Malus fusca
Common name: 
Western Crabapple
Pacific Crabapple
Oregon Crabapple
Pronunciation: 
MA-lus fus-KA
Family: 
Rosaceae
Genus: 
Synonyms: 
M. diversifolia
Pyrus fusca
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
Yes
  • Deciduous thicket-forming shrub or small tree, often with several trunks, to 30 ft, sometimes more.  Spur shoots abundant on older branches.  Leaves alternate, simple, 3-10 cm long, shape variable, ovate to oval or elliptical, base wedge-shaped to rounded, sometimes 3-lobed on vigorous shoots, apex acute, margin serrate, dark green to yellow-green above and paler below, both surfaces pubescent when young, petiole 2.5-4 cm inches long.  Flowers in small upright clusters, each 2 cm wide, 5 rounded white or rarely pink petals.  Fruit 12-19 mm long, usually longer than wide, yellow-green to red, calyx absent, edible but sour.
  • Sun or partial shade.  Apparently not fussy about soil, a "wetlander" plant.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 6     Native range along the Pacific Coast, from southern Alaska south to northern California, up to 1,000 ft (305 m) elevation.  Usually found on moist sites near streams and other wet places.
  • Corvallis, Oregon: William L. Finley Nat. Wildlife Refuge, low areas on Woodpecker Loop trail
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, shaded site

    plant habit, shaded site

  • plant habit, sunny site

    plant habit, sunny site

  • leaves, margin

    leaves, margin

  • older leaves

    older leaves

  • developing fruit and leaves

    developing fruit and leaves

  • mature fruit and leaves

    mature fruit and leaves

  • fruit

    fruit

  • fruit clusters, fall

    fruit clusters, fall