Photo Above: Pacific Crabapple Flowering in Early May on the Olympic Peninsula
Pacific crab apples are tall shrub or small trees that grow to be a range from 4 – 12 meters tall. The Pacific crab apple grows branches that have stiff, sharp, thorn-like spur-shoots. Their young twigs are curly and hairy, while their bark is brown, rough, and appears shredded.[1] The leaves of Pacific Crabapple are irregularly lobed, with toothed margins, pointed at the end. Branches have sharp spur shoots as is typical for apple trees. Its blossoms are white to pink. Fruits are small (10-15mm), oblong, and yellow to orange to purplish-red. Pacific Crab is usually propagated by seed and sown in fall. Fresh seed will germinate in late winter. Stored seed requires a cold stratification period for 3 months and may not germinate for 12 months. Cuttings of mature wood are best taken in November.[2] Crabapples contain a small amount of vitamin C (8 milligrams per 3 ounces of apple) and, depending upon the variety, they may contain signi – cant amounts of antioxidant flavanol compounds. The flavanol anthocyanin (the dark red pigment in some apples) and quercetin may help prevent cancer, heart disease, asthma and diabetes.[3]
[1] http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Malus%20fusca
[2] http://nativeplantspnw.com/pacific-crabapple-malus-fusca/
[3] http://www.uaf.edu/files/ces/publications-db/catalog/hec/FNH-00109.pdf