Zestar!® Apple Tree

About the Zestar!® Apple Tree

Zestar!® Apple Tree is a standout early-season apple tree known for its bright, well-balanced flavor and exceptional cold hardiness. Bred by the University of Minnesota, this cold-hardy apple tree was developed specifically for northern growers and home orchards that need reliable performance and great taste early in the season.

The fruit has a crisp, juicy texture with a lively sweet-tart flavor that consistently performs well in taste tests. Zestar!® apples are excellent for fresh eating and ripen in early August, making them one of the first high-quality apples of the season. Unlike many early apples, this variety stores surprisingly well, keeping up to eight weeks under proper refrigeration.

The tree grows vigorously when young, then settles into a more compact, spur-bearing habit as it matures, producing fruit annually once established. It is notably cold-hardy with good winter survival and shows fairly strong tolerance to most common apple issues, though it may have average susceptibility to apple scab in some regions.

Introduced in 1999, Zestar!® is the result of careful breeding between the State Fair apple and a University of Minnesota selection, combining early ripening, excellent flavor, and durability. For best fruit production, plant this apple tree with another compatible variety for cross-pollination.