The comprehensive resource for apples and orchards

Arkansas Black apple



Possibly raised by a settler called John Crawford in Arkansas, USA in the 1840s, and certainly widely grown in Arkansas and Missouri later that century.  It is thought to be a seedling of Winesap.  This apple is notable for the extremely dark coloration, which becomes almost black after storage.  The photo shows an Arkansas Black apple taken in March, having been harvested in October.

We are indebted to Monique Reed of Texas for the photo and following descriptive information.
 

"Now, this is supposed to be a very tart, crisp apple and a good keeper. I'd have to say it must mellow enormously in storage, as the one I had was firm and sound, but not especially crisp and not at all tart. (I'm guessing it's near the end of its storage life, since harvest is in fall.) The skin at this stage is extremely waxy.  As advertised, the flesh is medium-pale yellow. It was pleasantly sweet and tasted almost as if it were an apple already prepared to go in a dessert--as if it were a tart apple with sugar (and something else? honey?) added, and perhaps a bit of vanilla near the outside and faint but definite almond undertones nearer the core. There was more going on, taste-wise than in a Red Delicious or your average Fuji--more depth, as in many of the older cultivars. Good apple. Not my favorite, but more interesting than many others."

Further information - see the Encylopedia of Arkansas History and Culture.

Last updated 27 Jan 2013.

A long-keeping tart apple from Arkansas, USA - which goes almost black in storage.

Arkansas Black photo tape

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Winesap seedling?
  • Originates from: United States
  • Introduced: 1840s
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 118100
  • Some historical details taken with kind permission from 'The New Book of Apples' by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards , illustrated by Elisabeth Dowle, published by Ebury Press, 2002.

Identification

  • Flesh colour: Cream
  • Fruit size: Medium

Using

  • Good for eating fresh
  • Good for cooking
  • Good for juice
  • Good for hard cider
  • Cooking result: Textured puree
  • Flavour quality: Very good
  • Flavour style: Aromatic
  • Ripening period: Late season
  • Use / keeping: 3 months or more

Growing

  • Cropping: Good
  • Flowering period: Mid season
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Fertility: Self-sterile
  • Triploid: Yes
  • Poor pollinator: Yes
  • Vigour: Large
  • Gardening skill: Average
  • Fruit bearing: Partial tip-bearer Fruits on spurs and shoot tips
  • Attractive blossom

Climate

  • Suitable for warm climates
  • Suitable for temperate climates

Disease resistance

  • Cedar apple rust  - Very resistant
  • Scab  - Some resistance
  • Fireblight  - Some resistance

Relationships to other varieties

Parents and other ancestors of this variety:

References and further reading

  • Cedar-Apple Rust  
    Author: Stephen Vann, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture (FSA7538)
    Rated as resistant - control only needed under high disease pressure

Arkansas Black identification photos from website visitors


Arkansas Black tape


Arkansas Black

Copyright: M. Rock, OH

Arkansas Black tree, planted 1998, Ohio tape


Arkansas Black tree, planted 1998, Ohio

Copyright: M. Rock, OH


Rate this variety for flavor

Current rating: 4.1 out of 5. Total votes cast: 20
 

Visitor comments

(Use the form at the bottom to add your own comments about this variety)

17 Jan 2013 MikePennsylvania (south-central), United States
I bought this apple from an apple orchard near Gettysburg. I have to agree with Monique Reed of Texas (see comment on Tasting Notes tab). The only additionI noticed: the apple is bland tasting, not tart, and I would prefer a Fuji over this apple any day.
14 Feb 2012 Paul PriceWV, United States
This apple is very popular here in WV. If grown like apples are grown in commercial orchards, the flavor is weak and not at all appealing. If grown organically or even if almost neglected other than pruning this apple is outstanding. One of my uncles remembers as a child digging through the leaves for these apples in February and March and eating them. He said they were perfectly crisp, sweet yet tart and very flavorful.
30 Oct 2011 JeanTN, United States
I bought these at the orchard today. It's bitter and not flavorful. My dog likes it, though.
11 Jul 2011 MikeAR-ARKANSAS, United States
My Arkansas black apple tree just got brown leaves. Is the tree died?
11 Jun 2011 Lori MooreCALIFORNIA, United States
I planted an Arkansas Black in my back yard near a self polinating tree. The area where I live is 5900 ft. elevation and it is a ski resort area in the San Gabriel Mountains of California. I planted the two and a half ft tall tree (then) in May of 2010. This year, ( now June of 2011) I am going to have 12 apples from a now three and a half ft tree. I certainly didn't expect any apples for the next two years. I'll get back to this site after late October to tell you how they are.
11 May 2011 Jo Ellen RingerID, United States
I first ate an Arkansas Black in Oak Glen, California-a low mountain area east of Los Angeles. I kept a basket of these apples for 4 months on my back porch. GREAT KEEPERS! I have never forgotten the FLAVOR. Have purchased a StarkSpur Arkansas Black tree. My county agric. extension agent said they would grow VERY well in southwest Idaho (where I now live).
28 Apr 2011 Mcbee BarbourMISSISSIPPI, United States
Bought 8 trees 2 years ago from the local co-op, and was intrigued by the name Arkansas Black. So far I haven't had any eatable results, but this year looks more promising. Apr '11

30 Jan 2011 Mumin KircaliTURKEY, Turkey
I would like to learn If I can grow Arkansas black apple trees, in regions where the teperature is beween -10/+7 degrees in winter and +20/+35 degrees in summer. mumin
27 Jan 2011 CarmenCA, United States
This apple variety alongside the Pink Lady are my two favorite this year. My local Whole Foods Market carries organic apples. The first time I took a bite of an Arkansas Black I was reminded of a good red wine.
21 Nov 2010 PeggySC, United States
Bought these tioday at the Apple Barn in Pigeon Forge Tn after hearing people rave about them. Very disappointed. Found them to be. Almost tastless although they are crisp. I don't understand what the hype is about
18 Nov 2010 AliUT, United States
Today (Nov. 16th) I picked the most beautiful Arkansas Black apples. I have a young espaliered tree and this is the second year for these apples. I picked to early last year and the flavor was not developed yet. I live in the desert and we reach 115 degrees during the summer for weeks at a time. This apple is wonderful for my area in Hot Southern Utah and is definitively under loved .
17 Nov 2010 LarryUnited States
The Black Arkansas is indeed back at the Dekalb Farmer's Market. Just got a couple and they are delish! Rock hard, crisp, and sweet/tart. Wish they were more widely available.
10 Nov 2010 Debby CrawfordGA, United States
I have bought them at The DeKlab Farmers Market in Atlanta, for the last 4 years but none have arrived so far this year! Are they ready? Has anyone had one recently?
07 Oct 2010 JoTN, United States
Last year I bought a mountain home that had 2 very old apple trees in the yard. They were overgrown and producing only a few apples on each tree. They were pruned last winter and both are full now. I had no idea what kind they were so I took an apple from each tree to a local apple grower and found out that one of the trees is an Arkansas Black and the other is Golden Delicious. It was interesting to read the comment from the writer in UT that Arkansas Black pollinates well with Golden Delicious. Probably why they were planted together.
15 Aug 2010 Deb ThompsonSC, United States
15 August 2010 First tried one of these apples at a farmers market fall 09. Very good! Would they grow well in the midlands of SC? I have a small orchard growing with other kinds of apples but this became a favorite after using it in apple pie-both american and swedish. Until trying this one we used cortland for our baking back in MA but we couldnt find them here. Am so glad we were introduced to them at the Farmers market. Oh, great eating apple too!
08 Apr 2010 Cas Adler-IvanbrookCALIFORNIA, United States
We have an AB tree in our yard--old tree, over fifty years old my guess. Prune it in the late winter, and it can be an extremely heavy producer the following summer (ours produces a lot and it is old). These are my favourite apple--makes GREAT apple sauce--not a juicing apple at all. Eating is fantastic--get them in season--tart, crisp, satisfying sense of dense flesh. They are good eating when they are not at maximum ripeness, and are spectacular when they go a deep red/almost black. They make a tasty apple pie. The claim that they go black in storage is a load of cockamamie. They go black (on the tree) when they are at maximum ripeness--use them at this point. This is a tree that enjoys a Mediterranean climate--we don't water it; it gets rain in the winter and early spring, and that is it. We are not particularly hot or cold--mild climate, north of San Francisco, on the coast.
12 Dec 2009 TomTEXAS, US, United States
YEAH! These are great. I had an organic one today and it was crisp and had a really complicated flavor. Some tart, very sweet, and a honey-wine richness. So good. Good to eat on a crisp fall day with a lover or a good looking enemy. Right up there with the Pacific Rose and Pink Lady as far as I'm concerned.

04 Dec 2009 Susan HallDEVILLE, RAPIDES/ LA, United States
I need help! We are buying a place in north Ar. and are looking into planting several Black Apple trees on the property to raise for $. How many bushels does a mature tree produce? How long before a tree is mature enough to produce several bushels of apples? What is the average price for a bushel of apples? I myself have never tasted one but have heard rave reviews from others and have seen several roadside stands in NW Ar selling them but we didn't stop. Where can I get trees to plant? and When is the best time to plant the trees?
13 Nov 2009 FaithSOUTH WEBER, UT, United States
I got one of these trees as a semi-dwarf from Starks 3 years ago. It is a very beautiful tree and had a few apples by the 2nd year - a real surprise! I expected a tart cooking apple but was intrigued by the color and long-keeping characteristics and planned on making applesauce with a variety of apples. It is a really delightful tasting apple, however - the flavor is similar to what has been described and the aroma is subtle and wonderful. We do not harvest the apples until the very last of Oct. or 1st of Nov. - rare for the temp to go below 29-30 before that time, but if it did we would simply throw something over the tree - one major reason for getting a semi-dwarf. a So far we eat all the apples in a month or 2, but as the tree grows and production increases we will be able to evaluate the flavor after long storage. If you want one I heartily recommend Starks because this variety is a Starks Spur which has many more growing spurs than usual. Also, polinates just fine with a Golden Delicious.
05 Nov 2009 KathleenDECATUR, AL, United States
Had my first taste of one of these a few years ago at an apple orchard, and was delighted to find them at my local farmers market recently. Tough skin but a deep, wine-honey flavor and sharp tartness. Macintosh wwere always my favorite until these...
27 Oct 2009 JoyCOOKEVILLE, TN, United States
I am holding my first Arkansas Black apple in my hands...thought I'd post my thoughts as I tried it for the first time. I looks lovely & is exactly as pictured above. Here goes... WOW! It's super hard! After that shock, it's sweet, the smallest bit tart and crispy. The skin is a bit tough, not bad, though. I'd have to say my favorite is still the Pacific Rose. Think I'll purchase more of these and store for a month or so...
18 Oct 2009 Ed GoodwinGREENE CO., TN, United States
We purchased one of these trees from Lowe's in 2008 with a 'Golden Delicious Apple' tag on it. I love those. Well, in 2009 after blooming we had 10 apples appear. The skin was light at first but we knew right away it was not a Golden Delicious as they kept turnng darker. They are almost black now. Picked one too early but could tell they are going to be delicious apples. I found out from a man that sells apples along the highway what type of apples they are. Obviously the tree was tagged wrong but that is okay. Very fast grower and fruit the first year!
16 Oct 2009 TimLEAVENWORTH KANSAS, United States
I've had one of these trees in my yard for several years, and never knew what kind it was until now!!! It is one of THEE best apple varieties in my book! I used to ONLY eat Granny Smith Apples, as I like them firm and tart. These knock Granny out, better flavor and DEFINETELY firm!!! We have VERY hot/humid summers, and winters below zero, but it doesn't seem to faze this tree. And you can eat it right off of our tree, don't need to 'age' it. Count me in as a #1 fan!
15 Oct 2009 Howard BezzantOREM, UTAH COUNTY, UTAH, United States
I discovered an older tree with these apples on in Orem, UTAH a week ago. This apple has no historical records of being propagated in our area. What a wonderful find. Great people that let me investigate their apples and other fruits to preserve and list.
13 Oct 2009 Debby MathewsHEFLIN, AL, United States
I had my first taste of an Arkansas Black apple last week. It was crisp, sweet, yet slightly tart and juicy. Wonderful. The tree it came from is located in Northeast AL close to the Tallapoosa River.
30 Sep 2009 Kevin HauserCALIFORNIA, United States
Lisa: You can buy Arkansas Black apples at Riley's Farm in Oak Glen around the end of October.
24 Sep 2009 LisaORANGE COUNTY CA, United States
Where can I buy Arkansas Black apples?
29 Nov 2008 Kevin HauserCALIFORNIA, United States
Those grown in the mountains are hard as a rock when first picked and need to mellow in storage a month before you can sink your teeth into it, and thus make great keepers, storing fine in the crisper bin for months. They develop a very "greasy" skin in storage. However, those grown down in the hot inland valleys are wonderful to eat right off the tree, with a wonderfully crisp texture and a flavor that matches the skin; a deep, dark, winey, mohogany flavor with wonderful sugar and spice. The lowland ones do not keep anything like the mountain-grown ones however. They ripen here around Thanksgiving. Impervious to heat, they are excellent to grow in Southern California, even the low deserts.

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Fruit tree register

Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register the details here and contribute to our international register of fruit trees.

The following Arkansas Black trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree.

You can also view these trees on a map.

United States

Canada



Latest Spring blossom records for this variety

2013 season

  • April  2013  - tree owned by Phillip in SAND SPRINGS, United States

2012 season

  • April  2012  - tree owned by Ray in MIDDLETOWN, United States
  • 27th March  2012  - tree owned by Tim in LEAVENWORTH, United States
  • 23rd March  2012  - tree owned by J.P.Curry in STURGEON, United States
  • March  2012  - tree owned by Dona in WINCHESTER, United States

2011 season

  • 14th April  2011  - tree owned by J.P.Curry in STURGEON, United States

Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.

Latest harvest records for this variety

2013 season

  • 2nd week October  2013  - tree owned by Phillip in SAND SPRINGS, United States

2012 season

    2011 season

    • 3rd week November  2011  - tree owned by Arthur in KLAMATH FALLS, United States
    • 1st week October  2011  - tree owned by J.P.Curry in STURGEON, United States

Where to buy apple trees

The following fruit tree nurseries offer Arkansas Black apple trees for sale:

Where to buy apples

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