This Chinese crabapple is becoming widely planted across northeastern states and it occasionally escapes (Cr, K, W). There is no definite evidence of naturalization yet in Ky., but since 1995, apparently self-sown trees have been collected from MADI (BEREA, EKY), and by JC in a wild garden of FAYE (Dr. D. Svetich, Brier East Road). The species is similar to cultivated apples (domestica / pumila), but differs as follows (FNA 9). Fruits are ovoid or oblong (versus globose or depressed globose) and tend to be smaller (ca. 2-3 cm diameter versus 2-7 cm), with sepals more swollen at base (the calyx persistent as in domestica / pumila) ILeaf blades are acutely serrate or serrulate (versus btusely serrate or serrate-crenate) and lower surfaces are puberulent to subglabrous (versus more or less persistently and densely puberulent). Buds are purplish brown, ovoid, 5-7 mm, scale margins sparsely pubescent (versus dark red or purple, ovoid, 3-5 mm, scale margins densely puberulous). Young branches are purplish brown to grayish purple or grayish brown (versus dark brown or reddish brown). IBark is purplish brown or gray-brown, peeling irregularly (versus dark gray or gray-brown, scaly).