Southern Crabapple (Malus angustifolia)

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Small to medium-sized tree of wet forests, found at scattered locations throughout North Carolina, primarily in the Coastal Plain and southern Mountains. Fairly rare in the Piedmont of NC. Quite showy in bloom.

Clay Co., NC 5/14/05.
Southern Crabapple (Malus angustifolia)

Most of the petals have dropped of the flowers of this tree, photographed from below.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/09.
Southern Crabapple (Malus angustifolia)

The differences between this species and Sweet Crabapple (Malus coronaria) can be subtle. The leaves of angustifolia are narrower, usually more than 2 times as long as broad and have more rounded tips, while those of coronaria are usually less than 2 times as long as broad and have more pointed tips.

Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
Southern Crabapple (Malus angustifolia) leaves

Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.
Southern Crabapple (Malus angustifolia) spine

Spur twigs are often tipped with a spine.

Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
Southern Crabapple (Malus angustifolia) leaf

The leaf shape of this one seems better for coronaria. Weakley says coronaria occurs in the Coastal Plain, but other sources show it is restricted to the Mountains.

Columbus Co., NC 7/19/03.
Southern Crabapple (Malus angustifolia) bark

Bark detail.

Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.
Southern Crabapple (Malus angustifolia) bark

Bark of a larger tree.

Columbus Co., NC 7/19/03.
Southern Crabapple (Malus angustifolia)

Bark of a medium-sized tree.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/09.

More information:
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
Forestry Images
Louisiana Ecosystems & Plant Identification

Last update: 04/21/2009 cwcook@duke.edu

Contact Information

Email: cwcook@duke.edu

All photographs and text ©2009 by Will Cook unless otherwise indicated.