This species is native from central Texas thru eastern Oklahoma thru most of Missouri and Illinois, northwest Indiana, southern Wisconsin to southeast Minnesota. It was somewhat common once decades ago, but not now. Cedar Apple Rust from east Asia can be hard on native Crabapples and has lessened their numbers. The Oriental Crabapples have taken over in landscaping and in escaping cultivation. The Prairie Crab has larger fruits about 1.5 inches in diameter, even 2 inches, that turn yellow-green when mature while the oriental species have red or yellow smaller fruits. The flowers are large for crabapples, about 1.5 inches wide, and are white with pink or pink with white and bloom later in mid to late May to early June. The leaves resemble those of Washington Hawthorn, being sort of three-lobed. It grows about 1.5 feet/year and lives about 50 to 100 years. Some native plant and specialty nurseries grow this species. The fruit has been used for jellies and jams. It differs from the Sweet Crabapple (Malus coronaria) in that the base of the leaves are usually wedge-shaped rather than round and the hairiness below remains. The twigs remain wooly. It is a small tree with wide-spreading, rigid branches with some thorns, and a broad, round-topped crown.

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