Peraphyllum ramosissimum
Wild crab apple
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Peraphyllum ramosissimum (Wild crab apple) is a native California shrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by Great Basin distribution, relict of wider western range.
Wild crab apple is a native shrub found in eastern California Range and Highlands, northern and central Sierra Nevada's eastern slope, Great Basin, and Panamint Range Mountains in dry washes, sagebrush scrub, pinyon and juniper woodland, and pine forest at elevations of 1,010 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from April to May, this shrub produces white to rose-colored flowers 6 to 8 millimeters long with spreading petals. Growing 1 to 3 meters tall with multiple branches, it forms a dense, much-branched structure. Its simple leaves are clustered on short shoots, oblanceolate in shape, 1 to 4 centimeters long, and can be entire or have minute gland-like teeth. The fruit is a small 8 to 10 millimeter pome that ranges from yellow to red, purple, or blue when mature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Great Basin distribution, relict of wider western range
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry washes, sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland, pine forest
Elevation: 1010-2500 m
California counties: Lassen, Modoc, Inyo, Shasta, Alpine, Los Angeles
Outside California: to Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico
Bloom period
Peraphyllum ramosissimum blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Prunus: Prunus has evenly spaced leaves along normal branches; Peraphyllum has leaves tightly bundled on short-shoots.; vs Pyracantha: Pyracantha has thorns and evergreen leaves; Peraphyllum is thornless with deciduous leaves in clusters.; vs Crataegus: Crataegus has thorns and broad lobed leaves; Peraphyllum is thornless with narrow clustered leaves.; vs Amelanchier: Amelanchier has leaves with obvious stalks evenly spaced on branches; Peraphyllum has stalkless leaves in tight bundles.; vs Cotoneaster: Cotoneaster has evenly spaced leaves along branches; Peraphyllum has leaves tightly clustered on stubby short-shoots.
Frequently asked questions
Is Peraphyllum ramosissimum native to California?
Yes. Peraphyllum ramosissimum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Peraphyllum ramosissimum bloom?
Peraphyllum ramosissimum blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Peraphyllum ramosissimum grow?
Peraphyllum ramosissimum occurs in Lassen, Modoc, Inyo, Shasta, Alpine, Los Angeles, at elevations of 1010-2500 m.
What plant family does Peraphyllum ramosissimum belong to?
Peraphyllum ramosissimum is in the Rosaceae family, genus Peraphyllum.
What habitat does Peraphyllum ramosissimum grow in?
Peraphyllum ramosissimum grows in dry washes, sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland, pine forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.