Malus sargentii

Sargent's Crabapple

Malus sargentii

A dense, spreading ornamental crabapple, often grown as a large shrub or trained into a small tree, with reddish-pink buds that open to fragrant white flowers in spring. This deciduous plant is valued for its low, horizontally branched form, small persistent red fruit, and yellow fall color, making it especially useful where a broad, mounded habit is desired. Missouri Botanical Garden notes it typically grows 6–8' tall and can spread to about 15' wide as a shrub.

Type: Ornamental tree / large shrub
Mature Size: 15' wide x 6–8' high
USDA Zones: 4a–7b
Form: Dense, low, spreading, horizontally branched
Light: Full sun
Soil / Water: Average, moist, well-drained soil; moderate water
Bloom Time / Length: Spring; brief but profuse bloom
Wildlife: Bees, birds

Features & Landscape Uses: Excellent for specimen planting, shrub borders, slopes, foundation beds, and naturalistic landscapes where a broad, layered habit is useful. Pink buds, white flowers, and small red fruit provide multi-season interest, and the fruit can persist into fall. This species is also noted for good resistance to apple scab.

Care: Plant in full sun for best flowering and fruiting. Grow in well-drained soil and prune only as needed to maintain structure or raise the canopy if trained as a tree. Good air circulation helps keep foliage clean, even though this species is considered relatively scab-resistant.

Plant type

Flowering Ornamental Tree

Height

6-8'

Width

15'

Hardiness zones

4–7

Sunlight

Full Sun

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Spring

Flower color

White

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Yellow

Attracts

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Soil

Moist well-drained

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Foundation, Specimen

Shape

Dense, Horizontal Branching, Spreading

Fruit

Yes

Fragrant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No