What type of thorny bush bears apples?

Question

The apples do not have stems, they grow directly on the branch. The apples are fist-sized and green. The branches have large firm thorns. The bush is about 5 feet tall. It might be a tree, but it's been trimmed like a bush. I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Answer 1

i think hedge apple. here's a link u can check and see. http://hedgeapple.com/

edited:  hmm only other thing i could think of off hand is crabapples. only thing is they all have stems i think but they can grow on thorny bushs. from what i read online theres over 55 species so this could be what u have.

Answer 2

Right now in Indiana our hedgeapples are still small.  I collected a few the other day when I was in the woods to put around my house as a spider deterrent.  They will get much bigger than fist size as autumn comes.  If their textures looks kind of like a brain - it's hedgeapple.  When they're fully mature they'll drop from the trees like actual apples.  Right now they should still be on the trees however you're in a cooler climate than we are here so they may be already falling there.  And yes they absolutely have thorns on the trees.  They're prolific spreaders too.  I have them cropping up all over the property!  I've heard of people actually selling the "apples" on ebay probably as a spider deterrent as I don't know what else they're good for except that kids find them fascinating.  

Answer 3

Guessing that it is an Osage orange which has a huge fruit that is green and sticky.  The squirrels and deer love them. It is just starting to form it's fruit now.

Edit.  It is probably a Quince then.  It has small apple like fruits on it.   They do sometimes bloom twice a year. Not always.  Only in years when the temperature is just right.  I live in Maryland too. Look at the second and third link below.