Growing crabapple
pome fruit
Pollination
Needs another apple or crabapple to fruit - but a crabapple is also the universal pollinizer for full-size apple trees.
Growing it
Zones 3-8. Small, tart fruit for jelly, and a hard-working ornamental and pollinizer. Choose scab-resistant varieties in humid regions.
Where crabapple grows best
Hardy in zones 3-8, and it needs enough winter cold - about 500-1000 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Texas, Washington.
Will you get enough chill?
Crabapple needs roughly 500–1000 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does crabapple grow in?
Crabapple grows in USDA hardiness zones 3-8.
How many chill hours does crabapple need?
Roughly 500-1000 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Does crabapple need a pollinator?
Needs a pollination partner. Needs another apple or crabapple to fruit - but a crabapple is also the universal pollinizer for full-size apple trees.
Which states can grow crabapple?
Crabapple suits most of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and 27 more, and parts of 11 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.