Chestnut Crabapple Tree

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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. Pollinator required: Choose another apple variety. See recommended pollinators below.

Characteristics

Bloom Color White
Bloom Time Early
Chill Hours 800
Fruit Color Red
Fruit Size Large - Extra Large
Hardiness Zone Range 3 - 8
Pollination Pollinator Required
Ripens/Harvest Early September
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Astringent, Nutty, Sweet
Texture Good Texture; Crisp, Juicy
Years to Bear 2 - 5

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 compatibility range of this variety before ordering.

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 100' 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.

Tags

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Questions & Answers

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28 Questions
Why did you choose this?

Crabapple are my favorite

Pollinator

Little apple with a great taste! Easy to process as well

Needed crab apple to polinatw

What can these crab apples be used for?

JMJ We've made chestnut crabapple jelly, butter, vinegar, pie filling and now working on apple juice.
They are equally good eaten like a regular apple. Our are organic so we have to cut around some of them that are worm eaten. I wish Starks would carry this variety again , we'd like to have more of them. They are easy to grow. Midwest Mom 8/18/2022

Is the tree disease resistant to apple cedar rust and mildew?

Yes, it is resistant to scab, fire blight, rust and mildew. An excellent cultivar with apples big enough to eat off the tree.

is this tree desease resistant ?

Thank you for your question. It is pest- and scab-resistant and is wonderful for fresh eating, unlike most other crabapples.

I currently have two apple trees; one is a Haralson. Do I need additional apple trees to pollinate the chestnut crabapple tree I intend to purchase?

Haralson is not self-fertile and needs a pollination partner of a different variety nearby.

Can this be pollinated by a Whitney crabapple?

These two crabapples are in different flowering groups and do not pollinate one another.

What kind of peat to use for mulch?

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?

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 (32ºF) and below 90ºF, 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.

I would like to plant several apple trees in the woods near my hunting camp to attract deer. Any suggestions?

I don't know about apple trees. Mine have not yet started bearing. The native mulberry trees in my yard are being torn up now (December) by deer during rutting season - they seem to like the mulberries more than the other trees for some reason.

Bloom color?

This tree has white blooms.

I live in zone 9 and want to plant a crab apple tree. Which one will work the best for me and does it need a pollinator?

Our website has a special feature that will help you find the best plants for you to grow in your area. Simply enter your zip code in our Hardiness Zone Finder and as you browse our page, you’ll see a small check mark next to products that are hardy to your growing zone! Typically crabapples do not need a pollinator as they are self pollinating.

https://www.starkbros.com/zone-finder

Customer Reviews

72 Ratings
4.2out of 5 stars
72 Ratings

Rated 5 stars by 65% of reviewers

Rated 4 stars by 15% of reviewers

Rated 3 stars by 3% of reviewers

Rated 2 stars by 6% of reviewers

Rated 1 star by 11% of reviewers

1-10 of 72 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 12, 2025
strong tree, good growth
an excellent and hardy little tree, it is in the ground a year and already has a small amount of fruit on it. wants to grow! be ready to prune if you'd like to keep it smaller.
it is in full sun with very little water this year and seems perfectly fine. I have had these apples before and they're very good, rich and complex flavors. looking forward to one or two to taste. I've thinned out all but a few, so the tree can put on more growth for next year.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 2, 2025
Doing well
I planted the crabapple tree early this spring and it is doing very well! It even had a few blooms.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 28, 2024
It is growing well above my leach field and making more and more small but delicious apples.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 17, 2024
Chestnut crabapple
So far it is growing great only had it for 4 months so I don't know how the apples are going to be
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 16, 2024
Growing well
Arrived on schedule in good condition. Growing well to date.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 13, 2024
Good growth so far at year 2
I bought 3 apple trees last year after moving to a new home, this tree from Stark Bros seems to be doing the best. It is my only tree to flower this year.
Rated 5 out of 5
Mar 16, 2024
Strong healthy tree
My tree arrived very healthy and strong. Survived the winter and is now starting to sprout. Can't wait to try the apples.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jan 3, 2024
Midwest Mom
We love our Chestnut Crabapple and glad you offer it again. It is good eaten from the tree and makes the most delicious crabapple cider vinegar, butter, and jelly besides crabapple pie. One tree supplies our needs and we offer our butters and jellies to many families.
We live in Show Me State and the Chestnut Crabapple has given us no problem and easy to grow. It has surprised us with early Spring frost and still bloomed and set fruit . A very dependable fruit tree of for the family.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 17, 2023
Great tree
Though I try to stay away from dry root trees, I found this tree well rooted and healthy. I will give this tree 5 stars.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 9, 2020
A Great Tree
I bought this mainly as a pollinator for my apple trees. It does a great job at that as there have been noticeable yield increases since planting. What I love about the chestnut crabapple is that (1) it's a larger fruit so it's easier to harvest, (2) helps my apples, and (3) the big surprise is how great they taste! The tree arrived bare root and quickly took to it's new surroundings once planted. Mine is in year 3 and is loaded with fruit.