Crab apple trees are a popular choice for gardens and landscapes thanks to their ornamental flowers, attractive fruit, and relatively compact size. But exactly how big do these delightful trees get? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the typical mature height and spread of different crab apple tree varieties so you can determine which one is best suited for your space.
Typical Mature Size of Crab Apple Trees
Crab apples are generally considered small ornamental trees averaging 15-25 feet tall at maturity. However there is quite a bit of variability in size between different cultivars. Some dwarf varieties may only reach 8-10 feet tall, while larger types can attain heights over 25 feet.
The spread or width of crab apple trees is often equal to or greater than the height. Smaller varieties have spreads around 10-15 feet, while larger types can spread 20-30 feet wide or more.
Factors like growing conditions, pruning practices, and genetics influence the ultimate size. But in general, most standard crab apple trees reach the following mature heights:
-
Dwarf varieties: 8-15 feet tall
-
Medium varieties 15-20 feet tall
-
Large varieties: 20-30 feet tall
Growth Rate
Crab apples are considered moderate-growth trees, averaging about 1-2 feet of growth per year. Even fast-growing varieties may take 5 years or more to reach their full mature height.
Those grafted onto dwarfing rootstock tend to be slower growing. Meanwhile, types grown on standard rootstock and planted in ideal conditions may put on 2 feet or more of growth annually when young.
Size of Popular Varieties
To give you a better idea of how big specific crab apple trees get, here are the approximate mature sizes of some popular varieties:
-
‘Whitney’: 20-25 feet tall
-
‘Prairifire’: 15-20 feet tall
-
‘Sugar Tyme’: 12-15 feet tall
-
‘Red Barron’: 10-15 feet tall
-
‘Coralburst’: 5-8 feet tall
As you can see, crab apples range significantly in their growth potential. Choosing a variety suited to your available space is key.
Factors Affecting Size
Several factors influence the ultimate height and spread of crab apple trees:
-
Genetics – The natural genetic growth habit primarily dictates size. Always select a named variety suited for your space.
-
Rootstock – Trees grafted onto dwarfing rootstock remain smaller than those on vigorous standard roots.
-
Growing Conditions – Ideal conditions allow trees to reach their maximum size potential. Poor conditions stunt growth.
-
Pruning – Regular pruning when young helps shape the tree’s form. Allowing unrestricted growth results in larger trees.
-
Age – Crab apples may grow quickly when young, slowing down as they reach maturity. Give them time to reach their full size.
Choosing the Right Size Crab Apple
When selecting a crab apple tree, be sure to consider the predicted mature height and allow adequate space for growth. Avoid planting a large variety in a small garden or near utility lines. Instead, choose a compact type for tight spaces.
For open yards, medium to large crab apples can provide ornamental spring flowers and fall interest. Just be sure to situate them in the right spot so they have room to spread.
With their range of sizes and growth habits, crab apples offer options for landscapes both large and small. Just match the variety to your specific needs and space limitations. Then you can enjoy their seasonal beauty without outgrowing their bounds.
Tips for Planting Crab Apples
Here are some useful tips when planting crab apple trees to ensure they thrive:
-
For patios and courtyards, select dwarf varieties under 10 feet tall. Larger types will quickly outgrow the space.
-
Allow adequate distance from structures and fences for growth. Plant at least 10-15 feet away.
-
Group shorter crab apples together for an ornamental grove effect. Use medium or large varieties as stand-alone specimens.
-
Prepare the soil thoroughly and amend with compost to encourage strong root growth.
-
Water young trees consistently until established. Mature crab apples are quite drought tolerant.
-
Apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch around the base to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
-
Prune selectively in late winter to shape the tree and promote flowering and fruiting.
Enjoying the Beauty of Crab Apples
With their spring blossoms, fall fruits, multi-season interest, and range of sizes, crab apple trees deserve a spot in many landscapes. Take time to choose the right variety for your specific needs and space limitations. Then provide proper care as the tree establishes, and you’ll be rewarded with lasting beauty.
Popular TreesSelect the right ornamental or fruit-bearing tree for your garden
Show Time™ crabapple. Photo: Proven Winners.
If you’re looking for a compact, versatile tree that provides interest nearly year-round, you can’t do much better than the crabapple. In addition to dazzling you with breathtaking buds and blossoms in spring, crabapples are also handsome foliage plants in summer and fall, and provide bountiful displays of fruit that linger on the branches well into winter. What’s more, they come in a range of sizes and forms (most no taller than 20 feet) to accommodate nearly any space constraint.
There are hundreds of crabapple varieties, but those featured here are particularly gardenworthy, bred for superior flowering, good fall leaf color, and attractive fruit. Even better, they resist apple scab and other common diseases that have beset crabapples in the past, making them reliable performers year after year.
2025 National Tree of the Year: Show Time™ crabapple from Proven Winners.
Most grow 15 to 20 feet tall and wide. There are also dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties that range in height from under 5 feet to 10 feet.
May be rounded, spreading, columnar, vase-shaped, or weeping, depending on the cultivar.
Full sun, minimum 6 hours per day.
Mid to late spring, with the length of bloom ranging from 1 to 2 weeks.
Single, semi-double or fully double in white, pink, magenta, or red. Very fragrant. Many varieties have darker buds that lighten in color as the flowers reach full bloom.
Usually green, but some varieties have foliage with purple, red, or bronze tones. Fall leaf color may be orange, red, gold, or bronze, depending on the cultivar.
Ripens from late summer to mid-fall and often clings to the branches through winter. Usually the fruit is red, resembling small cherries, but some cultivars produce yellow, maroon, or orange fruit.
Crabapple tree fruit. Photo by: Proven Winners.
The best time to plant a crabapple tree is in the spring or fall, when the soil is moist and temperatures are cool. (See What to Plant in Your Fall Garden). However, if you avoid freezing temperatures and extreme heat, you can plant a crabapple almost any time of year.
Crabapples thrive in full sun but don’t like hot weather, preferring climates with temperate summers and cold winters. They adapt to most soil conditions, as long as they are planted in well-drained soil. To avoid foliar diseases, plant in a location that offers good air circulation.
Follow the general rules for planting trees: Dig a hole twice as wide and as deep as the rootball and center the tree within the hole with the top of the rootball slightly above ground level. To enrich the soil, mix in some peat moss or compost. Stake if needed, and water deeply after planting.
CRABAPPLE TREE CARE & PRUNING
The first year after planting, provide supplemental watering during dry weather so the tree receives at least 1 inch of water per week and up to 2 inches during hot spells. After the roots become established, you will only need to water during prolonged dry periods. To reduce watering frequency, apply a few inches of mulch around the base of the tree (but not touching the trunk) to help retain soil moisture.
If planted in good, moderately fertile soil, crabapples usually don’t need extra fertilization. However, if you notice poor blooming and fruit production, you can improve soil fertility by top dressing with compost in the spring or by applying a slow-release fertilizer before new growth emerges.
Occasional pruning will help keep crabapple trees healthy and maintain their lovely silhouettes. Crabapples are particularly prone to water sprouts (shoots that grow upward from tree branches) and suckers that form at the base of the tree, which can grow large enough to become additional trunks. These growths should be removed, along with any dead, diseased, or crowded branches.
Pruning is best done in late winter or before flowering in early spring. Avoid over-pruning. Trees need time to form callus over a wound, so it’s best to remove only the branches that need it. Get more pruning advice: Pruning a Crabapple Tree.
Apple scab, cedar apple rust, fire blight, and powdery mildew are the most common diseases to afflict crabapples, particularly non-resistant varieties. Apple scab – a fungal disease that often develops in cool, wet springs – is the most serious problem and can cause leaf spotting and defoliation. These can be avoided by planting newer cultivars bred to resist these diseases and by replacing disease-prone trees with resistant varieties. Any branches that become defoliated due to disease usually leaf back out the following spring.
Crab Apple Tree: Grow and Care Tips
FAQ
What are the drawbacks to crabapple trees?
Crabapples are subject to many of the same pests and diseases found in common apples. Fire blight, Powdery mildew, aphids, and apple borer are some of the more common problems.
How long does it take for a crabapple tree to grow to full size?
Crabapple trees are normally planted from potted nursery specimens in the fall. They have a moderate growth rate of 12 to 24 inches per year, and a 5-gallon potted tree may take three to five years or even longer before it flowers heavily.
Are crabapple trees high maintenance?
The best way to ensure the longest life possible for your crabapple tree is to keep it healthy! It does need a few specific things to thrive, but it’s a very low-maintenance tree, and it does best when left unbothered.
Where is the best place to plant a crabapple tree?
Crabapple trees grow best in full sun. While they will tolerate partial shade, flower quantity is often diminished as a result.
Do crabapple trees have flowers?
Flowering crabapple trees (Malus spp.) feature an open but small spread of just 12 to 20 feet, which makes them an appealing choice for above-fence privacy. Edible fruits and brilliant autumn foliage follow spring displays of white and pink fragrant flowers.
How do you identify a crabapple tree?
Fruit less than 2 inches (5 cm.) in diameter are considered crabapples, while larger fruit are called apples. Choose a location in full sun with well-drained soil. Trees that are shaded develop an open canopy instead of a more attractive, dense growth habit. Shaded trees produce fewer flowers and fruit, and they are more susceptible to disease.
What size fruit does a crabapple tree produce?
Crabapple trees produce fruits that are generally up to 2” (5 cm) in diameter. Traditional apple trees produce fruits that are larger than 2” (5 cm) in diameter. Crabapple fruits can have a wide range of colors such as yellow, amber, orange, red or purple.