5 reasons to love crabapples

Washington is known for our world-famous apples. But how about crabapples? Crabapples are a miniature cousin of apples that are less than 2 inches in diameter. Here at City Fruit we LOVE crabapples and here are some of the reasons why:
 
1.  Their blossoms come in many colors
Crabapple trees are popular for their pretty, showy blossom display during springtime. Their blossoms can range from pure white to pale pink, dark pink and purple, and come in single, semi-double and double blooms.
 

  

 

2.  They are the only native apple in Washington State
Pacific Crabapple (Malus fusca), to be more precise. The vast majority of apples grown in the U.S. were brought from Europe or Asia and surprisingly there are only a handful of species that are native to North America. Pacific Crabapple is the only native apple variety is Washington State. 

3.  They are a universal pollenizer 
Crabapples are a great pollenizer for many reasons. They can pollinate most varieties of apples; their long flowering period helps pollinate throughout the season; and their pretty blossoms that come in many colors attract bees. In fact they are so effective at pollinating, many commercial orchards plant crabapple trees to boost fruit production.
 
4.  They are great for cooking, and making cider too!
Crabapples are generally quite tart. In fact many of them are almost too tart to eat raw. However, their sharp apple flavor intensifies when cooked, so they are great for pickling, making chutneys, and even hard cider! Crabapples are also naturally high in pectin, therefore perfect for making jelly.  
 
5.  They are adorable!