ripe. The fruit varies in size (about 2-4 cm in diameter) and quality. While it is usually hard and sour, there are also sweet varieties that can be eaten as fresh fruit. This fruit is rich in pectin, which can help with the gelling of jam and jelly. Pectin is also said to protect the body from radiation. The seeds can be used to produce edible oil, although this is most profitable when the fruit is used for other purposes, such as making cider, so that the seeds can be extracted from the leftovers. A very pleasant tea can be made from the leaves of this plant.

Sources and references

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

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Malus — 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: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1601933; ID 5KQ9; rank genus; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Malus sylvestris — Plant Toolbox

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

    Supports: TaxonomyPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Main botanical heading (h1)
    • 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 — Wildflowers

    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 sylvestris (top 427 pt)

    Source checked on .