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Pacific Crabapple Seeds

Pacific Crabapple Seeds - Malus fusca - Oregon Crabapple, qwa’upulhp

Malus fusca
Oregon Crabapple, qwa’upulhp
  • Hardy to Zone 5
  • Full Sun to Partial Shade
  • Germination Tested Float test
  • Approximately 15-20 seeds per packet
$5.50 CAD
$5.50 CAD
Sale Sold out
Size

Pacific Crabapple is a wild species of apple native to the pacific northwest. It makes small but abundant tart fruits that can be canned whole, or made into jelly or cider. It has showy pink/white flowers in the spring that pollinators love, and has ornamental value in the bronze fruit clusters in late summer and colourful foliage in fall. The bark becomes rough and ridged with age.

Because this species is both drought and wet tolerant, it's becoming a popular rootstock for challenging sites. It will even grow in standing water! It's also disease-resistant. 

Birds love the fruit, and because the trees often have pointy spines, they make a safe roosting spot for birds at night.

This is an important tree for Indigenous peoples on the west coast. One way people stored them for winter is to store the unripe green apples in bentwood cedar boxes filled with water in a cool place. Over time the fruits soften and develop and aroma like cotton candy. They are still widely used today.

I believe the trees I harvested from were planted and stewarded by the Indigenous groups of the area (K'ómoks, Kwalikum, and/or Snaw-naw-as peoples). The beautiful old trees grow along a river, and in one stretch they are in a perfectly straight line. There are many other Indigenous food plants in the area, such as silverweed, rose, and black hawthorn, which seems to me like an intentional food forest. 

50% of sales from this variety go to Sovereign Seeds, an Indigenous-led initiative dedicated to the revitalization of Indigenous seed and food sovereignty in so-called Canada. 

Growing Instructions

Soak seeds for 24 hours, then sow 1/4 inch deep in moist potting soil. Seeds require 30 to 90 days of cold stratification, which can be done in the fridge, or naturally outdoors if planted in fall. After stratification, keep at 15-20 degrees C to sprout, or allow for natural spring temperatures.
Grow on in pots or a nursery bed until large enough to be planted out.

Shipping & Returns

We ship seeds via Canada Post within Canada for $6 to $8 depending on weight, and Internationally for a flat rate of $20*. Shipping costs to the US will include the cost of a phytosanitary inspection and certificate, as well as tariffs.

Live plants, bulbs, and bulbils can only be shipped within Canada. 

Shipping fees listed here are in Canadian dollars, and may change without notice.

 

Shipping in Canada 

We ship seeds in Canada via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-3 weeks to arrive once we fulfill your order, but occasionally orders take longer, especially to the Eastern provinces and rural areas.

Customers can now opt for tracked, express shipping options at checkout if you require faster delivery.

Larger bulbs and plants are sent via tracked flat rate box.

 

Shipping to the US

Shipping charges to the US will also now include a government phytosanitary inspection and certificate. This will be bundled into the shipping cost. We ship via Canada Post, and any applicable duties will be calculated at checkout. So far (as of Sept 1, 2025), it's looking like there are no duties charged on seeds. 

Please expect delays for US shipping, as during busy times it can take up to 2 weeks for us to book a phytosanitary inspection.

 

Shipping Internationally

International customers can select tracked or untracked shipping at checkout. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit. We are not able to send any live plant materials internationally. Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held or confiscated by customs, or for any additional duties or tariffs placed on your order.

International shipping countries include: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.

This list may change without notice. Sometimes Canada Post will not allow us to ship to certain countries due to wars or natural disasters, see this page for delivery service alerts: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/service-alerts.page

Please reach out if your country is not on this list, email us and we will try to arrange an alternate shipping option. 

 

Return Policy

If you have any issues with your order, please contact us within 60 days and we will do our best to make it right.

Ecologically Grown

Seeds are grown ecologically without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers.

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Customer Reviews

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j
judy
excellent germination/6 grew

excellent germination as 6 grew into little trees. followed instructions. Mid Aug. and I transplanted into garden soil from a pot where they grew all summer. Planted some in low areas of garden where water collects in winter, others will be in a more drier area. Won't know how much fruit or survival rate till at least a couple more yrs. But, would recommend if interested in having fun and learning or preserving an original tree.