Common Apple

Malus domestica

Not native to Kentucky

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Sweet Crabapple
Malus coronaria
Similar growth form, height, spread
Southern Crabapple
Malus angustifolia
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
American Plum
Prunus americana
Similar growth form, height, spread

More natives for your garden

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Malus domestica — flower photograph — (c) Alexander Dubynin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph · iNaturalist medium image; no additional crop, retouching, or re-encoding.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

238CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · 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 flavivittanaMasked Leaf Roller, Multiform Leafroller Moth
Acleris maculidorsanaStained-Back Leafroller Moth
Acleris minutaLesser Apple Leaf Folder, Yellowheaded Fireworm
Acrobasis indigenellaLeaf Crumpler
Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger

Show all 238

Acronicta clarescensClear Dagger
Acronicta fragilisFragile Dagger
Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
Acronicta interruptaInterrupted Dagger
Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
Acronicta radcliffeiRadcliffe's Dagger
Acronicta spinigeraNondescript Dagger
Acronicta superansSplendid Dagger, Chieftain 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 conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
Choristoneura fractivittanaBroken-Banded Leafroller, Lined Corn-Borer Moth
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Clepsis clemensianaClemens' Clepsis
Clepsis melaleucanusBlack-Patched Clepsis, Trillium Tortrix
Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
Coleophora multipulvellaApple Pistol Casebearer, Pistol Casebearer Moth
Coleophora pruniellaCherry Casebearer, Apple Leafmining Casebearer, Western Cigar Casebearer
Coptodisca splendoriferellaResplendent Shield Bearer
Coptotriche malifoliellaApple Leaf Trumpet Miner Moth
Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
Dasychira basiflavaYellow-Based Tussock Moth
Dasychira vagansVariable 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
Epiglaea declivaSloping Sallow
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
Eupsilia sidusSidus Sallow
Eupsilia tristigmataThree-Spotted Sallow, Brown Fruitworm
Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
Euxoa messoriaReaper Dart, Darksided Cutworm, Dark-Sided Cutworm
Euxoa tessellataTessellate Dart, Striped Cutworm
Euzophera semifuneralisAmerican Plum Borer
Feltia herilisMaster's Dart
Feltia jaculiferaDingy Cutworm
Feltia subgothicaSubgothic Dart
Grapholita packardiCherry Fruit Worm
Grapholita prunivoraLesser Apple Worm
Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
Haploa reversaReversed Haploa
Harrisimemna trisignataHarris's Three-Spot
Hedya chionosemaTwin-Spotted Budworm, White-Spotted Hedya
Hedya nr.Large Bud Moth, Green Bud Moth, Off-White 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
Lacanobia subjunctaSpeckled Arches, Subdues Arches, Harnessed Mamestra, Speckled Cutworm Moth, Grand Arches?(incorrectly)
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 baileyiBailey's Pinion
Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
Lithophane groteiGrote's Pinion, Green Fruit Worm
Lithophane heminaHemina Pinion
Lithophane innominataNameless Pinion
Lithophane laticinereaBroad Ashen Pinion, Russet Spotted Pinion, Triple-Spotted Pinion
Lithophane querqueraShivering Pinion
Lithophane unimodaDowdy Pinion
Lobophora nivigerataPowdered Bigwing, Two-Lined Aspen Looper
Lochmaeus manteoVariable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
Lomographa vestaliataWhite Spring Moth
Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
Lophocampa maculataSpotted Tussock Moth, Yellow-Spotted Tiger Moth
Lycia ypsilonWoolly Gray
Lyonetia prunifoliellaStriped Bent-wing
Macaria coortariaFour-Spotted Angle, Four-Spotted Granite
Machimia tentoriferellaGold-Striped Leaftier Moth
Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
Marmara elotellaApple Barkminer
Mathildana newmanellaNewman's Mathildana
Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
Melanchra pictaPainted Arches, Zebra Caterpillar Moth
Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
Metarranthis hypochrariaCommon Metarranthis
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
Olethreutes malanaSlender Brown Budworm, Malana Leafroller
Operophtera bruceataBruce Spanworm
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Orthodes cynicaCynical Quaker, Cynical Groundcat
Orthosia alurinaGray Quaker
Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
Orthosia revictaSubdued Quaker
Orthosia rubescensRuby Quaker
Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
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
Parornix geminatellaUnspotted Leaf Miner, Unspotted Tentiform Leafminer
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
Phyllonorycter crataegellaApple Leaf Miner, Apple Blotch Leafminer, Apple Leafblotch Miner
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
Pseudexentera maliPale Apple Budworm, Pale Apple Leafroller
Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
Psorosina hammondiApple Leaf Skeletonizar
Pyrausta phoenicealisPhoenicean Pyrausta, Perilla Leafroller
Rhopobota naevanaBlackheaded Fireworm, Holly Bud Moth, Holly Tortrix
Satyrium calanusBanded Hairstreak, Falacer Hairstreak
Satyrium liparopsStriped Hairstreak
Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border
Smerinthus jamaicensisTwin-Spotted Sphinx
Spaelotis clandestinaClandestine Dart, W-Marked Cutworm
Sparganothis sulfureanaSparganothis Fruitworm Moth, Sulfur Leafroller, False Yellow-Head
Sparganothis unifascianaOne-Lined Sparganothis
Sphinx drupiferarumWild Cherry Sphinx
Sphinx gordiusApple 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 pyriApple Bark Borer, Pear Borer
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 c-nigrumSpotted Cut-Worm, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lesser Black-letter Dart
Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
Xestia smithiiSmith's Dart
Zale calycanthataDouble-Banded Zale
Zale lunataLunate Zale
Acleris placidana
Bucculatrix pomifoliella
Epinotia septemberana
Eupithecia swettii
Notocelia culminana
Parornix quadripunctella
Xenotemna pallorana

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

1Specialist beesPollen specialists

Pollen specialists · Malus

Andrena melanochroa

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

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

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Rosaceae
Hardiness: Zones 4a–9b
Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline
Flower color: Pink or white

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Flower color · “Pink or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Hardiness · “Zones 4a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “15–30 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
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
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Neutral to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “15–30 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Common Apple; Malus pumila; Orchard Apple

Conservation status

Kentucky rank	SNA
Global rank	G5
KY status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source