[7] It reaches from between 3 and 8 metres (10 and 26 ft) tall and bears white flowers and yellow or red fruit.

[3] It was described botanically by Willdenow in the genus Pyrus and was transferred to Malus in 1803.

[8] Malus prunifolia has at least four varieties, some are grown for their fruit:[6][9][10] Malus prunifolia is found in China in the provinces of Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, and possibly Xinjiang.

It is adapted to grow at a variety of elevations from sea-level plains, to slopes as high as 1,300 m (4,300 ft).

[3] Outside of China, it is grown for use as an ornamental tree or as rootstock.