Are Crabapples Good Trees?

Are you redesigning your front or backyard landscape? If so, there’s no doubt that you’re planning on including some trees into the mix. After all, trees add color, texture, and visual interest, welcome shade, and can even invite friendly animals into your yard. Yes, it’s safe to say that trees are a wonderful investment in your yard, and there’s certainly no shortage of options to choose from, including crabapples.

Are Crabapples Good Trees?

The name “crab” often makes people wonder if crabapples are good trees, or not. In short, yes, they are! In fact, crabapples are wonderful trees! There are lots of reasons to plant a crabapple tree in your yard. Let’s take a closer look at this type of tree, including some of the many benefits that it can provide.

What is a crabapple Tree?

A crabapple tree is a fruit tree and, as the name suggests, it’s related to the orchard apple tree that you’re probably familiar with. However, the apples they produce aren’t as big or as aesthetically pleasing. The fruit is usable, though. As a matter of fact, crabapples can be used just like any other apple, meaning that you can cook with them or pluck them right off the tree and nibble on them for a fresh snack or even make crab apple jelly!

The Benefits of crabapple Trees

If you’re on the fence about planting a crabapple tree in your yard, here’s a look at some of the amazing benefits that they offer and why you should seriously consider adding one – or a few – to your landscape.

Decorative

Like all fruit-bearing trees, crabapple trees are decorative. Crabapple trees produce gorgeous blooms in the early spring that are the faintest shade of white/pink. After the blooms fade, their deep green, leathery-like leaves are simply stunning at the end of the spring and throughout the summer season.

Toward the end of August (depending on where you live), the light yellow and red fruit will start to appear and looks simply breathtaking against the backdrop of the deep green leaves. As the cool temperatures of autumn arrive, the leaves will create the most stunning display of yellow and gold. Even after the leaves fall off, the shape of a crab apple tree will look lovely in your yard.

Needless to say, a crabapple tree is as beautiful – if not more so – than its cousin, the orchard apple tree.

Welcoming to Pollinators

In the early spring, bees and other pollinators are drawn to the sweetness of the crabapple tree’s blooms. If you look real close, you might even catch hummingbirds feeding on the nectar.

Because they have an earlier flowering season and since the flowers last longer than orchard apple trees, crabapples serve as a reliable source of food for various species of bees and other pollinators. This is not only good for the rest of your landscape but for plants far and wide, as well.

Varying Sizes

Crabapple trees can vary widely in size. Depending on the type of crabapple tree you choose, they can range from expansive trees that will spread out over large stretches of your yard, or they can be compact, neat, and tidy. Either way, these trees will certainly provide lovely shade and visual appeal that you’ll be sure to appreciate.

Do note if you’re looking for a smaller crabapple, look for dwarf varieties. While they can grow to be as big as 12 feet tall, they’re easy to maintain and if properly pruned, will work great in small garden spaces.

crabapple Trees: Are They Good Trees?

Are crabapples good trees? In a word: yes! Crabapples are wonderful trees and would make a welcomed addition to any landscape.

Learn more: Flowering Crabapple Trees

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