European Crab Apple
Malus sylvestris
- Native to:
- Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine
Watercrate
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Malus
- Species:
- Malus sylvestris
- USDA Symbol:
- MASY2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Ancylis nubeculana, apple barkminer (Marmara elotella), apple blotch miner moth (Tischeria malifoliella), apple fruitminer (Marmara pomonella), Aristotelia pudibundella, Automeris zephyria, Bent-line gray (Iridopsis larvaria), bright bell (Hedya ochroleucana), Bucculatrix pomifoliella, Calleta silkmoth (Eupackardia calleta), Callisto denticulella, Carob moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae), Ceanothus Silkmoth (Hyalophora euryalus), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Cherry Casebearer Moth (Coleophora pruniella), Cherry fruitworm (Grapholita packardi), Codling moth (Cydia pomonella), Confused Morrisonia (Morrisonia confusa), Elegant Sheep Moth (Hemileuca eglanterina), Epinotia solandriana, Eumacaria latiferrugata, eye-spotted bud moth (Spilonota ocellana), four-banded leafroller (Argyrotaenia quadrifasciana), fruit-tree leafroller (Archips argyrospila), Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana), gray-banded leafroller (Argyrotaenia mariana), Hedya chionosema, Horned Spanworm (Nematocampa resistaria), Io moth (Automeris io), Itame coortaria, leaf crumpler moth (Acrobasis indigenella), Lesser Peachtree Borer (Grapholita prunivora), Lycia rachelae, Lyonetia speculella, navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella), oak leafroller (Archips semiferanus), orange tortrix moth (Argyrotaenia franciscana), Oriental fruit moth (Cydia molesta), pale apple leafroller (Pseudexentera mali), Parornix geminatella, Parornix quadripunctella, Phyllonorycter crataegella, Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Spilonota prognathana, Spotted tentiform leafminer (Phyllonorycter blancardella), Stigmella pomivorella, tawny brown carpet moth (Anacamptodes ephyraria), three-lined leafroller (Pandemis limitata), woolly gray (Lycia ursaria), Zamopsyche commentella, Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees, small mammals
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers temperate climates with moderate rainfall
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification; germination can be erratic. Light not required for germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI