Malus ioensis
prairie crab
A deciduous tree, with scaly, peeling mature bark, and oval-shaped green leaves with downy undersides. Fragrant white flowers flushed with pink are produced in spring, followed in autumn by small green fruits. Leaves turn shades of orange and red in autumn
Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
4–8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | White Pink | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green Red Orange | Green | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright, Spreading branched
- Potentially harmful
- Although generally edible when cooked, seeds contain toxins so these should be removed if you are considering eating the fruit, usually grown as an ornamental shrub. see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
- Genus
Malus are small to medium-sized deciduous trees with showy flowers in spring and ornamental or edible fruit in autumn; some have good autumn foliage colour
- Name status
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, deep, moist, loamy soil in a sunny position; will tolerate partial shade
Propagation
Propagate by seed, by chip budding in late summer, or by grafting in mid-winter
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Low Maintenance
Pruning
Pests
May be susceptible to aphids, including rosy apple aphid and woolly aphid, apple sawfly, fruit tree red spider mite, codling moth, apple leaf-mining moth and other caterpillars
Diseases
May be susceptible to apple canker, rust diseases, blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, honey fungus and powdery mildews. This species has some resistance to apple scab
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.