SIBERIAN CRABAPPLE (Malus baccata)

The Siberian Crab Apple, usually called Malus baccata, is a very hardy small tree native to North Asia and regions such as Siberia, Mongolia, and northern China.

🌸 What does it look like?

• Size: approximately 5 to 10 m at maturity, depending on conditions.
• Flowering: abundant in spring, with small white flowers, often slightly pinkish at first.
• Fruits: small red, yellow, or orange apples, generally less than 2–3 cm. They are much smaller and more acidic than orchard apples.
• Foliage: green in summer, then often yellow in autumn.
• Hardiness: this is one of its great assets. It tolerates cold winters very well, which explains its appeal in northern regions.

🍎 Are the fruits edible?

Yes, but they are generally very tart and astringent when raw. However, they can be used to make jelly, jams, or certain culinary preparations.

🌱 Why is it interesting?

Malus baccata is particularly valued as an ornamental tree and a pollinator tree. Its flowering attracts pollinators, and its small fruits can remain on the tree for a good part of autumn and serve as food for some birds.

It has also been used in the selection of cultivated apple trees, notably because it provides excellent hardiness and certain resistance characteristics.