Crab Apple by Ness Armstrong

Kitchen Witch
15 minutes ago
2 min read

Just before Yule, I visited an old church and graveyard with family who were laying Christmas wreaths on family members last resting places.

It was a cold, day and the sky was interspersed with clouds and as I am want to do in these places, I was wandering around reading the inscriptions of some of the older grave stones. I looked up and noticed a couple of trees absolutely laden with small round bright red fruits. My trusty plant app confirmed to be Crab Apple trees. A quick research there gave the information that crab apple trees were planted in church yards as they were associated with love, marriage, rebirth and immortality.

When I got home, I decided to dig a little deeper to find out what I could about this lovely undervalued tree.

Crab Apple - Malus sylvestris - are native to this country and can grow up to 10m in height and live up to 100 years. The trunk of the tree is grey-brown with a flecked bark which can grow quite twisted and gnarly. It is said that this appearance gave the Crab Apple its name.

The leaves are oval with round serrated 'teeth' along it's edges and the spring blossom of white and pink has a sweet scent, which attracts its pollinators of bees and butterflies. The flowers give way to fruits, which are small and round - about the size of a large cherry - and when ripe are usually yellow, yellow with a red blush - or red like the one's I discovered.

I found a very interesting piece of information while doing my research about crab apples in Ireland. They were known as a 'wild' apple and in all parts of the country and here in the uk too, they were an early food source for humans.

The crab apple was one of the seven 'Nobles of the Wood' - which refers to the 7 most important trees in ancient Irish law and folklore. These are Oak, Hazel, Holly, Yew, Ash, Pine and Wild Apple (Crab Apple). These trees were highly revered and protected by law, known up to the 1600's as Brehon Laws. These laws governed marriage and divorce, farming, property and inheritance, but also the sustainable use of trees. There were penalties for anyone who damaged or cut any part of these trees for the wrong reasons.

The crab apple is a member of the Rose family which also included Rowan, Hawthorn and Blackthorn, as well as Cherry, Plum and Pear.

Crab Apples have a very high pectin content but it is not advised that you eat large quantities raw as they can cause an upset stomach. They are usually made into jellies, wine, sauces and you can also make ketchup and a butter from them.

Magical Properties:

Love, marriage, fidelity, healing, renewal, longevity.

Dried apple slices, leaves and twigs can be used in incense blends, as an addition to poppets, carried in charms, in mandalas and used in spell work.

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Venus

Element: Water