Identification

Common Name: Apple
Scientific Name: Malus domestica

There are more than 10,000 known varieties of apples, and at least 7000 can be found in the United States. The original wild ancestor is uncertain, but those grown for fruit are likely descendants of the European Malus sylvestris, the Asian M. pumila, or a hybrid of the two.

Humans have been hybridizing and grafting apples for over 2000 years. Many members of the genus Malus are native to North America, all of which are commonly called crabapples.