Crab Apple

Malus sylvestris

Process firstAug–OctHedgerow

Hedgerow, woodland edge, old orchards

Find on Map

All Identification Points

Small apple-like fruit 2–4cm, yellow-green often with red flush

Spiny or semi-spiny branches

Oval toothed leaves, slightly hairy beneath

Pink-white apple blossom in April–May

Hard, very sour flesh — not palatable raw

Harvest Notes

Harvest September–October after first cold nights. Best for cooking not eating raw.

Uses

Crab apple jelly, verjuice, cider blending, pectin source for other jams.

Equipment Needed

Container, jelly bag.

Storage

Keep cool up to 2 weeks. Process into jelly or freeze.

Lookalikes

No dangerous lookalikes. Distinguish from cultivated apple escapes by smaller size and spiny branches.

Relative Nutrition

Protein

Vitamin C

Iron

Where to Find It

Ashton Court estate and Failand farmland footpaths have old crab apple trees.

Ashton Court EstateDundry HillFailand

Personal foraging permitted under the Theft Act 1968. Never uproot plants without landowner permission. Always use multiple identification methods before consuming any wild food.

← PreviousHawthorn Next →Chanterelle