If you're looking for an ornamental tree or rootstock for your apple trees, consider the Malus prunifolia. This species, also known as pear-leaf and plum-leaf crabapple, Chinese apple and Chinese crabapple, is native to China and can grow to between 3 and 8 meters tall. It bears white flowers and yellow or red fruit that can be eaten raw or cooked.You can find cultivars and forms that are not at all bitter. A fruit tasted at Kew in October 1991 was sweet, pleasant and mealy with low acidity. The fruit is about 20mm in diameter, though some forms are considerably larger. This deciduous tree is hardy to zone 3 and is not frost tender. It attracts wildlife and can grow in heavy clay soil and tolerate drought. It's an excellent stock for grafting apple trees. For more information, check out http://plants.usda.gov.