Best Malus Outdoor Trees of 2025

Toby Butcher Avatar
Toby Butcher
Last Updated: 2 Feb 2025

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If you're looking to add a touch of natural beauty to your outdoor space, Malus outdoor trees might be the perfect addition. These trees are known for their stunning blossoms in the springtime, which give way to small, colourful fruits in the autumn. They're hardy enough to withstand harsh weather conditions, making them a great choice for gardens, patios, or even commercial spaces. With their lush foliage and vibrant colours, Malus trees can add a pop of natural beauty to any outdoor area.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Malus floribunda Japanese Flowering Crab Apple Tree Cover #TOP 1
Malus floribunda Japanese Flowering Crab Apple Tree
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Malus John Downie Crab Apple Tree Cover #TOP 2
Malus John Downie Crab Apple Tree
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Malus purpurea Neville Copeman Purple Crab Apple Tree Cover #TOP 3
Malus purpurea Neville Copeman Purple Crab Apple Tree
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Malus Outdoor Trees

#TOP 1

Malus floribunda Japanese Flowering Crab Apple Tree

TT-MALFLO-12L
Malus floribunda Japanese Flowering Crab Apple Tree Cover
Malus floribunda | Japanese Flowering Crab Apple Tree | Ornamental Tree | 5-6ft

The Malus floribunda Tree stands at a height of 5-6ft, making it an excellent choice for your garden. It boasts a stunning display of flowers and fruits, adding vibrant colour to your outdoor space. With dark green foliage that transforms into a flaming red in autumn, it provides year-round visual interest. Flowering occurs between April and May, ensuring a delightful springtime spectacle for you to enjoy. This fully hardy tree thrives in full sun or partial shade, making it versatile for various garden conditions.

What We Like
Stunning seasonal flowers
Vibrant autumn foliage
Fully hardy and resilient
Suitable for various garden conditions
#TOP 2

Malus John Downie Crab Apple Tree

Orange,Pink,White
Malus John Downie Crab Apple Tree Cover
Hardy Garden Tree Crab Apple, Wildlife Friendly, White Blossom in Spring, High Yielding, Tree for Small Gardens, 1 x Malus John Downie Bare Root Tree by Thompson & Morgan

The John Downie Crab Apple is a hardy, compact tree perfect for small gardens. Its stunning white blossoms in spring attract pollinators, enhancing your garden's biodiversity. In autumn, you can enjoy high yields of bright orange crab apples, which not only beautify your space but also provide food for local wildlife like birds and hedgehogs. This tree thrives in sunny spots, adding vibrant colour and structure to your garden all year round. Plus, the crab apples can be used to make delicious jelly, offering a tasty treat for you and your family.

What We Like
Wildlife friendly
High autumn yields
Attractive spring blossoms
Good for small gardens
Produces crab apple jelly
#TOP 3

Malus purpurea Neville Copeman Purple Crab Apple Tree

TT-MALNCO-12L
Malus purpurea Neville Copeman Purple Crab Apple Tree Cover
Malus purpurea Neville Copeman | Purple Crab Apple | Garden Tree | 5-6ft

The Malus purpurea Crab Apple is an attractive garden tree that features striking green leaves with a purple hue. From April to May, it produces beautiful deep pink-purple flowers, adding vibrant colour to your garden. In 20 years, this tree can reach a height of 5 metres and a spread of 4 metres, making it a substantial addition to your outdoor space. It thrives in fully hardy conditions, preferring full sun or partial shade, which allows for versatile planting options.

What We Like
Stunning flower display
Hardy and adaptable
Attractive foliage
Suitable for various garden sizes

Malus X moerlandsii 'Profusion' Crab Apple Tree

TT-MALPRO-12L
Green,Red
Malus X moerlandsii 'Profusion' Crab Apple Tree Cover
Malus X moerlandsii 'Profusion' | Crab Apple | Ornamental Garden Tree | 5-6ft

The Profusion Crab Apple Tree is a fast-growing option for your garden, featuring stunning dark purple-pink flowers that bloom from May to June. These attractive blossoms not only add beauty to your outdoor space but also attract pollinators, enhancing the overall health of your garden. In addition, this tree produces edible, cherry-like red fruit, perfect for adding a unique touch to your culinary creations. With its hardiness and adaptability to full sun or partial shade, this tree is an excellent choice for various landscapes.

What We Like
Fast-growing and spreading
Beautiful dark purple-pink flowers
Edible cherry-like red fruit
Fully hardy for various climates
Suitable for full sun or shade
#TOP 5

Malus 'John Downie' Crab Apple Tree

TT-MALJDO-12L
Malus 'John Downie' Crab Apple Tree Cover
Malus 'John Downie' | Crab Apple | Ornamental Garden Tree | 5-6ft

The John Downie Crab Apple is a delightful small tree that reaches a height of 4-5 feet. It features stunning white blossoms in May, adding charm to your garden. You will appreciate the lovely mid-green foliage that transforms into fiery yellow and orange hues in autumn, providing seasonal interest. This compact tree produces delicious red and orange edible fruit, perfect for adding a touch of sweetness to your garden. Fully hardy, it thrives in full sun or partial shade, making it a versatile choice for any outdoor space.

What We Like
Delicious edible fruit
Attractive seasonal foliage
Lovely white blossoms
Compact size for gardens
Fully hardy tree

Malus 'Butterball' Ornamental Crab Apple Tree

TREE-MALBUT-12L
Red,White,Yellow
Malus 'Butterball' Ornamental Crab Apple Tree Cover
Malus 'Butterball' | Crab Apple | Ornamental Garden Tree | 5-6ft

The Butterball Crab Apple Tree is a delightful addition to any outdoor space. With a pot size of 12 litres, this tree stands between 5 to 6 feet tall, making it a manageable choice for gardens of various sizes. Its rounded form and spreading habit provide an attractive focal point, while the grey-green foliage and clusters of pink-flushed white flowers in late spring bring vibrant colour to your garden. In autumn, you can enjoy a heavy crop of yellow, red-tinged crab apples, adding seasonal interest and potential for home-made preserves.

What We Like
Attractive rounded shape
Vibrant spring flowers
Seasonal crab apple crop
Manageable height for gardens
#TOP 7

Malus × Robusta Red Sentinel Crab Apple Tree

Malus × Robusta Red Sentinel Crab Apple Tree Cover
Plant Theory 1.5m - 1.8m Malus × Robusta Red Sentinel Crab Apple Outdoor Fruit Tree 12L Pot

The Red Sentinel Crab Apple Tree is a delightful addition to your garden. It’s easy to grow and offers stunning blossoms in spring, making your outdoor space more vibrant. You can enjoy the crisp, tasty apples for fresh eating, cooking, or even cider-making. With abundant harvests, you’ll save money on store-bought fruit. Additionally, gardening with this tree can enhance your mental wellbeing by reducing stress and boosting your mood, thanks to the therapeutic benefits of nurturing plants.

What We Like
Beautiful spring blossoms
Abundant apple harvests
Promotes mental wellbeing
Attracts pollinators
Easy to grow

Tea Crab Apple Malus hupehensis with Edible Fruits

8cm pot
Tea Crab Apple Malus hupehensis with Edible Fruits Cover
Tea Crab Apple Malus hupehensis, Flowering Tree (When Adult), Edible Fruits, Wildlife Food, 15-35cm Tall / 8cm Pot

The WARMHAND Tea Crab Apple is a delightful addition to any garden. Standing at 15-35cm tall, this sturdy plant comes in a convenient 8cm pot, ready for planting. It features beautiful edible fruits that not only provide a tasty treat for you in autumn but also attract birds to your garden. The plant's vibrant autumn colours create a stunning display, enhancing your outdoor space. Additionally, it is not fussy about soil conditions and thrives best in full sun, making it easy for you to grow.

What We Like
Edible fruits for personal use
Attracts wildlife, like birds
Beautiful autumn colours
Easy to grow in full sun
Sturdy plant in a pot
#TOP 9

Malus sylvestris British Native Crab Apple Tree

Green
Malus sylvestris British Native Crab Apple Tree Cover
Malus sylvestris - British Native Crab Apple Tree - Potted 2L - 3ft / 60-80cm / 2L Pot

The British Native Crab Apple is a stunning flowering tree, producing abundant pink-white blossoms in spring. These blossoms are not only beautiful but also attract vital pollinators to your garden. Following the blooms, you can enjoy traditional crab apples, perfect for making homemade jellies and preserves. With a compact size of 6-8 metres, this tree fits well in most garden spaces, adding character and charm to your outdoor setting. Plus, it supports local wildlife by providing nectar, nesting spots, and nutritious autumn fruits.

What We Like
Attractive spring blossoms
Produces traditional crab apples
Supports local wildlife
Compact size for gardens
Low maintenance once established
#TOP 10

Malus domestica 'Bountiful' Premium Apple Tree

TT-APPBOU-12L-MM106
Green,White
Malus domestica 'Bountiful' Premium Apple Tree Cover
Malus domestica 'Bountiful' | Eating Apple Tree | Premium Fruit Tree | 4-5ft (MM106 - Semi Dwarfing)

The Bountiful Apple Tree is a delightful addition to any garden, standing at a height of 4-5ft. As a deciduous tree, it’s self-fertile, which means you can enjoy delicious apples without needing another tree for pollination. It blooms beautifully in late spring, offering a lovely display of flowers. This tree is also hardy, thriving in full sun or partial shade, making it a versatile choice for your outdoor space.

What We Like
Self-fertile for easy growing
Beautiful late spring blooms
Suitable for various sunlight conditions
Compact size for small gardens
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How big does a Malus tree grow?

Malus hupehensis: is one of the tallest crab apples, producing a spreading tree up to 12m (40ft) high. The masses of white flowers are pink in bud and are followed by quite small, deep red fruit. The foliage produces red and yellow autumn tints.

2. What is the smallest Malus tree?

Malus 'Coralburst' and sargentii 'Tina' are dwarf varieties ideal for the smallest of gardens. Crab Apple trees are named after the compact size of their fruits, which vary from 1cm to 5cm in diameter (any larger and they would be considered a normal apple).

3. Where is the best place to plant a crabapple tree?

Choose a location in full sun with well-drained soil. Trees that are shaded develop an open canopy instead of a more attractive, dense growth habit. Shaded trees produce fewer flowers and fruit, and they are more susceptible to disease. Dig the hole for the tree as deep as the root ball and two to three times as wide.

4. Can you keep a crab apple tree small?

It also produces abundant, small, bright red fruits which persist well into February in most years. Grows up to 6m tall, so ideal for a small to medium garden.

Editor's Notes

During our malus outdoor tree research, we found 48 malus outdoor tree products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 3,480 customer reviews through our big data system to write the malus outdoor trees list. We found that most customers choose malus outdoor trees with an average price of £30.48.

The malus outdoor trees are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of malus outdoor trees, including GardenersDream, Thompson & Morgan, Plant theory, WARMHAND. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 10,637 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Toby Butcher Avatar

Toby Butcher is a Horticulturist, and he earned his title as a Master Gardener in 2016. Toby has acquired a 25-year experience as a home gardener planting, designing, grooming vegetables and flowers. He is the leader of a plant group in Durham. Toby owns a blog where he publishes articles on growing and growing your flowers at home, in a vase, or in a garden.