Highlights
American Crabapples are one of the most beautiful flowering native trees, putting out light-pink flowers every spring. After the flowers come the tiny apples. The apples are edible, but tiny—they are often used in jams and jellies due to their size. If cleaning up fallen apples in your yard in the fall sounds like a bummer, plant your American Crabapple away from high-traffic areas where the fallen fruit won’t bother you. If you don’t have the space, consider other flowering trees like dogwoods, redbuds, magnolias—or view our guide for great native front-yard trees!
Dig Deeper
Explore the history, types, and where to plant native American Crabapple
Table of Contents
American Crabapples thrive in a variety of conditions, making them versatile additions to your landscape. These trees love a spot with full sun exposure, providing them the energy they need to flourish. Whether in your backyard or as a striking focal point in the front yard, these trees add a burst of color and life wherever they are planted.
What are the benefits of planting native trees like American Crabapple?
Planting native plants makes our yards and spaces gorgeous while helping the birds, butterflies, and animals (and helping save us time!) Here are three reasons why planting native is worth it:
- Without native plants, iconic animals like Monarch butterflies and songbirds won’t have the food or homes needed to survive
- Native plants save time and money: after the first year of getting established, native plants are happy with rain
- Native plants are gorgeous! American Crabapples are a perfect example of how beautiful and resilient native plants are—they are always the best choice for our gardens.
Where is American Crabapple native?
American Crabapples are native to a wide range of the US and Canada, including the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and most of the South.
This native tree thrives in the Northeast as well. The champion American Crabapple (or the tallest of these species in existence) is in Vermont!
One warning about where you plant these native trees…
There is one bummer about planting American Crabapples: lots of crabapples on the ground in the fall. It can bother some to have a pile of fallen fruit that attract wildlife like deer and squirrels. If this is a concern and you have the space, plant your American Crabapple where you can enjoy its beauty but not its fall-time mess.
Where should I plant American Crabapples?
To minimize the mess, plant American Crabapples out of the way of houses or highly visible gardens. Some ideas for placement that are out of the way include the edges of backyards, or along long driveways.
Where can I find American Crabapples for my yard?
Sadly, many native plants can be a challenge to find, especially at conventional nurseries. BUT some places and distributors stock American Crabapples—you just have to know where to look.
Here are four sourcing ideas to help you find an American Crabapple for your yard:
Where can I find seeds and plants?
Finding native plants can be challenging (we partly blame Marie Antoinette.) To make it easier, we’ve assembled four sourcing ideas.
Native Plant Nurseries
Our list of native nurseries makes finding one a breeze
Online Native Plant Sellers
We've included 100+ online resources to help
Society Plant Sales
Every state has a native plant society; find yours
Online Communities
Local Facebook groups are a great plant source
What are good pairings for American Crabapple?
There are so many fantastic native shrubs and flowers that pair beautifully with American Crabapple. Some ideas to consider include:
With its stunning blossoms, and ease of care, native American Crapapples are statement trees any American landscape will benefit from. Planting native trees is not just about creating a beautiful garden; it’s about nurturing a sustainable and thriving ecosystem right outside your door. They are a beautiful flowering tree for Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, or Southern gardens. Happy planting!
Sources
- Nelson, Gil. Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens: A Handbook for Gardeners, Homeowners, and Professionals, (2010).
- Harstad, Carolyn. Go Native! Gardening with Native Plants and Wildflowers in the Lower Midwest. (1999), 209-210.