Crab apple trees are quite uncommon in the wild. It is always difficult to distinguish them from the domesticated apple, due to cross-breeding.
The development of the domesticated apple began at the end of the Stone Age. This has lead to a great many varieties available to us today.
Bats use old crab apple trees as daytime accommodation. It also provides food for many insects and small animals.
Leaves are alternate with a crooked and pointed tip. They vary in shape from round to oval.
Under the leaves, they are smooth or hairy, but not as much as on trees that are grown in gardens.
The flowers are white and might be tinged with pink. They appear in April and May, having 5 petals.
Crab apple flowers cannot be self-pollinated (by flowers from the same tree). It is necessary to have another crab apple tree that can provide the pollen. This is carried from tree to tree by bees and other insects.
They are less than 3. 5cm in diameter and have a long stalk. You can tell a crab apple from another fruit by its fruit. The fruit is almost the same size and shape as a cherry. They are very sour to the taste.
The bark is greyish and rough. As the tree grows and the trunk expands, fissures or cracks appear in the bark. Despite this, the timber is very water-resistant. In fact, part of the foundations of Venice is built from this timber.
Crab apple seems to be a relict of our old oak woodlands. It is a specialist tree that needs a soil rich in nutrients and that contains lime (alkaline).
The tree needs to grow in a bright, but sheltered place. It prefers damp areas on the edge of woodlands. Nowadays it more commonly grows in hedges, woodland edges and on riverbanks.
Crab apples are the tiny, sour cousins of the apples we eat and enjoy on a regular basis. While not as sweet or large as supermarket apples, they have their own unique appeal. Crab apples grow on small flowering trees known as crab apple trees. These trees are common in many backyards and parks. Their pretty blossoms and small fruits can leave people wondering what exactly do crab apples look like?
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about identifying crab apples, including:
- Size and appearance
- Color variety
- How to tell when they’re ripe
- Differences from regular apples
Crab Apples are Extremely Small
The most identifying characteristic of crab apples is their petite size. They are considerably smaller than regular apples, with diameters of 2 inches or less. In fact, crab apples can be as tiny as 1⁄2 inch across. This gives them an appearance similar to large cherries on the tree.
Some people mistake them for berries at first glance. But upon closer inspection, their apple-like shape gives away their identity While regular apples can grow over 3 inches wide, you’ll never find a crab apple even approaching that size
A Range of Colors
Crab apples display a wide variety of colors, unlike regular apples which most often appear red, green or yellow. Some of the most common crab apple colors include:
- Bright red
- Golden yellow
- Pale green
- Orange-red
- Purple-red
Multi-colored crab apples are also common, displaying red, yellow, orange and green all on the same fruit. The colors can be solid, streaked, or mottled.
Popular varieties like ‘Brandywine’ and ‘Red Sentinel’ are prized for their vivid red color. ‘Golden Hornet’ and ‘Sugar Tyme’ showcase sunny yellows. To identify a crab apple, look for any of these colors in a tiny fruit.
Ripe When Soft and Squishy
Determining ripeness in a crab apple is the same as with regular apples. A ripe crab apple will feel slightly soft and squishy when squeezed gently. Under-ripe crab apples will be hard as a rock.
The seeds inside a ripe crab apple will appear brown rather than white or green. And the taste will be lightly sweet-tart instead of bitter and astringent.
Look for crab apples that have fallen to the ground below the tree. These are often perfectly ripe and ready to use. Just cut them open and inspect the seeds first.
Miniature Versions of Apples
Although tiny in size, crab apples closely resemble regular apples in shape. They have a rounded, plump base that tapers slightly at the bottom. The top often has a faint depression. Though dwarfed in size, the overall form clearly mirrors that of full size apples.
So if you come across a tree filled with cherry-sized fruits that are shaped like apples, chances are you’ve encountered crab apples. Always check the size and form together when identifying these miniature versions of regular apples.
Other Key Differences From Apples
Beyond the obvious size difference, there are a few other ways that crab apples differ from the apples we eat:
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Flavor – Crab apples are extremely tart and sour. Only the sweetest varieties are palatable raw. Regular apples are sweet and juicy.
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Seeds – Crab apples often have more abundant, larger seeds. The core takes up more space in these small fruits.
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Flesh – Crab apple flesh is much firmer and denser than apples. When cooked, they keep their shape rather than breaking down.
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Trees – Crab apple trees are much smaller, topping out around 20 feet maximum. Apple trees can grow over 30 feet tall.
What to Do With Your Crab Apple Bounty
Now that you know how to identify crab apples, you may be wondering what to actually do with them! Here are some of the most popular ways to use them:
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Crab apple jelly – The high natural pectin makes crab apples perfect for jelly. Mix with sugar and strain out the peel and seeds.
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Pies – Slice crab apples and mix into pie fillings for a tart flavor. Combine with sweeter apples.
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Juice – Press crab apples into juice for drinking or cooking. The juice is high in nutrients like vitamin C.
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Vinegar – Ferment into crab apple cider vinegar, great for salads, marinades, and drinking.
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Fruit leathers – Puree crab apples into leathers for a healthy, tangy snack.
With their dynamic flavors, crab apples are a unique ingredient that can add a tasty kick to recipes. Put your identification skills to use and harvest these miniature fruits for all kinds of delicious recipes.
Everything You Need To Know About Crab Apples!
FAQ
How can you tell if an apple is a crab apple?
Are crab apples edible?
What month are crab apples ripe?
Are crabapples poisonous to dogs?
What are crab apples?
Crab apples are miniature apples made by flowering crab apple trees. These trees are excellent pollinators, and their fruit feeds many kinds of wildlife. As a whole, crab apple trees are attractive and valuable for the environment. They belong to the genus Malus, like other apple trees.
What do crabapples look like?
The small fruits may be yellow to red when ripe, and they often grow in dense clusters. If well cared for, the trees can live for decades, and many of them are remarkably frost hardy, dropping their leaves in the fall to conserve energy through the winter. Crabapples are small tart fruits related to apples.
What does a crabapple tree taste like?
Crabapple trees produce small fruits called crabapples that generally have a tart taste. The colorful miniature apples often stay hanging on the tree long after the leaves have dropped in the fall. Crabapple trees (botanical name Malus) are like miniature apple trees ( Malus domestica ).
Are crabapples bigger than apples?
Crabapples are much smaller fruits than regular apples and generally have a tarter taste compared to regular apples. Crabapple trees produce fruits that are generally up to 2” (5 cm) in diameter. Traditional apple trees produce fruits that are larger than 2” (5 cm) in diameter.