What Eats Crab Apples? A Look at the Many Critters That Enjoy This Sour Fruit

Crab apples are the small, extremely tart fruits that grow on flowering crab apple trees. Given their mouth-puckering sourness you may wonder – what kinds of animals actually eat crab apples? As it turns out, many species relish these petite fruits.

Birds Love Crab Apples

Birds are by far the most common consumers of crab apples. In fact, crab apple trees are an excellent source of food for birds in the winter when other fruits are scarce.

Some specific types of birds that enjoy crab apples include:

• Robins
• Cedar waxwings
• Cardinals
• Finches
• Grosbeaks
• Blue jays
• Woodpeckers
• Flickers
• Grouse
• Pheasants
• Quail

Crab apple trees produce an abundance of hardy fruits that cling to the branches all winter long. This provides birds with a reliable food source during the lean cold-weather months when insects and other foods are limited.

The high bitterness of crab apples does not deter birds. Their taste receptors are different than humans, so the extreme sourness does not phase them

Mammals Feast on Crab Apples Too

Not just birds eat crab apples. Many species of mammals also take advantage of this fruit bounty:

• Deer
• Foxes
• Raccoons
• Opossums
• Skunks
• Squirrels
• Chipmunks
• Bears
• Coyotes
• Rabbits

Mammals typically wait until crab apples fall to the ground before consuming them. Squirrels and chipmunks will gather the fruits to store for winter. Larger mammals like deer and bears directly graze on fallen crab apples to fatten up before hibernation.

For most mammals, the extreme tartness of crab apples is not an issue. In fact, some even seem to prefer the sour taste.

Don’t Overlook Insects and Crawlers

Crab apples aren’t just enjoyed by vertebrates. Many species of invertebrates also feast on the fruits:

• Bees
• Wasps
• Butterflies
• Moths
• Flies
• Beetles
• Slugs
• Snails

Insects and other invertebrates are often seen congregating around rotting, fermenting crab apples on the ground. They extract nutrients from the flesh and juices.

As you can see, a diverse array of species take advantage of the crab apple bounty. Planting crab apple trees provides food for all types of backyard wildlife.

Select Trees That Maximize Fruit Production

If you want to plant crab apple trees to help feed wildlife, select cultivars that produce an abundance of fruit. Some top choices include:

• Dolgo – This is the gold standard wildlife crab apple. It bears early and heavily with fruits up to 1.5 inches wide. The fruits also cling to the branches all winter.

• Centennial – One of the few crab apples with fruits exceeding 2 inches wide. The fruits are red and persistent.

• Whitney – A prolific fruiter with yellow fruits up to 1.75 inches across. They hang on the tree into winter.

• Red Jewel – A heavy producer with bright red fruits that remain through winter.

• Sargent – Bears masses of tiny (under 1 inch) red fruits that birds adore. Extremely hardy.

Choosing productive varieties like these will maximize the food output for wildlife.

Proper Tree Care Boosts Fruit Production

To encourage your crab apple tree to bear the most fruit:

• Plant in full sun. Crab apples produce the heaviest when they receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

• Prune annually. Remove crowded branches and thin crowded fruits to improve fruit size and quantity.

• Water during droughts. Crab apples set more flowers and fruits with adequate water.

• Fertilize in spring. Use a balanced organic fertilizer to provide nutrients for fruit production.

• Protect from pests. Crab apples are prone to apple maggots, plum curculio beetles, and other pests that can diminish yields. Monitor trees and take action if pests are detected.

With good care and cultivation, your crab apple tree will reward you and local wildlife with an abundant annual crop of this unique fruit.

Crab Apples Offer Winter Energy

With their supreme tartness, crab apples may not seem like an enticing food source to humans. But for many species of wildlife, these petite fruits are a winter lifesaver.

The abundant crops produced by crab apple trees provide birds, mammals, and insects with essential calories and nutrients during the lean cold months when other foods are scarce. This helps sustain wildlife through the toughest time of year.

So don’t underestimate the value of the humble crab apple. For many creatures, it can make the difference between survival and starvation during long winters. If you want to support local wildlife, planting a fruiting crab apple or two can make a huge impact. The trees will reward you with beauty and bounty, while also feeding the birds, mammals, and insects in your area.