Flower profile
Sweet crabapple
Malus coronaria
Sweet crabapple is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Michigan
Quick look
Malus coronaria, also known by the names sweet crabapple or garland crab, is a North American species of Malus (crabapple).
- It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 22 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Michigan. NatureServe
- iNaturalist has 89 research-grade sightings of it in Michigan, ranking #107 among the 111 flowers on our Michigan list. iNaturalist
Sweet crabapple gift ideas
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Sweet crabapple art print
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Sweet crabapple greeting card
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Sweet crabapple mug
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Sweet crabapple earrings
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Sweet crabapple embroidery pattern
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Sweet crabapple sticker
When does it bloom?
There are only a handful of Michigan flowering records, so this chart uses records from across the U.S.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Michigan
- Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. R 299.1028
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: KS (S1), NC (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension notes: “Fruits are used to make preserves (crab apple jelly) or cider.” NC State Extension
NC State Extension flags it as a problem for cats, dogs and horses. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. NC State Extension
🌿 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 records sweet crabapple in 22 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.
Michigan counties with USDA records: Barry, Berrien, Cass, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Midland, Montcalm, Newaygo, Oakland, Oscoda, Saginaw, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne.
More Michigan flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile MACO5.
- iNaturalist, Malus coronaria: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Malus coronaria (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Joint Resolution 10 of 1897 (MCL 2.11): Michigan state flower.
- Michigan: Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023).
- Michigan: Michigan prohibited and restricted species (NREPA Part 413 and the 2026 Invasive Species Order), as listed by Michigan's Invasive Species Program.
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Malus coronaria (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
- Photo: Evan Barker via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.