Crab Apple

Malus sylvestris The crab apple is common throughout England, Wales, Ireland and the Channel Isles. It occurs north to Ross but is rare in central and northern Scotland. It may be found in woods, hedges and scrub. It is deciduous and flowers in May. The apples can be picked from August to November but are normally at their best at the end of September or early October.

There are two subspecies of crab apples in Britain: sylvestris, the real native crab which is a little, round apple ending up a pure yellow colour when ripe; and mitis, which is normally larger and more apple-shaped than round; this one, it would seem, has descended from cultivated apples reverting to a wild form.