
Flowering tree
Japanese flowering crabapple
Malus × floribunda
Japanese flowering crabapple is a popular flowering tree. It's on our flower lists for 17 states.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Planted garden trees are mostly excluded from research grade.
On our lists for: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin
Quick look
Malus floribunda, common name Japanese flowering crabapple, Japanese crab, purple chokeberry, or showy crabapple, originates from Japan and East Asia. It may be a hybrid of M. toringo with M. baccata, in which case it would be written as Malus × floribunda.
- It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 4 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #142 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 3 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #125 among the 178 flowers on our California list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #156 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
Japanese flowering crabapple gift ideas
Handmade japanese flowering crabapple gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Japanese flowering crabapple art print
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Japanese flowering crabapple greeting card
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Japanese flowering crabapple mug
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Japanese flowering crabapple earrings
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Japanese flowering crabapple embroidery pattern
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Japanese flowering crabapple sticker
When does it bloom?
Not enough flowering records on iNaturalist to chart yet.
Bloom time in each of our 17 states
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 🌷 Garden | few records | 4 |
| California | 🌷 Garden | few records | 3 |
| New York | 🌷 Garden | few records | 2 |
| Colorado | 🌷 Garden | few records | 1 |
| Washington | 🌷 Garden | few records | 1 |
| Connecticut | 🌷 Garden | few records | 0 |
| Illinois | 🌷 Garden | few records | 0 |
| Indiana | 🌷 Garden | few records | 0 |
| Kentucky | 🌷 Garden | few records | 0 |
| Maryland | 🌷 Garden | few records | 0 |
| Missouri | 🌷 Garden | few records | 0 |
| North Carolina | 🌷 Garden | few records | 0 |
| New Jersey | 🌷 Garden | few records | 0 |
| New Mexico | 🌷 Garden | few records | 0 |
| Ohio | 🌷 Garden | few records | 0 |
| Oregon | 🌷 Garden | few records | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 🌷 Garden | few records | 0 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe
- Unknown We couldn't find this name in NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe
- Massachusetts
- n/a Massachusetts's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. MESA list
- California
- n/a California's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
- New York
- n/a New York's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
- Colorado
- No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead.
- Washington
- No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead.
- Connecticut
- n/a Connecticut's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. CT E/T/SC list
- Illinois
- n/a Illinois's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. IL E&T checklist 2025
- Indiana
- No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead.
- Kentucky
- n/a Kentucky's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. 400 KAR 3:040
- Maryland
- n/a Maryland's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. COMAR 08.03.08
- Missouri
- n/a Missouri's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. 3 CSR 10-4.111
- North Carolina
- n/a North Carolina's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
- New Jersey
- n/a New Jersey's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
- New Mexico
- n/a New Mexico's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
- Ohio
- n/a Ohio's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. OAC 1501:18-1-03
- Oregon
- n/a Oregon's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. OAR 603-073-0070
- Wisconsin
- n/a Wisconsin's list is by species, so a whole genus isn't assessed. NR 27.03
Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant)) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.
It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Malus sylvestrus (“Apple”), as toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.
More Massachusetts flowers
Sources
- USDA PLANTS: no profile matched this name.
- iNaturalist, Malus × floribunda: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 23, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Malus floribunda (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90).
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List (MDAR) (Text from MDAR's 2023 scientific-name PDF (mass.gov blocks automated downloads); 2024-2026 additions listed on the mass.gov page: Alnus glutinosa, Pyrus calleryana, Miscanthus sinensis, Aralia elata, Rhodotypos scandens, Symplocos paniculata.).
- California: California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026).
- California: California noxious weed species (3 CCR § 4500).
- New York: New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3).
- New York: New York prohibited and regulated invasive species (6 NYCRR Part 575).
- Colorado: Colorado noxious weed lists A, B and C (8 CCR 1206-2, eff. May 15, 2025).
- Washington: Washington State noxious weed list (WAC 16-750-005, -011, -015).
- Connecticut: Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list).
- Connecticut: Connecticut prohibited invasive plants (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-381d).
- Illinois: Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist.
- Illinois: Illinois Official List of Exotic Weeds (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1100.30, Illinois Exotic Weed Act).
- Indiana: Indiana prohibited invasive terrestrial plants (312 IAC 18-3-25).
- Kentucky: Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026).
- Kentucky: Kentucky noxious weeds and invasive plants on state rights-of-way (KRS 176.051; species list from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet).
- Maryland: Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08).
- Maryland: Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List (COMAR 15.06.04.06; MDA, updated July 2026).
- Missouri: Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants.
- Missouri: Missouri noxious weed list (2 CSR 70-45.005).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301).
- North Carolina: North Carolina Noxious Weed List (02 NCAC 48A .1702) (the list names any non-native Lythrum; we apply it to purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), which isn't native).
- New Jersey: New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1).
- New Jersey: New Jersey prohibited invasive plant species (Invasive Species Management Act; propagation banned from Jan 1, 2027, sale from Jan 1, 2030).
- New Mexico: New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC).
- New Mexico: New Mexico Noxious Weed List (NM Department of Agriculture, updated June 2020).
- Ohio: Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024).
- Ohio: Ohio invasive plant species (Ohio Adm. Code 901:5-30-01).
- Oregon: Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070).
- Oregon: Oregon noxious weed quarantine, A and B weeds (OAR 603-052-1200).
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03).
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin invasive species rule (Wis. Admin. Code NR 40.04 prohibited, NR 40.05 restricted).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 23, 2026.
- Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
- Photo: RD via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.


