Description

A Stark Bro's Exclusive!

Perfect for pie! Compact-growing tree yields a bright red fruit with that classic Jonathan sweet-tart taste. Make flavorful pies, adds complexity to cider, and is a top choice for old-fashioned candied apples. Originates from Waverly, Missouri in 1963. Ripens in mid September. Self-pollinating.

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 - 1500
Fruit Color Red
Fruit Size Medium
Hardiness Zone Range 5 - 8
Pollination Self-Pollinating
Ripens/Harvest Mid September
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Sweet
Texture Crisp
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 is self pollinating.

In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. Plant one of these varieties within 100' for best results.

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.

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Questions & Answers

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64 Questions
Why did you choose this?

as a pollinator

Like Jonathan apples

a gift for a friend that doesn't have a lot of space

Self-pollinating

It is recommended to blend apples to make cider. Does any one have favorite blends of apples they use to make cider? What are they and in what amounts or % are they used in the blend?

After a few years of experiments in New York, my favorite so far is 50% ida red 25% cortland and 25% a mix of anything like mac/empire/honeycrisp/snapdragon/gala. The Ida's and Cort's have higher acid than the others that gives the hard cider a nice zip. If you can find golden russet or gold rush or yarlington mill or porter's perfection add them too. Don't use 100% gala, red del, or fuji (all very low acid) unless you want to see what bland watery hard cider tastes like. They're fine at 5-10%. Yeast selection influences 50% of the flavor too. Try champagne yeast, cote de blanc and nottingham ale for a spectrum of flavor and then try blending the finished ciders. (don't blend yeasts to ferment, they'll fight). Ferment temp changes flavor too, I like 60'F but if your kitchen is 72 try it and see.

Jona Red and Jona Gold-will they increase pollination planted together?

Jon-a-Red is a self-pollinating apple tree, which means it can pollinate itself and other apple trees. Jonagold is pollen-sterile apple tree, which means it can be pollinated by other apple trees, but it cannot be used as a reliable pollen source for other apple trees. Because Jon-a-Red is self pollinating, it doesn't require another variety to get fruit, so it is a good "partner" for a tree like Jonagold.

Is Jonathan apple tree susceptible to fire blight?

Yes. I live in piedmont of NC and really wanted to grow this. My tree of a few yrs is alive but looks horrible. I must cut it down due to disease. I also admit I've not sprayed it. I hate using sprayd but I've learned they're required to be successful for some things growing in my zone. I don't think I'll try a replacement with spraying because it's been tough watching it struggle.

The one I just planted today had green leaves on it, I have planted other bare root apple tress and they never had green leaves on them in the fall. Hope it is going to be ok?

If your tree recently shipped it had leaves because it came potted and has not gone dormant yet. Your tree should transplant well and will go dormant naturally with all the other trees in your area.

How does the disease resistance of this variety compare to Jonafree?

If you're looking for disease-resistance in your Jonathan apple tree, Jonafree is the one to get. Regular Jonathans like this Jon-A-Red may be more susceptible to diseases like cedar apple rust.

What time of year is best to plant?

We appreciate you reaching out to us. 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.
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.

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

Can this tree tolerate hot climates ?

Mine is still alive but it is not thriving. The weather here in Texas is Zone B but Texas full son is not the same as Washington full sun. I think you will do better in Washington.

Is this tree an heirloom?

The Stark® Jon-A-Red® Jonathan Apple Tree is not considered a true heirloom variety. It is a modern selection of the classic Jonathan apple, which is an heirloom variety that dates back to the early 1800s.

Stark Jon-A-Red was developed as an improved strain of Jonathan, selected for its deeper red color, firmer texture, and longer storage life. While it retains much of the flavor and characteristics of the original Jonathan, it is a more recent selection, making it a sport variety rather than a historical heirloom.

My apple tree will be planted in a spot where it will be hit by the sprinklers when I water the lawn. Will that water damage the tree for fruit?

There should be no problem as long as you don't over water it.

Can you plant an apple tree where a maple tree was removed?

I think you should be able to do this as long as you plant the new tree a few feet away from the old tree. (You never want to plant a new tree directly over the roots of an old tree.) And I wouldn't recommend this if the old tree was a walnut tree. (The walnut tree actually uses "toxins" to out-compete other surrounding plants/trees. Not a problem with a maple.

Customer Reviews

146 Ratings
4.2out of 5 stars
146 Ratings

Rated 5 stars by 66% of reviewers

Rated 4 stars by 10% of reviewers

Rated 3 stars by 8% of reviewers

Rated 2 stars by 3% of reviewers

Rated 1 star by 12% of reviewers

1-10 of 146 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 1, 2025
If I only had more room!
The tree arrived good sized and healthy as well as packaged well. The tree is flourishing outside in my yard. Thank you for the great tree!
Rated 5 out of 5
Apr 12, 2025
Best apple imo
Jonathan is like a son to me I help nurture him and although he has gotten a bad fungus that was not his fault just the environment but he's still kicking.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 17, 2024
Very happy with apple tree
Apple tree doing great, a lot of healthy leaves. Look forward to see blooms next spring
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 13, 2024
very healthy tree
we bought the tree in 4/2022, last year we had 3 cherry size apples, this year we have 7 golf ball size apples.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 9, 2024
Great little tree, a lot of growth and flourishing!
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 3, 2024
Prize Stock With Vigor and Show Ability
We planted this apple in our drought ridden ground in May this spring. With water and more water this tree has flourished and grows extremely well! Well placed braches and the leaves are healthy. The wood is showing the durability of this apple tree resistance to wind. The tree's name is Eve. Adam was planted on the same day and is a crisp eating apple tree. Both trees are the example of good stock. Thank you for these healthy trees!
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 24, 2024
Deer and Dry Spell a Double Whammy
This tree had been doing well for us until a deer found it and chewed all of the leaves off of it. We were out of town for a little over a week and a hot dry spell hit while we were gone, so we are now working hard trying to help it revive. We think it will survive if the deer will leave it alone.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 21, 2024
Yummy apple goodies
Between this one and the Granny Smith and the Arkansas Black, I should get some fabulous applesauce, apple pies, apple juice and apple jelly. Looking forward to my first set of apples.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 17, 2024
This Tree is a Winner
This is our second year with this tree. I didn't let it have apples last year because it was so small but this year it is producing well. I thinned a lot of them because the tree is still so young. This tree is a winner!
Rated 5 out of 5
Jun 12, 2024
First year with these trees, all leafed out - so far so good.