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Starkspur® Red Rome Beauty Apple
Starkspur® Red Rome Beauty Apple

Starkspur® Red Rome Beauty Apple

80 ReviewsAsk Questions

Available Spring 2020

Supplies are limited so make sure you don't miss out next time by having us automatically notify you when it becomes available again.

Description

A Stark Bro's Exclusive!

Our best baking apple — just tart enough. The spurs on our Starkspur® trees allow fruit to form on each limb — bearing from the trunk out! Regular trees only bear fruit on outside limbs. This variety’s precocious nature earned it the nickname ‘mortgage maker’ from growers. Produces shiny red apples just 2-3 years after planting. They taste great right off the tree, but you’ll want to save plenty for the most delicious pies, crisps and cobblers you’ve ever tasted. Also makes beautiful sautéed apple slices because they hold their shape when cooked. Originates from Selah, Washington in 1970. Cold-hardy. Ripens in mid October. Self-pollinating.

Characteristics

Bloom Color White
Fruit Color Red
Fruit Size Large
Pollination Self-pollinating
Ripens/Harvest Mid October
Shade/Sun Full Sun
Soil Composition Loamy
Soil Moisture Well Drained
Soil pH Level 6.0 - 7.0
Taste Sweet And Tart
Texture Firm
Years to Bear 2 - 3
Zone Range 4 - 8

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 compatability 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. You'll get fruit with only one plant!

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.

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

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Browse 10 questions Browse 10 questions and 71 answers
Why did you choose this?
Stark Bro's Store
It is self-pollinating and good for baking!
Tricia G on May 27, 2019
I wanted a self pollinating spur type apple.
Bonnie T on May 20, 2019
It is self-pollinating and good for baking!
Tricia G on May 27, 2019
Best baking apple ever!
Ann Marie F on May 22, 2019
I wanted a self pollinating spur type apple.
Bonnie T on May 20, 2019
I recently lost my Jonathon tree and needed another pollinator for my Honeycrisp. I wanted a tree that is good for pies and crisps.
LAURIE W on May 19, 2019
We chose this variety based on what others have said about rate of growth and taste. Another reviewer mentioned the Northern Spy apple as having a slightly better flavor, but this variety seems to have really good reviews on taste as well. We are setting up a small homestead and this was a variety we chose based on cold hardiness and taste.
Cheryl C on May 13, 2019
dwarf self polinating
Douglas L on May 13, 2019
pollinator for honey crisp
Carl W P on May 11, 2019
Price and pollinator
Kathleen V on May 6, 2019
Semi-dwarf and self pollinating for our growing zone. Stark Brothers company has a great reputation for quality products.
Elizabeth B on Apr 30, 2019
Great reviews and will be a good pollinator.
Wendie S on Apr 29, 2019
Wanted a pollinator for my Arkasas Black trees. Flavor profile sounded good.
Deanna Z on Apr 24, 2019
Price is right, looks good and dwarf variety.
John G on Apr 11, 2019
Starkspur production
LAWRENCE M on Apr 9, 2019
Pollinator for Arkansas black, liked what it was best to be used for, that made it a good variety of uses apple
Moriah L on Feb 4, 2019
Pollinator for Arkansas Black & we like apple pie from home grown apples
Mark C on Jan 27, 2019
pollinator for the honney crisp and I love the flavor and it is so good for pies.
GWEN L on Nov 9, 2018
quick bearing, bears good crop every year unless there is a late frost, one of the later apples to drop.
SCOTT W on Oct 18, 2018
for a family member.
Barry P on Oct 16, 2018
Picked apples and made applesauce from friends trees, want more for future sauce and pies from our own trees!
Phaedra B on Oct 8, 2018
I liked the idea of the tree producing in 2 years
I wanted a red crunchy apple
it is self pollinating
Vicky B on Oct 4, 2018
self fertile and dwarf early production
Mark M on Aug 2, 2018
wanted a pollinator for Granny Smith and Honey Crisp, and at the same time have another wonderful tasting apple
RAMON A on Jul 15, 2018
I make and freeze "candied" apple halves for the holiday season. This is the ONLY apple that will retain its shape after being simmered to transparency in cinnamon syrup.
GLENDA on May 11, 2018
good all round apple
Joyce S on May 8, 2018
I bought two red rome from you about 23 years ago and are getting old and are not produce as well and like to replace them make very good baking apples
KARL M on May 6, 2018
Good zone apple for Montana
connie M on Dec 24, 2017
Wanted to have dwarf apples I love the red's and Stark bros is to me , the only place to buy from. We have perfect trust in their products !!
cregg n on Aug 1, 2017
As a pollinator for a new Honeycrisp Apple Tree. I like the late harvest and that it is a baking apple.
Brian M on May 22, 2017
Friend had this variety on his farm but cut them down to renovate orchard. Makes nice pies and not bad eating either. Wanted to try in my home orchard.
JOSEPH P on May 5, 2017
It's my husband's favorite Apple and we can no longer find them in stores. We've been looking for 2 years.
Kathleen W on Mar 24, 2017
Recommended pollinator for my Arkansas Black and space limitations.
drscot on Mar 4, 2017
We wanted a Self-pollinating apple tree for the front yard; we ordered the Dwarf. We have a lot of success with all of our fruit trees in the backyard... we have 14 total. Our chickens love to eat the drops and help us with insect control.
A R on Jan 29, 2017
Very tasty, it yielded 10 full sized apples within the 1st yr of planting
Usama T on Jan 20, 2017
Wanted a good apple for eating and baking.
David B on Jan 16, 2017
Great for applesauce
Ernest M on Dec 10, 2016
What ever you want an apple for this works; eating , cooking, juicing, with very good flavor not overly sweet.
Michael V on Oct 29, 2016
My favorate polinator for the Honey Crisp.
Edward D on Oct 20, 2016
Great as a baking apple
Lowell S on Oct 18, 2016
Cooking
Karin B on Oct 11, 2016
It is a dwarf self pollinator.
Julia P on Oct 7, 2016
I just ordered the fruits today, it has a lot of good reviews...I never had Rome Apple before. I hope it grows well here in MS, looking forward to taste the fruit!
fely mae l on Sep 23, 2016
It sounded like a good variety to cross pollinate with the Honeycrisp Apple variety that i ordered.
vicky k on Sep 7, 2016
Love these baked, in applesauce and mixed with other varieties for applebutter.
EUNICE W on Sep 6, 2016
Taste, self pollinator, harvest later than other tree ordered
THERESA M on May 27, 2016
This is being sent to MOM and DAD from my brother... Since I have had such an awesome experience with everything from Starks Bro's.
I ordered this for him and they are REALLY pleased!!
PAUL I on May 26, 2016
I chose this tree because of its many usages and flavor. I really wanted to purchase the King apple, but it doesn't have an option for semi-dwarf. This was the one I was choosing to pollinate the King. And this one is closest to what I wanted in the King and it comes in the semi-dwarf size. My Grandfather had a King apple tree in his side yard, and I can remember the size and flavor of those apples! If only my yard was big enough to accommodate both trees.
Katherine A on May 20, 2016
Can eat & cook with this apple self pollinating
Carole B on Apr 30, 2016
I liked that this was a sweet and tart apple. I bought this with KinderKrisp and Gravenstein. Looking for a more of a tart apple to go along with the sweeter KinderKrisp. The tree is, really, the pollinator for the Gravenstein and KinderKrisp.
Joshua W on Apr 6, 2016
These are the apples from my childhood, they are hard to find in the grocery stores. When I get compliments for my pies, it's because I'm able to get my hands on either Rome Beauties, or Jonathan apples from someone coming through town peddling apples. They also have good flavor for fresh eating.
SANDRA W on Mar 29, 2016
Self pollinater need due to lack of space
Rhonda W on Mar 23, 2016
Best baking apple ever!
Ann Marie F on May 22, 2019
I recently lost my Jonathon tree and needed another pollinator for my Honeycrisp. I wanted a tree that is good for pies and crisps.
LAURIE W on May 19, 2019
does this apple can , and or freeze well ?
Lorri P on Apr 21, 2016
BEST ANSWER: I have found that this apple cans well. However, I've never frozen apples. My first thought is that they may become mushy. However, I do freeze peaches for baking and they are worth the effort. You may consider freezing a small (4-5) amount and using them in a baked tart - my guess is that after baking, they would be fine! Good luck, Lorri!
How long does this variety store after harvest?
Karen H on Mar 16, 2016
BEST ANSWER: 4 to 5 months in proper storage.
I have 2 Red Rome Beauty apple trees that are covered with apples. It is October 13th and they are very red on top (that faces the sun) and more green on the bottom, that doesn't. How can I tell when I should pick these apples?
GABRIELLE L on Oct 13, 2017
BEST ANSWER: This apple generally ripens in mid-October, so it's close, but if the apples are still green, they're not ready. The best way to tell for sure is to cut one open and see if the seeds are dark brown. That is a ripe apple.
How is this variety for fresh eating? We like Braeburns at our local store. Never tried this one.
beames on May 25, 2019
BEST ANSWER: We got 3 off our tree, just 2nd yr. Very sweet and juicy. Looking forward to the next crop!
Can I plant boysenberry close to raspberry?
Linda R on Apr 9, 2019
BEST ANSWER: Yes, you can. You only need to be careful about planting black raspberries near raspberries and blackberries.
What is the size of the tree when it is shipped?
BlueDog T on Oct 19, 2018
BEST ANSWER: 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.
i have only partial sun, how will that affect the tree?
Brian N on Feb 22, 2017
BEST ANSWER: You will get more leaves than fruit, and if you do get fruit is will be smaller and pretty sparse. Fruit trees really need full sun in order to produce.
I want to plant honeycrisp apple tree. I already have red delicious and gala. Can they pollinate or I need plant another kind?
Fang l on Feb 20, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Thank you for your inquiry. Yes, the Starkrimson Gala and Honeycrisp will pollinate each other.

Customer Reviews

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4.4 / 5.0
80 Reviews
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Star
52
19
3
3
3
Very disease resistant.
I purchased my Red Rome beauty over 15 years ago and have never had a bit of cedar apple rust even though the tree is only 50 ft away from large cedar trees. I have a standard and am overwhelmed by the amount of wonderful apples. On a good year, neighbors, friends,and church members have shared the harvest, along with buckets of apples for the horses. A truly great productive, reliable tree. Every yard should have a tree like this!
May 21, 2016
Pollination
I purchased the Starkspur Red Rome Beauty Apple as an aid in pollination for the Honey Crisps I also purchased. As a former devotee of Miller Nurseries (recently purchased by Stark Bro's), I placed an order with Stark Bro's and received a similar level of service and quality of product that kept me loyal to Miller for decades. The Starkspur Red Rome Beauty is in its second season with me, vigorous, and is now- 5/5/16 -producing flowers. Based on my experience, I can earnestly recommend Stark Bro's and their stock. My hardiness zone is 5a.
May 11, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Of all my Stark Apples this is my favorite
Without a doubt this was my favorite of all the trees I have ordered from stark bros. It arrived healthy and larger than expected. It not only survived its first winter under care of a new gardener, but flourished. It began flowering its first year, and by year two I allowed it to bear a few fruit. The apples tasted incredible and I anticipate great crops in the future.
March 13, 2016
Outstanding!
The little sticks I put in the ground last spring produced growth much stronger than I could have anticipated. They wintered over with no dieback and took off strong this year. They are now flowering heavily! I had to take pictures to prove one year old trees can do that. I bought from Stark because my grandfather's trees were all Stark. He received them from a Stark family member for his service in WWI.
May 24, 2016
Rome
It is 5 feet tall this spring, leafing out nicely and it has about 20 flowers. It is my second Rome. I like them because it is very dense apple and a very deep red that even extends into the flesh. When you polish it it is the most beautiful photogenic apple in my orchard. It is best in applesauce because it imparts a beautiful rose color to the sauce. It's not as tasty to eat out of hand as a Cortland or Northern Spy
May 4, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Dwarf Starkspur Red Rome
It's a little early to tell how well it is growing since I planted it in the fall of 2015. I can say at this point that when it arrived it had already been pruned and was in good shape,the roots were moist. I have high hopes for that tree which was purchased to be a pollinator for a Honeycrisp that was planted several years ago but hasn't had many apples. So time will tell , besides Rome apples make a delicious cooked apple with cinnamon and a little sugar.
February 26, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Quick growing apple
As promised the plant survived within one winter and is blooming and showing apples in the second year itself.
June 2, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Good
Bare root came timely in good condition. Survived 1st winter well.
March 10, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago
Red Rome Beauty Apple
The bare root plant is several years old and doing very well. I've planted several varieties of apples from Stark Bros., all are doing very well.
May 27, 2016
Purchased
 over 4 years ago
Looks good so far...
Trees arrived in perfect condition and well packaged. Both currently still just look like sticks, but we will hopefully see some life in the near future!
March 4, 2016
Purchased
 over 3 years ago

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