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Chestnut Crabapple
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Chestnut Crabapple

46 ReviewsAsk Questions

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Starting at
$35.99
Each

Description

An excellent pollinator for other apples. This annual bearer produces 2" pale yellow crabapples with streaky red blushes and some russeting. Creamy white flesh is fine-grained and crisp, with a sweet, nut-like flavor that is great for fresh eating, cooking or making jellies. Tree is vigorous and hardy and adapts well to different soil types. Developed at the University of Minnesota in 1946. Cold-hardy. Ripens in early September. Best pollinators: Cameron Select™ Honeycrisp, Cortland, SnappyMac® or Liberty.

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Since 1816, Stark Bro’s has promised to provide customers with the very best fruit trees and plants. It’s just that simple. If your trees or plants do not survive, please let us know within one year of delivery. We will issue a one-time merchandise credit to your account equaling 125% of the original product purchase price. Read more about our warranty policy.

Characteristics

Bloom Color White
Bloom Time Early
Fruit Color Red
Fruit Size Large - Extra Large
Ripens/Harvest Early September
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Nut-like Flavor; Sweet
Texture Good Texture; Crisp, Juicy
Years to Bear 2 - 5
Zone Range 3 - 8

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 3 - 8
My Hardiness Zone ?
The USDA hardiness zones offer a guide to varieties that will grow well in certain climates. Each zone corresponds to the minimum winter temperatures experienced in a given area. Make sure that your hardiness zone lies within the zone compatability range of this variety before ordering.

Size & Spacing

Mature Size

The mature size of this variety depends on the version you choose to plant:
Semi-Dwarf 12 - 15' tall x 12 - 15' wide
Dwarf 8 - 10' tall x 8 - 10' wide

Recommended Spacing

The space needed for this variety to grow depends on the size you plant:
Semi-Dwarf 12 - 15'
Dwarf 8 - 10'

Pollination

This variety requires another one for adequate pollination.

Cross-pollination by a different variety is key to its growing and bearing success. Plant one of these varieties within 50' for best pollination.

Tools & Supplies

Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.

Planting & Care

Learn all about how to grow apple trees in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.

Read about how to grow apple trees »

Shipping Information

Estimated Delivery Date

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Arrives when it's time to plant

Your success is our priority. We work hard to make sure that your order arrives at the ideal time for planting in your location based on your local climate conditions.

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Questions & Answers

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Browse 15 questions Browse 15 questions and 71 answers
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
I thought this variety would be good for my bee hives in the early spring.
Kevin M on Nov 27, 2020
Pollinator plus jelly fruit
John B on May 17, 2019
I thought this variety would be good for my bee hives in the early spring.
Kevin M on Nov 27, 2020
As a pollinator and to feed wildlife.
Michael S on Jun 1, 2019
Pollinator plus jelly fruit
John B on May 17, 2019
cold hardy to zone 3, pollinator for Cameron Select Honeycrisp and hopefully for Kindercrisp, also for fruit size
William on May 16, 2019
This sounds like the same crabapples that grew across the road from where I grew up.
Eugene L on Apr 24, 2019
Edible, as well as for its pollen.
Robert on Apr 21, 2019
It is a good pollinator for the 2 apple trees I am planting.
Vanessa W on Apr 18, 2019
Good pollinator, and the apples sound tasty according to the website description.
LasVegasLee on Apr 16, 2019
fit our needs and a secure site to order from
wayne k on Apr 7, 2019
I have been looking for a fruit bearing crabapple tree for a long time. I grew up in my NC area making jelly from my grandma's tree which has been gone for years. The fruit on it was 2" in diameter and very tart and made beautiful reddish in color jelly that was absolutely delicious where as this tree is bearing larger fruit and semi-sweet which I'm not familiar with. I'm excited to try it and my honeybees will love the blossoms!
Karen T on Mar 26, 2019
large edible fruit
Russell S on Mar 17, 2019
to help my other crabapple trees as a cross pollinator
Elizabeth B on Mar 17, 2019
I chose this as a pollinator for other apple trees and because the fruit of this crab apple tree is also tasty.
Art C on Feb 27, 2019
Trying to improve pollination among trees already planted
Mark N on Feb 12, 2019
Great flavor for a crab apple.
Nicholas S on Feb 5, 2019
I want something for the deer.
Bryan K on Jan 26, 2019
crabapples are a good general pollinator, and this variety is also good in ciders.
Joe M on Jun 25, 2018
The deer in our area really love these apples and it's a self pollinator.
Wendy B on Apr 30, 2018
All I read everywhere is how amazing this tastes. I ordered three trees!
Peter K on Jan 24, 2018
A large variety crabapple that will pollinate my other apples as well as produce quickly for wildlife.
Carson S on May 10, 2017
I wanted a self pollinating tree with apples that were large enough to use. We love crabapple jelly and applesauce.
Linda B on Apr 6, 2017
I'm planting some species of crabapples in between my apple trees for better pollination as well as providing other things to make better pectin and various canning/pickling items. They are hardy and blossom beautifully.
Anna M on Mar 17, 2017
I wanted to plant some crabapple trees for the spring colors and fruit for canning. It is hard to find crabapples in the woods in this area.
James B on Mar 9, 2017
Like the taste..great for our area...will use in apple cider as well.
Dan K on Mar 6, 2017
increase pollination of apple trees and ad to jelly making in the fall
carol g on Nov 24, 2016
Excellent pollinator for apples.
Joseph S on Nov 15, 2016
good pollinator, great for bees
Alison M on Oct 5, 2016
Great pollinator.
JAMES J on Sep 12, 2016
I would like to try something other than one of the apple varieties. I would like to see if it is more easily cared for than apples.
Shawn P on Aug 24, 2016
I need a pollinator for some apple trees.
David L on Apr 30, 2016
Climate zone compatibility 3A
cross pollinator
Chris Y on Apr 27, 2016
Because of the size of the fruit and it's taste of tartness and chestnut flavor.
Shaik A on Apr 25, 2016
I tried it an loved them.
Darcy B on Apr 14, 2016
This is said to be great for pollinating apple trees.
Karen A on Apr 12, 2016
My husband grew up in Arkansas and misses crabapples. We can plant this in a higher elevation here in AZ
Corinth T on Apr 6, 2016
Pollinates apples, sweet crab blends well with tart crab apples for sauce, and very hardy
Linda P on Mar 22, 2016
Looking forward to tasting this crab apple for snacks and preserving while providing beauty on the property
Ellen S on Mar 8, 2016
Great pollinator for other apple trees.
Robert G on Mar 7, 2016
Pollination of other apple trees
Eugene S on Feb 23, 2016
As a pollinator and to feed wildlife.
Michael S on Jun 1, 2019
cold hardy to zone 3, pollinator for Cameron Select Honeycrisp and hopefully for Kindercrisp, also for fruit size
William on May 16, 2019
What can these crab apples be used for?
Ruth W on Aug 28, 2016
BEST ANSWER: I have apple trees that tend to blossom very close to the same time but I need a carry over of cross pollinating to maximize our crop production. I am counting on my crab as it is to blossom early and carry those blossoms a bit longer to help cover all of my other apple blossom periods.
is this tree desease resistant ?
norman h on Nov 21, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question. It is pest- and scab-resistant and is wonderful for fresh eating, unlike most other crabapples.
Can this be pollinated by a Whitney crabapple?
Jamie R on May 2, 2019
BEST ANSWER: These two crabapples are in different flowering groups and do not pollinate one another.
Is the tree disease resistant to apple cedar rust and mildew?
Gregory B on Sep 5, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Yes, it is resistant to scab, fire blight, rust and mildew. An excellent cultivar with apples big enough to eat off the tree.
What kind of peat to use for mulch?
Norma G on Nov 19, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Peat is really meant to be used as a soil amendment. Straw or wood chips allow more air and water through, and are better choirces for your crabapple.
Can I plant a chestnut crabapple tree in central MN in early September?
Paulette B on Aug 26, 2018
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your question. Because weather and soil conditions vary so much from year to year and even within your zone, it's best to think of your planting time as a range of favorable conditions instead of an exact time.

You can plant new plants and trees: 1) when the ground is not frozen, 2) when daytime temperatures are above freezing (32??F) and below 90??F, and 3) when extreme weather (blizzard, hail, torrential rain, etc.) is not in the forecast. Be sure to keep plants watered if you're transplanting in warm and/or dry weather.
How disease resistant is the chestnut crabapple?
Rebecca M on Jun 13, 2020
BEST ANSWER: We appreciate you reaching out to us. Unfortunately this variety is not on our disease resistant list. The Whitney crab apple is a little more disease resistant to scab so that variety may be a better option for your planting needs

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. Have a great day!
Will this tree be sufficient to pollinate a zestar Apple tree?
Jonathan P on Jun 8, 2020
BEST ANSWER: We appreciate you reaching out to us. Crab apples are great fore pollination of apple trees, this should work well.

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. Have a great day!
Tree size? Want large trees
TT
Terry T on Oct 27, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Hi Terry - We appreciate you reaching out to us. I've listed our tree sizes below. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Have a great day!

Bare-Root Tree: Shipped dormant without soil to ensure good contact with the soil in your yard.

Regular: 3-4??? tall and/or 3/8??? or larger caliper
Supreme: 4-5??? tall and/or 5/8??? or larger caliper
Supreme XL: 5-6??? tall and/or 1??? or larger caliper

EZ Start?? Potted Tree Sizes: Shipped in a bottomless pot, which encourages dense feeder-root growth for a quick strong establishment.

Regular EZ Start?? Potted Tree ships in 4x4x10 pot: 1.5-3??? tall
Supreme EZ Start?? Potted Tree ships in 5x5x12: 3-4??? tall
Supreme XL EZ Start?? Potted Tree in 12x12x12 pot: 4-5' tall
How tall and how wide is the mature crab apple tree? And can it survive next to a road? I???m looking for one that doesn???t get more than 15??? tall.
Karen A on Sep 12, 2019
BEST ANSWER: If the road is regularly salted, it will not be good for the tree. It reaches about 20' in height.
Would this variety work as a pollinator for the dwarf red Jonathan we already have?
Mjackson on May 19, 2017
BEST ANSWER: There is enough overlap in the bloom times for it to work.
Can this tree be used to pollinate Liberty apples?
H D on May 9, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Chestnut Crabapple is an ideal pollinator for Liberty.
What crabapple tree would be best for southern Mn looking for a sweet crabapple that drops in the fall will they still produce fruit if they don???t get full sun?
David M on Dec 30, 2020

Customer Reviews

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4.4 / 5.0
46 Reviews
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Star
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big a** crabapple
This is only the second year and while it had a couple of blooms I am not allowing it to set fruit yet. The thing that classifies an apple as a crabapple vs an apple is the size of the fruit. Crabapples are less than 2 inches in diameter and this one just makes the cut off as it is just about 2" in diameter. So it is big enough to eat fresh or use in pies, cobblers and so on. It is supposed to be exceptionally tasty so stay tuned till next year when it might give me.a.small crop
May 7, 2016
Purchased
 over 6 years ago
Great tree & great price!
I received this tree, healthy and sturdy and planted it and it put on blooms when it was planted just 3 weeks and I decided to take the blooms off this year, so the tree could get really established, before it had to feed the fruit. So far, I'm well pleased all around.
August 3, 2016
Purchased
 over 6 years ago
Great Value!
The year-old Chestnut Crabapple was shipped well and easy to plant. Two years later, it is thriving and has not required intensive maintenance. I would recommend this product and this company to anyone interested in adding fruit trees to their landscaping.
May 17, 2016
Purchased
 over 6 years ago
nice crab apple tree; keeps its form well;
have had the tree planted now for 2 years; still no blossoms; maybe next year; tree is growing well; the crab apple is a nice addition to my garden
May 20, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
Chestnut Crabapple
This is the second year this Chestnut Crabapple tree on the soil of my back yard. It has been growing o.k. healthy not super vigorously. I was pleased to see some small green fruits on the branches. I love it. I wish I have bigger backyard I would grow some more of these plants.
Crabapple Fans.
May 18, 2016
Purchased
 over 6 years ago
Didn't survive the winter
Looked great last summer and into the fall but did not survive the winter in zone 5. Was planted in clay. Maybe the roots were too wet? Not sure what happened.
May 20, 2017
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
it is growing well
I got my chestnut crabapple 2016 fall. it is growing very well. this spring it produced few flowers. it was a surprise for me because i didn't expect this small tree to bloom this fast. so far so good and i am very happy about it.
May 29, 2017
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Good Quality Trees
So far we are quite satisfied with the trees purchased. Better quality than our local nursery.
May 21, 2016
Purchased
 over 5 years ago
a great large crabapple
I love this tree and have purchased 2 "extra" trees. the apples are a little spicy and make great apple sauce or many other ways of fixing. I have planted over 40 apple trees on my 2 lots and these is my favorite trees.
July 6, 2018
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Very nice start.
I planted this last year and it is doing very well. The year before I had planted a Honey Crisp and got this one for cross pollination. The poor little Honey Crisp has been getting eaten alive by grasshoppers, no matter how I spray, but I noticed that the crabapple was left pretty much alone. I'm glad this is a self-pollinator, I don't think the Honey Crisp is going to make it. Very pleased with this one.
May 6, 2017
Purchased
 over 4 years ago

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