Crab apples give you the sort of spring display you might expect from a much larger tree, but in a size that sits happily in an ordinary back garden. One week the branches are bare; the next they’re covered in a froth of white or pink flowers, often with that gentle apple‑blossom scent that seems to go straight to the spirits. Because the trees are small, you can really get up close to the blossom, rather than just glimpsing it high overhead, and every year that show becomes one of the season’s little landmarks.
Common name: Crab apple
Latin name: Malus
Size in UK gardens: Most crab apples form small trees around 3–5m tall and wide over 10–20 years, with some compact patio types smaller and a few vigorous cultivars eventually reaching 7–8m if given space.
Best position: Full sun for the best blossom and fruit, though they’ll tolerate light partial shade; a reasonably open position with a little shelter from the harshest winds is ideal to protect the spring flowers.
Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well‑drained soil suits them best; they’ll grow in most garden loams and improved clays as long as it’s not permanently waterlogged.
Flowering time: Usually a mass of blossom in mid‑ to late spring, often from pink buds opening to white or shades of pink, followed by small decorative apples that colour up through late summer and autumn and often hang well into winter.
Fragrance: Many crab apples carry a light apple‑blossom perfume, especially on still, mild days, though a few are grown more for colour and fruit than noticeable scent.
Hardiness: Fully hardy throughout the UK; crab apples shrug off normal winters, with blossom rather than the tree itself most at risk from a sharp late frost.
Care level: Easy to moderate – once established they’re sturdy little trees that mainly need sensible watering while young, a good mulch and light annual pruning.
The Simpson’s team raises the majority of our trees here at the nursery. For varieties outside our own production, we work with independent local growers we trust - all chosen for UK climate suitability.
Planting time: As container‑grown trees, crab apples can be planted in most months when the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged, with early spring and early autumn usually the gentlest times for roots to get going.
Watering: Water regularly through the first couple of growing seasons, especially in lighter soils or during dry East Anglian summers, so the rootball and surrounding soil stay evenly moist. Once established, trees cope with normal dry spells, but extended drought is a good time for a slow, deep soak.
Feeding: In decent garden soil, an annual mulch of compost or well‑rotted manure around the base in spring is usually enough. On poor or very sandy ground, you can add a light dressing of a balanced fertiliser in early spring to support steady growth and good fruiting.
Pruning: Crab apples need only light pruning – mainly removing dead, damaged or crossing branches in late winter, and perhaps thinning congested growth to keep the crown open. Heavy, regular cutting back is best avoided; choose a variety that will reach a suitable size instead.
Winter: Fully hardy in the ground, with no need for wrapping or elaborate protection. A winter mulch over the root area helps on very light soils, and in exposed gardens a slightly sheltered position will protect blossom buds from the worst of late frosts and gales.
Availability is always changing, so please check with us if you have a particular variety in mind.
A beautifully weeping crab apple, its branches falling in elegant curtains that make it feel like living sculpture. Spring brings a froth of blossom, then the tree carries a generous crop of small red fruits that hang prettily, adding colour and charm long after the flowers have gone.
A narrow, upright crab apple with a crisp, columnar silhouette—ideal when you want blossom and fruit without the spread. The spring display is bright and cheerful, and later the red fruits add a vertical ribbon of colour. Perfect for repeating in lines or framing entrances.
A much-loved crab apple for its neat habit and brilliant, bead-like red fruits that hang on in clusters, often well into winter. Spring blossom is fresh and attractive, but it’s the later fruit display that really earns its keep—excellent as a small feature tree where you want a long seasonal finale.
A charming, traditional crab apple with soft spring blossom and a generous crop of rosy-red fruits that give a warm, cottage-garden feel. The crown is nicely shaped and tree-like, making it an easy specimen to place. A lovely choice when you want classic ornamental character without anything too showy.
A dramatic weeping crab apple with cascading branches and deep pink spring blossom that feels rich and theatrical. The foliage often carries darker tones, adding depth through summer, and the shape remains the star all season. Ideal as a statement tree where you want a graceful, trailing silhouette.
A bold crab apple with richly coloured purple foliage and deep pink blossom—one of the best for sustained colour beyond spring. Later, small dark fruits add extra detail and mood. A superb choice for modern planting schemes where you want a small tree that delivers drama, contrast, and presence.
A cheerful crab apple with a tidy habit and a strong spring display, opening from pink buds into a bright, uplifting flush of blossom. Later, small fruits provide extra colour and interest. A fine choice for a compact feature tree that feels classic, friendly, and reliably ornamental.
A handsome crab apple with a balanced, tree-like outline and a generous spring show, followed by decorative fruits that bring colour later on. It has an easy, traditional look that suits many settings—excellent in mixed planting, or as a lawn specimen where you want seasonal highlights without fuss.
A wonderfully floriferous crab apple, often smothered in white blossom so dense the branches seem dusted with snow. The effect is bright and celebratory in spring. Neat, well-shaped and garden-friendly, it makes a superb feature where you want maximum blossom impact in a small space.
A sunny, uplifting crab apple with a lively spring display and a later fruit show that adds extra colour and sparkle. The habit is tidy and well mannered, making it easy to place as a small specimen. A lovely choice for bringing seasonal cheer—especially when repeated with other crab apples.
A refined crab apple with a slightly more delicate, elegant look, offering a pretty spring display and a neat canopy that sits well in smaller gardens. Later fruits add extra colour and interest. A lovely choice if you want something a touch more unusual, yet still very easy to enjoy.
A graceful crab apple with semi-double pink blossom that feels soft and romantic, giving a fuller, more luxurious spring show than single-flowered types. The habit is neat and tree-like, making it a superb specimen near paths or patios where the extra detail of the blooms can be admired.
A delightfully floriferous crab apple, producing a frothy spring display that looks like blossom arranged for a celebration. The overall outline is neat and ornamental, making it ideal as a feature in smaller gardens. A wonderful choice when you want spring to feel generous, bright, and truly joyful.
A crisp, luminous crab apple with clean white blossom that opens in spring like little stars scattered through the branches. The tree holds a neat, elegant outline, giving a refined look in the garden. A superb choice for brightening planting schemes and pairing with darker foliage for contrast.
A well-regarded crab apple with a strong spring display and a pleasing, well-shaped habit—classic, dependable, and very garden-worthy. It brings that orchard charm in ornamental form, offering seasonal highlights without ever feeling fussy. A superb choice for traditional gardens and specimen planting alike.
A classic crab apple that earns its keep with clouds of spring blossom followed by bright yellow fruits that hang like little lanterns. The berries bring real cheer later in the year, lighting up the branches and drawing the eye. A splendid choice for a warm autumn accent in a small tree.
