Description

A fresh eating favorites! These excellent apples keep for 4-6 months in proper storage. Deep crimson skin covers sweet, crisp, subacid yellow flesh. Tree is upright with a round canopy. Introduced circa 2004. Disease-resistant to apple scab. Ripens early to mid-September. CrimsonCrisp™ is being offered under license from Adams County Nursery, Inc. Pollinator required: Choose another apple variety. See recommended pollinators below. Co-op 39 cultivar.

Survival Guaranteed!

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 send you a free one-time replacement, with a nominal shipping fee of $9.99. If the item in question is not available, we can issue a one-time credit to your account equaling the original product purchase price or issue you a refund. Read more about our warranty policy.

Characteristics

Bloom Color Purple, Red, White
Bloom Time Mid
Chill Hours 800 - 1000
Fruit Color Red
Fruit Size Medium
Hardiness Zone Range 5 - 8
Pollination Pollinator Required
Ripens/Harvest Early-mid September
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Subacid
Texture Very Crisp, Moderately Juicy, Mild Acid
Years to Bear 2 - 5

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'

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 5 - 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.

Shipping Information

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.

Tags

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Questions & Answers

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38 Questions
Why did you choose this?

Flavor description

Companion tree

I liked the name, and I'm curious to try this apple in a few year's.

We needed to plant a pollinator for one already planted.

Will this cross-pollinate with liberty, enterprise or freedom apple trees?

Freedom and Enterprise yes, but not Liberty.

I'd like to grow these trees as Espalier trees. Are they spur bearing fruit?

We appreciate you reaching out to us. This variety is semi spur bearing.
If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. Have a great day!

Is this a dwarf variety?

This item is currently out of stock, but we hope to make it available again soon. Supplies will be limited when it does return, so make sure you don't miss out by requesting an availability email above. We'll automatically notify you when it's back in stock.

We usually carry these in all three sizes, we are just currently out of stock at the moment.

Is Crimson Crisp resistant to fire blight?

We appreciate you reaching out to us. In addition to apple scab, Crimson Crisp is moderately resistant to rusts and powdery mildew. But it is susceptible to fire blight.

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. Have a great day!

What root stock do you use?

We appreciate you reaching out to us. We use several different root-stocks, depending upon the desired result and what is available. For that reason, we're unable to guarantee a specific root-stock​

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us, remember that we're here for you. Have a great day!

Is this the same as Cosmic crisp?

No. They are different varities. From the one I had an an orchard I would say they have a simple straightforward sweet tart taste where cosmic has more funkiness, I would say these remind me of a jonathon or empire but are crunchier and harder.

Spur or tip bearing?

The CrimsonCrisp apple tree is a spur-bearing variety.

My soil is sand and clay in south Alabama.  Also hot and humid. What is the best apple tree?

I am not sure about which variety of apple tree is best for your conditions in Alabama. I am growing several varieties and they are just starting to get mature enough to hold fruit. The best one has been the Liberty apple. Very hearty, disease and drought tolerant. I hope that helps.

Will the Cosmic Crisp apple tree cross pollinate with a Cameo or Pink Lady tree?

Yes, Cameo and Pink Lady can both cross-pollinate Cosmic Crisp, but Cosmic Crisp cannot return the favor (since it’s triploid).

If you plant Cosmic Crisp + either Cameo or Pink Lady, you're good to go.

For best results, having a third mid- to late-blooming diploid apple nearby (like Fuji, Golden Delicious, or Enterprise) can improve pollination and fruit set for all.

What size are the trees when delivered? Also are crimsoncrisp and yellow transparent compatible for pollination

That will depend upon which option you choose. Please see the "Choose an option" dropdown menu near the top of the page, which will show you the various sizes/options that are available. CrimsonCrisp and Yellow Transparent are not ideal pollination partners, primarily due to a bloom time mismatch:

Customer Reviews

44 Ratings
4.2out of 5 stars
44 Ratings

Rated 5 stars by 66% of reviewers

Rated 4 stars by 14% of reviewers

Rated 3 stars by 5% of reviewers

Rated 2 stars by 7% of reviewers

Rated 1 star by 9% of reviewers

1-10 of 44 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 20, 2025
From twigs to blooms in a flash, (well in just a few months).
This is the fourth tree we have purchased. All of them are doing well and are healthy and starting to produce fruit. I was surprised that the bare root dwarf trees we received that looked like twigs, grew into beautiful trees in such a short time.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 9, 2025
We got apples
I have apples in my second season very happy and looking forward to eating some great fruit
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 8, 2024
Shipping was really fast. It started to bud in less than a week and is doing very well.
Can't wait till next year to see how much it grows.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 3, 2024
University Apple
I ordered these very late in the shipping season, as a result they were pushing leaves more than an inch long when they arrived. The leaves were white from sprouting in the dark. I immediately potted them with the intention of setting them out this fall, if they survived. They have flourished. Powdery mildew has been severe this year across varieties but these were untroubled. In sum vigorous in spite of challenging circumstances and disease resistant. Having obsessed over this apple's claimed pedigree I believe the fruit will be a bigger pleasure than the tree. Had I ordered and received these in late April or early May I probably would have been comfortable setting these out. But it was nearly June before they were here so I potted them and still think that was the right approach. These were packed well. They are also grafted close to the soil line, it is seemingly a modern trend across vendors to graft and leave six inches of rootstock exposed. These are not that and I appreciate this as they will most likely be set out with the graft well buried. Yes I know all the reasons not to do this but it is my preference.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 23, 2024
apple trees are doing good but the peach trees only one made it
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 26, 2024
Happy and Healthy
This tree looks happy and healthy. It has grown 2 feet since I planted it in early March. I can't wait until it produces my favorite apples!
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 17, 2024
Fast growing and beautiful tree
I really like this variety. It's definitely behind the others I planted nearby, but only because it was planted so much later. Considering how recently I planted, it's catching up exceptionally fast and already has large, healthy leaves and feels very sturdy which I assume indicates a robust root system as well. Very excited for fruit in a few years
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 12, 2024
These trees have hit the ground running and have already shown growth. Looking forward to enjoying their produce
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 20, 2023
Apple trees are doing great! I am glad I ordered them from you
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 24, 2023
The tree arrived in great condition and is growing very nice