Is this a Crabapple???

[cmeg1]

So through the last 20 years I have always visited a tree growing from a small sapling of about 3’ tall.I always thought it was Hawthorne.This was on one of my favorite walking trails by the stream.
yesterday I noticed it is now 20’ tall and covered with beautiful golden fruits and it seems is a crabapple.Perhaps a wild hybrid.Anyways collected about 100 fruit to try and sew some.
Is this crabapple?

 

[Shogun610]

Si, crab apple , but not sure of cultivar

 

[barrosinc]

I think it might be crataegus of some sort as you mention.

Maybe cockspur or black hawthorne?

 

[sdavis]

Berries appear to be hawthorne.....

 

[just.wing.it]

The leaves look crabby to me.

 

[moke]

It’s an Oregon Crabapple Malus fusca.

 

[just.wing.it]

Take a look at the seeds....I think the apple seeds are more teardrop shaped and the hawthorn seeds are more oval.

 

[Ohmy222]

I think crabapple. They get irregular leaves like that.

 

[discusmike]

Definitely a crab

 

[penumbra]

Yes, crab. Several varieties have gold fruit. Does not look like any of the 6 types of Hawthorne I have.

 

[cmeg1]

Crab is the winner!

I will soak the fruit in water to extract seeds.Dirr’s book sais’ 1-4 mnths cold stratification will suffice.

 

[cmeg1]

On-line sais’ 2-5 years to flower……..this specimin has always grown shade by the stream……maybe leaves can be smaller…..nice fruit color and size though.

I’m going with ‘Wild Crabapple’ unless it so happens to be a variety which come true from seed as sargentii and a few others do.

 

[rodeolthr]

I agree with @moke , it certainly looks like malus fusca. I have one that popped up in my garden here north of Seattle. I'm uncertain how it would get to PA though.

 

[Pitoon]

I agree with @moke , it certainly looks like malus fusca. I have one that popped up in my garden here north of Seattle. I'm uncertain how it would get to PA though.

Birds can easily spread seed.

 

[rodeolthr]

Very true, of course, but it's my understanding that it's native to the PNW and not something that one would find in commerce. It does apparently have commercial value as rootstock for growing in heavy, wet soils though.