Photo of Stark® Ultra Spire® Apple TreePhoto of Stark® Ultra Spire® Apple TreePhoto of Stark® Ultra Spire® Apple TreePhoto of Stark® Ultra Spire® Apple Tree
tree icon What tree size should I choose?

Stark® Ultra Spire® Apple Tree

Starting at
$85.99
Each
30 ReviewsAsk Questions
Starting at
$85.99
Each

Description

A Stark Bro's Exclusive!

About the Stark® Ultra Spire® Apple Tree

Great for containers and borders! The Stark® Ultra Spire® is the most compact columnar apple tree. When mature, this small fruit tree reaches about 7-8 feet in height and only spreads about 2-3 feet wide. The apples grow from spurs along the trunk. Maintaining and harvesting from these small trees is a breeze! Gardeners in urban areas or with small growing spaces enjoy growing these column-shaped trees in pots on their patios or planted in a row as an edible privacy hedge.

Quick to start bearing fruit, the Ultra Spire produces full-size apples that ripen in mid-September. The apples are a bold red color with creamy flesh. Tart in taste, Ultra Spire apples are perfect for baking, making sauce, and other preserves.

Pollinator required: Choose another apple variety like Stark® Crimson Spire®, Stark® Emerald Spire®, Stark® Scarlet Spire®, or Stark® Maypole Flowering Crabapple. See more 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 Red
Fruit Size Medium
Hardiness Zone Range 4 - 8
Pollination Pollinator Required
Ripens/Harvest September
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Sweet, Tart
Texture Crisp, Juicy
Years to Bear 2 - 5

Size & Spacing

Mature Size

When your tree matures, it will be approximately 8 - 10' tall x 2 - 3' wide.

Recommended Spacing

We recommend spacing these trees 2 - 3' apart to ensure room for growth.

Zone Compatibility

This Variety's Zone Range 4 - 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.

Read about how to grow apple trees »

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

We've 'tagged' this item with specific keywords that help you find other products that share features or characteristics with this one. Select a tag below to view all the items that have that particular trait.

Questions & Answers

Have a question? Ask owners.Have a question about this? Ask people who own it.
Start typing and see existing answers.
28 Questions
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro'sStore

small space

Nancy M

Gift

WILFREDO R

I don't have enough space to grow two large trees so I would love to try these small dwarf apple trees that I can grow in pots

Carrie M

There will be seven columnar apple trees on one side of my home.

Catherine M
Are these prone to any pests? I have Japanese beetles that eat the leaves of my raspberry bushes. The raspberries can take it, but will this be a problem for the apple trees?
Gregg

Yes, unfortunately japanese beetles will cluster on these apple trees and eat the leaves and small stems. You'll either need to spray (which I find effective) or net the trees while they are small and after they are pollinated.

KIM L
What size container would be good for columnar spire apple tree?
ANDREA W

The pot size should be about 20 inches wide and 20 inches deep.

TiffanyF
I have both the Scarlet Spire and Ultra Spire apple trees in containers currently in zone 6A (Northern Kentucky). When should I move them into our unheated garage for the winter? They were planted this year, and had about 8-10 inches of new growth. We have had a couple of freezes overnight, but nothing too drastic yet. They are still fully leafed out so I don't want to move them too soon.
MARY H

Wait as long as you can without risking the plant before placing it inside. Once your trees loose their leaves and fall dormant and night time temps fall to freezing this is the best time to get them moved.

TiffanyF
Hi there! I planted 2 columnar apple trees this spring that did great! Do these trees require or benefit from pruning? If so, when should I start? Year #1, 2, 3? Thanks much!
NICOLE L

Columnar trees needs no pruning other than occasional shortening of sideshoots and the leading (top) shoot. Thin out spurs in winter when congested.

TiffanyF
When does this tree start creating leaves? I have two of the other apple trees and they have their leaves on them, but this one for some reason is not putting out leaves. doing the scratch test, it is green.

I'm in Northern Kentucky and my tree has blooms and leaves currently, but it was delayed due to a span of cooler weather and late freezes. If the scratch test shows green, give it time especially if your area had periods of cool/cold temps in the last month or so. Check for bud swell, as this will happen before the blooms and leaves emerge and should give you an indication what stage your tree is in.

Mary H
What are these apples best uses? Cooking? cider? fresh only? Something else?
STEPHANIE A

These Columnar trees are prolific producers. Although the apples can be used in any baking recipe, we love eating them fresh. Great producers, takes up far less space than any other apple tree, and is perfect for everything! For my small farm, these trees fit where others wouldn’t!

RHONDA G
Will this tree ultra spear pollinate a golden Sentinel column, Apple tree ?
Michael Angelo Savino

Yes, it is very likely that an Ultra Spear apple tree (also known as a "North Pole" columnar apple tree) can pollinate a Golden Sentinel columnar apple tree.

TiffanyF
Hi - I'd like to plant my apple columnar trees in the ground.  I'm in zone 7a.  Will they be ok over the winter?  Thanks.
Sarah W

Yes they will do fine over wintering in your zone.

TiffanyF
Is this tree resistant to cedar rust?
David C

No there is no resistance to cedar apple rust.

TiffanyF
would a Whitney crabapple work well as a pollinator?

Yes you can use a crab apple for pollination of your other apple trees.

TiffanyF
Questions for Similar Products

Customer Reviews

30 Ratings
4.2out of 5 stars
30 Ratings

Rated 5 stars by 63% of reviewers

Rated 4 stars by 17% of reviewers

Rated 3 stars by 10% of reviewers

Rated 2 stars by 0% of reviewers

Rated 1 star by 10% of reviewers

1-10 of 30 Reviews
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 1, 2024
1st year Ultra spire doing great
Purchased and planted in 2023. Great growth, healthy trees. I lost a few limbs to the Cicadas this year but as far as growth of the tree it is fine. Bloomed really well and had apples until Cicadas attacked and I had not sprayed yet. All in all great growth even with losing branches to the Cicadas the tree grew about a foot and a half taller.
Kate C
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 1, 2024
Columnar apple trees
Planted in a large pot. Fully leafed now and looking very healthy.
CHERIE B
Rated 5 out of 5
Nov 11, 2023
So far so good
I received the tree in good condition, I repotted it and have been caring for it with love. So far so good, and I hope it will flourish over the years.
AJ J
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 15, 2023
Great trees! Heat tolerant
The trees arrived healthy and after planting (June) they sagged for a few days, but within a week were thriving. As the summer progressed and it got hot (upper 90's for weeks) the trees did great! With proper water and fertilizer following guidance from Stark Bros, they made it through some very hot, dry weather. It's now early fall and they are still thriving! Looking forward to next spring to see how they handle the winter cold. Highly recommend the Ultra Spire for warmer planting Zones. I'm in Zone 7.
RANDALL B
Rated 5 out of 5
Sep 11, 2023
They made it despite a hot and dry summer
I bought two urban apples, and I am very happy with them. First, they came bare root, and I was concerned they would never make it due to the high heat and lack of rain. Well, they did just fine. I watered them every day, and while they are too young to produce apples, they produced a lot of healthy leaves. I they made it through a nasty hot and dry summer.
LAREE O
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 31, 2023
Apple tree
Easy to ordered, received appropriate emails for order and tracking, tree arrived quickly and in good health it is thriving now. Will be ordering any future trees from here.
TENAYA M
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 27, 2023
Healthy and hardy
It arrived bare root, very healthy. It has now since then sprouted a lot of leaves. I am hopeful next year I would get some apples from this one.
charity c
Rated 5 out of 5
Aug 12, 2023
Columnar Spire Apple Tree
Also with this Columnar Ultra Spire Apple Tree, it is growing well, I planted them in my flower bed, I think these 2 Columnar Apple Trees will look great with my flowers.
DANA H
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 21, 2023
Great for adding a vertical
I continue to purchase these when I'm after a vertical impact in a small garden. Leaves, blooms, fruit are the pluses.
WINTHROP S
Rated 5 out of 5
Jul 19, 2023
Container Bound but No Blooms Yet
I purchased two of these and two of the Scarlet Spire trees. I am container gardening for the first time, first year gardening. Can someone show me a picture of what the blossoms look like for this tree? My trees arrived dry, during a very hot spell, but did well after soaking and started making leaves two weeks after planting. I still have no blossoms on either plant but they are producing a lot of nice green leaves! Are they too immature to blossom yet? I would like to attach a picture of one of my trees, maybe I'm doing something wrong? (I'm very much a NOVICE in every way!)
Jen V.

More items we think you'll love!