The native Western Crabapple, Pyrus Diversiloba, holds fruit fairly
late into the winter. They seem to be more common closer to the coast
than here in the upper end of the Willamette Valley. You can purchase
them from your local native plant nursery and they are a nice small
(25' tall) and attractive tree that makes a good addition to your
yard. I have planted a grove of non-native ornamental crabapples of
mixed varieties that is attracts a diverse group of birds and animals.
I chose varities for small-sized fruit that hangs on late into the
winter. We often spot Ruffed Grouse perched in this grove and when in
bloom the insects using the flowers attract migrant warblers and
vireos. Had I known of a source of the native crabapples I would
probably planted them when we did this planting twenty years ago.


Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA