Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris)

Our range of bare root crab apple plants (Malus sylvestris)

We have bare root crab apple trees or hedging in several sizes.  The 1+0 specification plants are seedlings (often called whips) which were sown from seed in the spring and are sold during the following November to April months ie they are one year old.  We have crab apple bare root whips in several heights all grown by us in Herefordshire.

Malus sylvestris is an important species for us so we always have several batches of seed including UK provenance and the highest quality imported seed, so if the seed provenance is important to you please give us a call.

In addition we have cell grown crab apple plants which are grown by one of the UK's best specialist growers and these plants are available all year round.

All of these plants are suitable as hedging plants or can be allowed to grow as full size trees.

You can read more about the specifications we offer on the tab just below the pricing table - to the right of this product description.

Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris) Summary

There are many cultivated varieties of crab apple but the one we grow is the wild one and the parent of many of the named varieties of crab apple and eating apple trees.  Its common name relates to the small yellow/green “apples” which are devoured by birds in autumn.  It’s a very pretty small tree with white blossom emerging from pinkish buds. It offers very good wildlife value, with over 100 different types of insects feeding and living on it, and those in turn feeding a wide range of birds and small mammals.

Soil and Situation

Crab apples like heavy, moist, well drained soils even clay.  They are commonly used in mixed farm hedging and as small woodland trees or shrubs providing very wildlife friendly low cover.  Best flowering will be achieved if grown in full sun but Malus sylvestris will tolerate partial shade.

Leaves, fruit and flowers

Leaves are small (about 6mcm) green and oval shaped with a serrated edge, dark green on the upper surface and pale grey-green and felted underneath.  Leaf colour changes to yellow in autumn.  Generally flowering is profuse, with pinkish "apple blossom" buds opening to small bee friendly white scented flowers with yellow stamens and pollinated flowers then develop into small apple like fruits which are greenish/yellow in colour and are edible but not particularly tasty for humans.  There are lots of crab apple named varieties that have been bred for culinary purposes, but the wild ones are absolutely loved by birds, especially blackbirds and thrushes, and mammals.   This is one of the few types of tree that can host mistletoe.

The bark is reddish brown when young, becoming grey-brown, rough, furrowed and flaky as it ages.

Eventual height and growth rate

Crab apples are small, compact trees with a mature height of about 10m, and average growth rate.  It is easy to keep at farm hedging height or allow to grow into a hedgerow tree.  The relatively low height and high wildlife value make it a great addition to woodland planting as a small tree or shrub.

This section gives definitions on the specifications of plants that we sell.  We are specialists in field grown (or bare root) plants which are grown in two ways.  The majority are grown from seed, some are ready within one growing season (seedlings or 1+0's) and some species require two growing seasons (1u1's).  In addition to growing from seed we also grow from small plants or cuttings (transplants) which are much more widely spaced (taking more land, more irrigation water, fertilisers and labour).  There are only a handful of bare root wholesale nurseries in the UK and of those even fewer grow transplants but Ray Jenkins has many years' experience of transplanting so we grow these in large volumes.  Ray has written this blog about the benefits of bare root plants and how they are grown and another blog which gives further detail on bare root specifications.

The detailed specifications are shown below.  If you are in doubt about what specification to use please email us on enquiries@rjtreesandhedging.co.uk with a description of the project (and photos if appropriate) and we will advise you.

1+0 - field grown in one season from seed, known as a seedling (sometimes called a whip), generally a slender single stem plant.   These are the cheapest specification and are particularly suitable for planting where weed competition will be less intense, soil is shallow or on exposed windy sites.  Gives a high root to shoot ratio and minimal plant "check".

2+0 - a 2 year seedling, field grown from seed in the same seed bed in two growing seasons where the species cannot be grown to a saleable plant from seed in one season

1U1 - 2 year old plant called an undercut, field grown for two seasons in the same seed bed and undercut by machine (a sharp blade cutting the roots under the soil level) after the first year to develop the root structure. We do this with several species which take 2 years to develop (eg oak, beech, hornbeam)

1+1 - 2 year old plant (transplant) grown from seed in the first year and then transplanted into a different area of the field and spaced out for the second growing season - a robust plant with a larger and more robust root system than seedling or undercut plant which will enable it to better withstand drought and weed competition. Often the best choice and the staple norm for farm hedging and this specification is a requirement of the Countryside Stewardship Grant

1+2- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two growing seasons giving a tall, stocky, bushy plant

2+1- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further growing season, giving a strong bushy plant

3+1 - as above but field grown for a further growing season for more height and a very bushy plant

1+3- 4 year old, one year field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for three years, giving a very strong, bushy plant

2+2- 4 year old, two years field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two years - a very mature plant suited to certain species like beech and hornbeam where we can offer almost instant hedging

and some that are a bit different.....

P9 - a plant grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel in a 9cm pot (for holly which germinates poorly in the field)

Cell grown - a plant grown in small deep cells (like a small yogurt pot) and then lifted out of those for transportation. Commonly used in forestry and large hedging projects.  Very high quality plants with excellent success rate.  See our blog on the benefits of cell grown plants.

C+1 or C+2 - a 3 or 4 year old plant initally started as hardwood cuttings grown on for a year as cell grown plants and then lined out in fields to grow on for a further 1 or 2 years (a technique used for Cherry Laurel)

0/1 - a hardwood cutting, then field grown for one season (for example for white willow, black poplar and osier)