Tigger's Green Paw
Crab Apples

Animal Safety: Dogs: Yes Cats: Yes Rabbits: Yes

Free Grazing: No, the core, seeds and stems can be toxic to animals and humans.

Lifespan:
Crab apple trees grow 30 to 60cm (12 to 24 inches) a year, depending on growing conditions and can take a few years to start producing apples.
Mature trees grow to around 10m in height and can live up to 100 years.
The trees can become quite gnarled and twisted, this 'crabbed' appearance may have influenced its common name, 'crab apple'. The crab apple is one of the few host trees to the parasitic mistletoe, Viscum album, and trees are often covered in lichens.

Crab apple prefers heavy, moist, well-drained soil and areas of scrub. They grow throughout Europe. They tend to bear fruit in the early to late Autumn.

Early humans picked crab apples over 6,000 years ago. They used them for food and medicine.
The apples can be a bit sharp or tangy to eat raw, although it is safe to eat them raw. They can be roasted and served with meat or added to ales or punches. More commonly, it is used to make crab apple jelly and as a natural source of pectin for setting jams.

The trees are often planted in commercial orchards as their long flowering period makes them excellent pollination partners for cultivated apples.
The pinkish wood has an even texture and makes good quality timber for building, carving and turning. It also makes a sweetly scented firewood. A yellow dye used to be extracted from the bark to colour wool.

History:
During the Middle Ages, Crab Apples were widely cultivated and used throughout Europe. However, due to their intense tartness, they were not commonly eaten fresh. Instead, they were primarily used to make jams, sauces, ciders, and vinegars. Crab Apple jam was often spread on bread and paired with meats to add a sweet-tart flavour and distinctive aroma.

Herbalists and folk healers in the Middle Ages highly valued Crab Apples for their medicinal properties. They believed that Crab Apples could aid in treating digestive issues and inflammation. Additionally, Crab Apple vinegar was frequently used as a preservative and an antiseptic.

Photograph: Ian Stephens