Wild crab apple

Leaves

Form

• Elongate triangular, base round to heart-shaped
• Lower surface almost hairless

Length

• 3–8 cm

Margin

• Teeth increasing in size from the tip downward to become almost lobe-sized near the base

Buds

Form

• Terminal bud elongated, blunt
• Hairy, with 5 scales
• Lateral bud similar but smaller, pressed against the twig
• 3 veins scars per leaf scar

Length

• Terminal bud 3–5 mm
• Lateral buds 2–4 mm

Colour

• Terminal bud red

Twigs

Form

• Slender; hairy during the 1st year
• Dwarf shoots often end in a thorn

Colour

• Reddish-brown with a greyish skin that gradually flakes off

Flowers

Form

• Very showy
• In small clusters of 2–3

Width

• 20–30 mm

Colour

• White, streaked with pink

Structure

• Synoecious

Floral timing

• After the new leaves have unfolded

Fruits

Form

• Almost round, hard
• Wax-coated, sour
• Remain on the tree into winter

Width

• 25–35 mm, as wide as long or wider

Colour

• Green

Bark

Form

• Scaly

Colour

• Reddish-brown

Size

Height

• To 9 m

Diameter

• To 30 cm

Tree form

Forest-grown

Crown

• Irregular, spreading

Open-grown

Crown

• Often a thicket-forming shrub

Habitat

Site

• In the shade of larger broadleaf species and in the open along fences and roadsides

Range

Southern Ontario near Lakes Erie and Ontario