Malus sylvestris I Common Crab Apple

The Malus sylvestris is a small native tree and thought to be the ancestor of many cultivated apple varieties. It has an irregular, rounded shape with a wide spreading canopy; the branches develop a gnarled appearance as the tree matures, hence the common name Crab Apple. It is an attractive tree covered in sweetly scented white flowers that appear in the spring and are flushed with pink; once pollinated by bees and other insects small, yellow-green apple-like fruits develop. The dark green oval leaves with are approx. 6cm long with rounded teeth and turn yellow before falling in the autumn. The Malus sylvestris thrives best in well drained fertile soil and full sun, it does not tolerate wet or waterlogged sites. It is a great tree found in hedgerows, woodlands and small gardens, and is invaluable to all wildlife and also one of the few trees that will host mistletoe.