An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most fertile soils, preferring a moisture retentive well-drained loamy soil. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a sunny position but succeeds in partial shade though it fruits less well in such a situation. Highly resistant to frost and drought, this species is being used to a limited extent in breeding programmes for cultivated apples. The cultivar 'Hyslop' has edible fruits 4cm in diameter. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. The fruit is a good wildlife food source, especially for birds. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Fruit - raw or cooked. A bitter flavor. Fruits we have tasted have been astringent rather than bitter, though some cultivars and forms are not at all bitter. A fruit of the species, tasted at Kew in October 1991, had a sweet pleasant taste, was mealy and of low acidity. The fruit can be used fresh or in preserves etc. The fruit is about 20mm in diameter, though some forms are considerably larger.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame. It usually germinates in late winter. Stored seed requires stratification for 3 months at 1°c and should be sown in a cold frame as soon as it is received. It might not germinate for 12 months or more. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. If given a rich compost they usually grow away quickly and can be large enough to plant out in late summer, though consider giving them some protection from the cold in their first winter. Otherwise, keep them in pots in a cold frame and plant them out in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of mature wood, November in a frame.

Slopesand plains from sea level to 1300 metres.