Sweet Crab Apple
Malus coronaria
Last reviewed: September 2026
Malus coronaria, the sweet crab apple, is a small deciduous tree that blooms in May and June with fragrant pink and white flowers, drawing bees and butterflies to open woods and fields.
Toxicity unknown
Sweet Crab Apple (Malus coronaria) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
240"–480" H × 180"–360" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
AL, AR, DE, GA and 18 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies, beetles
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Sweet crab apple produces fragrant white to pink flowers in late spring, followed by small yellow-green fruits. It typically grows 20-40 feet tall with a rounded crown and provides excellent seasonal interest with spring blooms and fall color.
Growing Sweet Crab Apple
Grow Sweet Crab Apple in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 240 to 480 inches tall and spread 180 to 360 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Sweet Crab Apple is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, mid zone, street edge.
- Fruit drop may require occasional cleanup
Wildlife value
The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and beetles in late spring. The small fruits are eaten by birds and wildlife throughout fall and winter.
Common questions
- When does sweet crab apple bloom?
- Sweet crab apple flowers in May and June, producing clusters of pink buds that open to pale pink or white blossoms with a strong fragrance.
- What pollinators visit sweet crab apple flowers?
- Bees, butterflies, and beetles regularly visit the flowers for nectar and pollen during the spring bloom period.
- What growing conditions suit sweet crab apple best?
- It grows best in full sun with medium moisture but tolerates part sun and somewhat drier soil once established.
- How large does sweet crab apple get?
- It typically grows as a small, rounded tree, often reaching 20 to 30 feet tall with a similar spread.
- Does sweet crab apple keep its leaves year round?
- No, it is deciduous and drops its leaves each fall after they turn yellow to orange.
- Is Sweet Crab Apple HOA-friendly?
- Sweet Crab Apple is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Sweet Crab Apple? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz