Crabapple, Callaway, Bare Root

Crabapple, ‘Callaway’ (Malus 'Callaway') 

‘Callaway’ Crabapple is a hardy, disease-resistant ornamental tree with a balanced blend of beauty and function. Known for its profuse white spring blooms, large edible fruit, and high resistance to apple scab and cedar-apple rust, this cultivar is especially useful in low-input orchards, wildlife plantings, and fruit tree guilds. The fruit can be used for jellies and preserves, and it also feeds birds and mammals well into winter. With a compact, spreading shape, ‘Callaway’ brings ornamental value and ecosystem services to regenerative landscapes.

Key Characteristics

• Large, Edible Fruit for People and Wildlife
  Unlike many crabapples, 'Callaway' produces larger, 1½ inch, red fruit that is tart but usable for making crabapple jelly, sauces, and cider blends. The persistent fruit is also a valuable late-season food source for birds and mammals.
• Masses of Fragrant White Flowers in Spring
  In April, ‘Callaway’ bursts into dense clusters of fragrant white blossoms that attract native bees, hoverflies, and other early-season pollinators. The bloom is long-lasting and overlaps well with many cultivated apple varieties, aiding cross-pollination.
• Exceptional Disease Resistance
  ‘Callaway’ is particularly resistant to common apple diseases including apple scab, fire blight, and cedar-apple rust. This makes it a strong choice for organic systems or areas with high disease pressure.
• Compact, Spreading Growth Habit
  Reaching about 15–20 feet tall and wide, ‘Callaway’ has a rounded, horizontal branching form that makes it ideal for planting near orchards, along edges, or in pollinator hedgerows. It can also be used as a small shade tree in edible landscapes.
• Valuable for Pollinator and Wildlife Habitat
  Its flowers feed early pollinators, while the fruit supports songbirds and small mammals in fall and early winter. The tree structure offers cover and nesting sites, especially when integrated into multi-layered plantings.

Product Details

• Sun Requirements: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Medium
• Bloom Time: April
• Bloom Color: White
• Fruit Qualities: Large (1½ in), tart, red, persistent
• Fruit Uses: Jelly, sauce, cider blends, wildlife food
• Fruit Ripening Month: September–October
• Required Chill Hours: Approx. 800 hours
• Pollination Requirements: Not self-fruitful; best as a companion in orchards
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–8
• Mature Height: 15–20 feet

‘Callaway’ Crabapple is a rugged, multipurpose tree that blends showy spring flowers with late-season fruit and reliable disease resistance. A smart, beautiful addition to orchards, hedgerows, and food forests.