Malus prunifolia
Malus prunifolia[1]
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Malus
Species:	M. prunifolia
Binomial name
Malus prunifolia (Willd.) Borkh.[3]

Malus prunifolia is a species of crabapple tree known by the common names plumleaf crab apple,^[4] plum-leaved apple,^[5] pear-leaf crabapple, Chinese apple and Chinese crabapple.^[6] It is native to China.

It reaches from between 3 and 8 metres (10 and 26 ft) tall and bears white flowers and yellow or red fruit.^[3]

It was described botanically by Willdenow in the genus Pyrus and was transferred to Malus in 1803.^[7]

Malus prunifolia has at least four varieties, some are grown for their fruit:^[6][8][9]

• Malus prunifolia var. obliquipedicellata X.W. Li & J.W. Sun
• M. prunifolia var. prunifolia
• M. prunifolia var. ringo Asami (Chinese apple)
• M. prunifolia var. rinki (Koidz.) Rehder P.L.Wilson (plum-leaf or Chinese crabapple)

Malus prunifolia is found in China in the provinces of Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, and possibly Xinjiang. It is adapted to grow at a variety of elevations from sea-level plains, to slopes as high as 1,300 m (4,300 ft).^[3]

Outside of China, it is grown for use as an ornamental tree or as rootstock.^{[citation needed]}