Southern Crabapple
Malus angustifolia
Found in forests, woodlands, fence-rows, dry hammocks, occasionally in bottomlands. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you
99
Keystone
Native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?
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- Height
- Up to about 30 feet
- Light
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Usually moist
At a glance
- Life cycle
- Woody perennial
- Leaves
- Deciduous
- Bloom
- Spring
- Fruiting season
- August to September
Not yet recorded · Spread
Recorded in 46 Alabama counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
1 of 3
Dense, evergreen groves of live oak, magnolia and other hardwoods in the southern Coastal Plain, from dry oak domes to wet hydric hammocks and south Florida's tropical hammocks; salt-shaped maritime hammocks are maritime forests.
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.
Ecological relationships
Who uses this plant?
191CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL
Genus host records with ranges including AL · Malus
- Abagrotis alternataGreater Red Dart, Mottled Grey Cutworm
- Abagrotis magnicupidaOne-Dotted Dart
- Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
- Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
- Acleris chalybeanaLesser Maple Leafroller Moth
- Acleris maculidorsanaStained-Back Leafroller Moth
- Acrobasis indigenellaLeaf Crumpler
- Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
- Acronicta clarescensClear Dagger
- Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
Show all 191
- Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
- Acronicta interruptaInterrupted Dagger
- Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
- Acronicta radcliffeiRadcliffe's Dagger
- Acronicta spinigeraNondescript Dagger
- Adoneta spinuloidesPurple-Crested Slug
- Agnorisma badinodisPale-Banded Dart
- Agrotis ipsilonIpsilon Dart, Black Cutworm, Greasy Cutworm
- Agrotis vetustaOld Man Dart
- Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
- Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
- Amyelois transitellaNavel Orangeworm
- Anatrachyntis rileyiPink Scavanger Caterpillar
- Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
- Anomis flavaTropical Anomis Moth
- Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
- Antepione thisoariaVariable Antepione
- Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
- Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
- Archips griseaGray Archips
- Archips purpuranaOmnivorous Leafroller Moth
- Archips semiferanusOak Leafroller Moth
- Argyrostrotis anilisShort-Lined Chocolate
- Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
- Argyrotaenia quercifolianaYellow-Winged Oak Leafroller Moth, Lined Oak Leafroller
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
- Automeris ioIo Moth
- Balsa malanaMany-Dotted Balsa, Many-Dotted Appleworm
- Balsa tristrigellaThree-Lined Balsa
- Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
- Callosamia anguliferaTulip-Tree Silkmoth
- Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
- Carposina fernaldanaCurrant Fruitworm Moth
- Catocala blandulaCharming Underwing
- Catocala clintoniiClinton's Underwing
- Catocala crataegiHawthorne Underwing, Thorn Underwing
- Catocala gryneaWoody Underwing
- Catocala miraWonderful Underwing
- Catocala palaeogamaOldwife Underwing
- Catocala pretiosaPrecious Underwing, Texarkana Underwing
- Catocala ultroniaUltronia Underwing
- Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
- Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
- Cenopis directanaChokecherry Leafroller Moth
- Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
- Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
- Cepphis armatariaScallop Moth
- Cerma cerinthaTufted Bird-Dropping Moth, Cherry Agate
- Choristoneura fractivittanaBroken-Banded Leafroller, Lined Corn-Borer Moth
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
- Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
- Dasychira basiflavaYellow-Based Tussock Moth
- Dasychira leucophaeaPeppered Tussock Moth
- Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
- Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
- Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
- Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
- Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
- Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
- Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
- Euchlaena serrataThe Saw-Wing
- Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
- Eulithis diversilineataLesser Grapevine Looper Moth
- Eulogia ochrifrontellaBroad-Banded Eulogia
- Eumacaria madopataBrown-Bordered Geometer
- Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
- Eupsilia cirripaleaFranclemont's Sallow
- Eupsilia morrisoniMorrison's Sallow
- Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
- Euzophera semifuneralisAmerican Plum Borer
- Feltia herilisMaster's Dart
- Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
- Feltia subgothicaSubgothic Dart
- Grapholita packardiCherry Fruit Worm
- Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
- Haploa colonaColona Moth
- Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
- Haploa reversaReversed Haploa
- Harrisimemna trisignataHarris's Three-Spot
- Hedya chionosemaTwin-Spotted Budworm, White-Spotted Hedya
- Hedya separatanaPink-Washed Leafroller Moth
- Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
- Holcocera chalcofrontellaSumac Holcocera
- Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
- Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
- Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
- Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
- Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
- Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
- Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
- Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
- Lacinipolia meditataThe Thinker
- Lacinipolia renigeraBristly Ground Cat, Bristly Cutworm Moth, Kidney Spotted "Mamestra"
- Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
- Limenitis archippusViceroy
- Limenitis arthemisBanded Purple, Red-Spotted Admiral
- Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
- Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
- Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
- Lithophane querqueraShivering Pinion
- Lochmaeus manteoVariable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
- Lomographa vestaliataWhite Spring Moth
- Lycia ypsilonWoolly Gray
- Macaria coortariaFour-Spotted Angle, Four-Spotted Granite
- Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
- Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
- Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
- Mathildana newmanellaNewman's Mathildana
- Megalopyge crispataBlack-Waved Flannel Moth, Crinkled Flannel Moth
- Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
- Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
- Metaxaglaea australisSouthern Sallow
- Metaxaglaea semitariaFootpath Sallow
- Metaxaglaea viaticaRoadside Sallow
- Moodna ostrinellaDarker Moodna
- Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
- Mythimna unipunctaArmyworm Moth, White Speck
- Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
- Nemoria bistriariaTwo-Striped Emerald, Red-Fringed Emerald
- Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
- Oedemasia leptinoidesBlack-Blotched Schizura
- Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
- Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
- Orthodes cynicaCynical Quaker, Cynical Groundcat
- Orthosia alurinaGray Quaker
- Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
- Ostrinia obumbratalisSmartweed Borer
- Pachysphinx modestaModest Sphinx, The Big Poplar Sphinx
- Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
- Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
- Pandemis lamprosanaWoodgrain Leafroller
- Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
- Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
- Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
- Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
- Parasa chlorisSmaller Parasa, Green Slug Moth
- Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
- Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
- Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
- Phobetron pitheciumHag Moth, Monkey Slug
- Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
- Plagodis phlogosariaStraight-Lined Plagodis
- Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
- Platynota idaeusalisTufted Apple-Bud Moth
- Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
- Proteoteras aesculanaMaple Seed Caterpillar, Maple Twig Borer
- Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
- Pyrausta phoenicealisPhoenicean Pyrausta, Perilla Leafroller
- Satyrium calanusBanded Hairstreak, Falacer Hairstreak
- Satyrium liparopsStriped Hairstreak
- Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
- Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border
- Smerinthus jamaicensisTwin-Spotted Sphinx
- Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
- Sphinx drupiferarumWild Cherry Sphinx
- Sphinx kalmiaeFawn Sphinx, Laurel Sphinx
- Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
- Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
- Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
- Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
- Synanthedon exitiosaPeachtree Borer Moth, Western Peachtree Borer
- Synanthedon pictipesLesser Peachtree Borer Moth
- Synanthedon scitulaDogwood Borer, Pecan Borer
- Synchlora aerataWavy-Lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
- Syndemis afflictanaFall Dead-Leaf Roller, Gray Leafroller, Black-and-Grey Banded Leafroller
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
- Tortricidia flexuosaAbbreviated Button Slug Moth
- Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
- Zale calycanthataDouble-Banded Zale
- Zale lunataLunate Zale
- Acleris placidana
- Aristotelia pudibundella
- Blastobasis quaintancella
- Epinotia septemberana
- Eupithecia swettii
- Xenotemna pallorana
176BeesSoutheastern regional records
Southeastern regional records · Malus
Individual names are not available yet.
Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
1Specialist beesPollen specialists
9BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Malus
- Aphelocoma californicaCalifornia Scrub-Jay
- Bombycilla cedrorumCedar Waxwing
- Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
- Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
- Coccothraustes vespertinusEvening Grosbeak
- Ixoreus naeviusVaried Thrush
- Melanerpes erythrocephalusRed-headed Woodpecker
- Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
- Zonotrichia atricapillaGolden-crowned Sparrow
Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening
No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects
Growing and identification
Plant details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Hardiness
- Zones 4a–9b
- Soil pH
- Acidic to neutral
- Flower color
- Pink
- Fruit begins
- August
- Fruit ends
- September
Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “Spring” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team) differs)
- Flower color · “Pink” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Fruit begins · “August” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Fruit ends · “September” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Hardiness · “Zones 4a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Height · “Up to about 30 feet” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
- Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
- primary_flower_color · “pink” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Soil · “Good drainage; Moist” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; NC Extension Plant Toolbox, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differ)
- Soil pH · “Acidic to neutral” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Conservation status
| Alabama rank | SNR |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5? |
| AL status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
In your garden
Will it fit your yard?
Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.
Choose a county to begin.
Sources
- Alabama Plant Atlas
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- NatureServe Explorer
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications