apple

Malus Mill.

A genus overview; characteristics vary between its species.

Malus brings together orchard apples and ornamental crabapples, grown for fruit or floral displays. Members are trees or shrubs, and garden selections range from broad-crowned trees to compact dwarf and narrow, columnar forms. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Malus

Botanical artwork associated with apple (Malus Mill.) — Rhodo botanical artwork inspired by apple; an artistic interpretation, not a botanical identification guide.

Botanical name

Malus Mill. is an accepted genus in Rosaceae. The stored record identifies the genus, rather than the cultivated apple species Malus domestica. Kew Plants of the World Online: Malus

Recognizing the plant

Leaves are simple and alternate, often with toothed or lobed margins. The flowers occur in clusters, typically with five white, pink or red petals and numerous stamens. The fleshy fruits are pomes, with seeds enclosed in a firm, cartilaginous core rather than a single stone. Flora of China, volume 9, page 179: Malus

Seasonality across the genus

North Carolina horticultural guidance; Malus coronaria example

Sweet crabapple, Malus coronaria, is one seasonal example: North Carolina Extension describes fragrant flowers in May, followed by fruit displayed from August through October. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Malus coronaria

Native range

The genus is native across the temperate Northern Hemisphere and extends south into northern Indochina. Its natural distribution includes North America, Europe and Asia, with individual species occupying different parts of that range. Kew Plants of the World Online: Malus

Ecological relationships

In sweet crabapple, Malus coronaria, floral nectar attracts native bees as well as honey bees. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Malus coronaria

That same species, Malus coronaria, is a larval food plant for butterflies including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Malus coronaria

Birds and mammals eat both wild and cultivated apples, and their feeding can help disperse seeds beyond the parent tree. Flora of North America: Malus

A growing note

When choosing culinary apples, check the variety’s winter-chilling needs and whether another compatible tree is required for cross-pollination. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Malus

Botanical sources

Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.