Fauna
Plant

Japanese Flowering Crabapple

Malus floribunda

Also known as Japanese Crab, Showy Crabapple, Japanese Crabapple

Japanese flowering crabapples erupt in early spring with deep crimson buds that open into a profusion of pale pink and white blossoms. Small, pea-sized yellow and red fruits ripen in autumn and linger on branches into winter, providing a critical cold-weather food source for songbirds. Widely cultivated for its spreading habit and spectacular floral display, it remains one of the most disease-resistant ornamental trees in temperate landscapes.

DeciduousFloweringOrnamental
Japanese Flowering Crabapple reference1 / 2
MichaelMaggs / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthesis)
ThreatsFire blight, cedar-apple rust, urbanization
HabitatsTemperate forests, cultivated gardens, parks, woodland borders
Life span40–100 years
Classification
  1. OrderRosales
  2. FamilyRosaceae
  3. GenusMalus
  4. SpeciesMalus floribunda
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild fruits can be difficult to identify safely; never consume wild or cultivated pomes based on app ID alone.
Responsible observation
  • Spring Viewing: Visit in mid-spring when red buds unfurl into masses of white and pink flowers.
  • Disease Inspection: Examine leaves in late summer to admire its exceptional resistance to foliage diseases.
  • Bird Watching: Quietly observe persistent winter fruits to spot overwintering birds like cedar waxwings.
Related species
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