Stark® Emerald Spire® Apple Tree
Description
About the Stark® Emerald Spire® Apple Tree
Maximize your growing space with this compact apple tree that bears full-sized fruit! Spire trees, sometimes called urban fruit trees or columnar trees, are gaining in popularity with backyard growers for their compact size, ease of maintenance, and for the idea of a quick, easy harvest. Columnar apple trees tend to bear fruit within the first couple of years!
When mature, columnar trees reach about 8-10 feet in height, but only spread about 2-3 feet wide – the apples grow from spurs along the trunk. The Emerald Spire is ideal for growing in containers or small spaces. Urban gardeners enjoy them as patio accents or planted in a row as an edible hedge.
The Emerald Spire produces attractive green apples with a beautiful golden blush. The apples are excellent for fresh eating and homemade apple sauce. You’ll enjoy the homegrown fruit when the apples ripen in early to mid-September.
Pollinator required: Choose another apple variety. See recommended pollinators below.
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 | White |
| Bloom Time | Mid |
| Chill Hours | 800 - 1200 |
| Fruit Color | Green |
| Fruit Size | Medium - Large |
| Hardiness Zone Range | 4 - 8 |
| Pollination | Pollinator Required |
| Ripens/Harvest | Early To Mid September |
| Shade/Sun | Full Sun |
| Soil Composition | Loamy |
| Soil Moisture | Well Drained |
| Soil pH Level | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| Taste | Tangy, Tart |
| Texture | Crisp |
| Years to Bear | 2 - 5 |
Size & Spacing
Mature Size
| Semi-Dwarf | 12 - 15' tall x 2 - 3' wide |
| Dwarf | 8 - 10' tall x 2 - 3' wide |
Recommended Spacing
Zone Compatibility
Pollination
This variety requires another one for adequate pollination.
Tools & Supplies
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
Questions & Answers
I use the Emerald Spire for cooking, backing, and fresh snack. I use the Crimson Spire for fresh use only.
No, definitely not as tart, softer texture inside and sweeter. Mine are not juicy though, more soft and grainy than a Granny typically is. Great apple sauce apple though.
Thank you for your question! There are indeed two Emerald Spire® apples: one is a columnar crabapple, and the other, on which Stark Bro's owns the trademark is the Stark® Emerald Spire® columnar apple. Ours is a full-size green apple with a golden blush; the other Emerald Spire® has small red apples, but is preferred more for its flowering characteristics than its fruit.
Hi, I spray my trees with water and peroxide about once a week and after a rain and it keeps them healthy, so far. I've had them for 4 years now, so far so good. I start when the buds are red and spray throughout the growing season. At times I miss but I try to be on time.
You can grow almost anything in a container! This excellent article will answer your questions and provide good advice. Please see "Growing Fruit Trees in Containers" //www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/fruit-trees-in-containers-pt1
Stephanie J,
I too have many spire Apple trees and have had to thin them out for size and flavor . I made the mistake of not doing this two years ago and lost almost all of my fruit on all 10 trees due to over crowding and resource issues. I chose to
leave two per branch last year and the fruit was larger, juicier and crispier. Hope that helps you!
The Stark® Emerald Spire® Columnar Apple Tree is a compact, vertical-growing tree ideal for small spaces and container growing — and while its size is small, it still offers a respectable fruit yield once mature.
Dwarf: 1-4 bushels
Semi-dwarf: 5-10 bushels
Standard: 10-20 bushels
Columnar: 25 pounds
These ripen early to mid September
Customer Reviews
The bare root tree arrived in great condition, and has leafed out nicely both years. To our surprise, it produced a bunch of apples now in the second year already! Bugs & weather are doing their best to beat it up, but the tree itself is doing great. If we even get a few apples per tree this year, it'll be a nice surprise.
Photos are the day it was planted, spring 2023 and some progress shots up until this summer 2024.
It's pretty great seeing such a short, narrow tree covered in apples. They're like the nerds rope of fruit trees!
I have one already and the apples are delicious.
1st one purchased did poorly overwintering in garage. Most of trunk died. New sprout starting at base of tree. I wanted a pollinator for my other columnar apple tree.
Always wanted a spire type apple tree but could never afford one . Thankyou so much for this sale .
I like the columnar trees and this looked to be one I’d like