The comprehensive resource for apples and orchards

Mutsu apple

A versatile dual-purpose apple, sharp but still pleasant to eat fresh. Also known as Crispin.

Mutsu photo tape

Known as Mutsu in its native Japan and in the USA, Crispin looks like a large Golden Delicious and indeed one of its parents is Golden Delicious so it has that lovely sweet honeyed flavour.

It cooks superbly too and the women picking them in our local orchard used to call them 'oven busters' - take a big one home and bake it and you have a feast for two - and you don't need many for a deep apple pie.

Crispin is one of a small number of varieties which really is dual purpose - being both pleasant as a dessert apple (albeit too large for 1 person) and versatile in the kitchen.

Last updated 20 May 2011.

Also known as

  • Crispin

Summary

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Golden Delicious
  • Origin: Japan
  • Introduced: 1930
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 101400

Identification

  • Fruit colour: Green
  • Fruit size: Large
  • Bultitude apple group: 5. Yellow, smooth, sweet or acidic

Using

  • Good for eating fresh
  • Good for cooking
  • Good for juice
  • Cooking result: Keeps shape
  • Flavour quality: Very good
  • Flavour style: Sweet/Sharp
  • 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
  • Biennial tendency slight tendency
  • Gardening skill: Average

Climate

  • Suitable for warm climates
  • Suitable for temperate climates

Disease resistance

  • Mildew  - Some resistance
  • Scab  - Some susceptibility
  • Fireblight  - Some susceptibility
  • Cedar apple rust  - Some susceptibility

Relationships to other varieties

Parents and other ancestors of this variety:

See also:

  • Akane - Akane and Mutsu were both developed at the Aomori Apple Research Station in Japan

Mutsu identification photos from official fruit collections


UK National Fruit Collection

©Crown Copyright more >
UK National Fruit Collection

Mutsu identification photos from website visitors


Crispin tape


Crispin


Rate this variety for flavor

Current rating: 4 out of 5. Total votes cast: 11
 

Visitor comments

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

11 Oct 2011 KrisMD, United States
In response to Whit about where to find Mutsu apples in Maryland: Larriland Farms which also has many other varieties.
22 May 2011 GingerAR, United States
I just bought and planted a baby Crispin apple tree but it already has maybe a dozen apples on it. I have an old apple tree that was here when we moved here and hoped that it would work for pollination. Must the Mutsu have a pollinator? Is there any special fertilizer needed or pruning? Thanks so much!
14 Jan 2011 Linda QuickNJ, United States
Discovered this apple this year. LOVE IT! Sweet, juicy, even better than an Empire.
16 Dec 2010 JackieFL / BAY, United States
We visited Northern GA and tried this Mercier Orchard/store in Blue Ridge GA... wow, this has a wonderful flavor. We had them fried for breakfast and they held up so well during the process. My new favorite apple!!!
02 Nov 2010 Ron WilliamsONTARIO/CANADA, Canada
This is an excellent apple despite its appearance. Although, I have to agree that north america lacks an apple that compares to the flavour of an English Cox's Orange Pippin. I would add that this apple makes superb apple sauce and dries extremely well without going an unpleasant brown color like so many other apples. After drying its sweetness intensifies and is irresistible as a snack food.
27 Oct 2010 Vincent SterneCA, United States
We're making hard cider with this varietal. Should be yummy. Does anyone know anything about the "Indu variety"?
06 Oct 2010 DaveWASHINGTON, United States
I have one Mutsu tree in my orchard. Fruits are indeed very big, however, they lack the intense flavors of Fuji, Jonaprince, and Honeycrisp. They are bagged in Japan and develop a pink hue - beautiful apple. And the taste was better too. I live in Eastern Washington. Perhaps the climate of Japan and the Eastern U.S. produces a better apple.
05 Oct 2010 JasonUnited States
Just picked some of these from an Orchard in Mass... I went from a Granny Smith lover to a Mutsu Lover in one bite. Perfect mid afternoon snack to hold you over untill dinner. Nice large apple with a crisp bite.
17 Sep 2010 JoannMS, United States
Either baked or not, with ice cream or cheddar cheese, this is the perfect apple. I cannot find them at home in MS, but buy them by the bag load on visits to TN
08 Sep 2010 BruceNJ, United States
I first found or had this apple on the North Fork of Long Island, NY. about 12 years ago. It is late ripening - early October and it is usually a 'huge' apple -- a meal in itself for one person. Love to sit and slice pieces off -- and a wonderful taste/flavor. I like it better cool/cold. One of my most favorite !! You must try !
12 Jul 2010 WhitMD, United States
This is by far my favorite apple. I think the description missed that it's a cross between a golden delicious and an Indu apple. Anyone know where to get this apple in MD? I used to get them in Talbot county, but can't find them anywhere near Baltimore.
07 Jun 2010 NormanHEREFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom
Mutsu is delicious. If anything, it has a better taste than the Golden Delicious I buy from the same fruit farm (heavy loam soil). A slight red cheek develops on some apples. I would rate it one of the top 10 or 15.
16 Nov 2009 DaveALEXANDRIA, VA, United States
I love these. The texture is the most distinctive feature -- like a honeycomb of tiny little juice-filled cells, so that it is very juicy but still firm and crisp and doesn't go to mush when you bake it.
09 Nov 2009 TomNORT GEORGIA, US, United States
A freind told me about these wonderful apple and I bought a peck at the orchards in n. GA Wonderful eating, sharp at first but a sweet finish. I cut one last noght into pie slices and pan cooked them in butter, brown sugar and cimmamon then served hot over french vanilla ice cream ooohhhhhhh so good.
05 Nov 2009 TesTORONTO, ONTARIO, Canada
Wow from the comments and the description, it sounds like a really delicious apple. Although it doesn't look stunning, an apple smelling like flowers sure is something.
01 Nov 2009 Roy PersaudWOODHAVEN, QUEENS NEW YORK, United States
I just love the taste and crisp texture of this apple. Huge in size, have to eat one in two days. Gave it to friends just to taste and they love it. Honestly, I will eat it daily if it was to be readily available in the market.
26 Oct 2009 Gabby FrischHURON,OH, United States
I haven't tried the apple yet, but it looks good!
18 Oct 2009 ToddUnited States
The ones that are grown in Gilmer County Georgia are HUGE and are soooooo sweet. Gilmer Coutny, GA is the apple capital and are known to have some of the best apples anywhere!!
22 Jan 2009 JustinTORONTO, Canada
Matsus and Galas are something to look forward to in winter. Crisp, light, and bright. Matsus don't look so great on the outside but a bite into a nice cool one and you'll be hooked. They're great with a small slice of parmesan cheese.
24 Nov 2008 JulieLANCASTER, PA, United States
This is my husband's favorite apple, and one of mine as well. They smells like flowers, and they have an amazing taste
17 Jan 2008 LynnieBRISTOL, United Kingdom
This is my favourite apple, sweet, and crisp with a delicate flavour.
05 Aug 2007 TomUnited Kingdom
A crisp refershing apple and much more appetising than it looks. However, it lacks the fullness of flavour of Cox and Braeburn.

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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 Mutsu 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

United Kingdom

Canada

Australia

  • Jenny in MELBOURNE, VICTORIA,

Poland



Latest Spring blossom records for this variety

2010 season

  • 2nd May  2010  - tree owned by Elizabeth in EVESHAM, United Kingdom

2009 season

  •  May  2009  - tree owned by Mary in BEGBROKE, United Kingdom

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

Latest harvest records for this variety

2010 season

    2009 season

    • 3rd week October  2009  - tree owned by Elizabeth in EVESHAM, United Kingdom
    • October  2009  - tree owned by Mary in BEGBROKE, United Kingdom

Mature heights for Mutsu trees

This table shows the likely mature height for a Mutsu tree taking into account the vigor of the variety, the rootstock, and soil conditions.

Rootstock Soil quality
Poor Below average Average Above average Very good
P22 3.2 ft
1.0 m		 3.9 ft
1.2 m		 4.7 ft
1.5 m		 5.5 ft
1.7 m		 6.3 ft
1.9 m
M27 3.6 ft
1.1 m		 4.5 ft
1.4 m		 5.4 ft
1.7 m		 6.3 ft
1.9 m		 7.2 ft
2.2 m
M9 5.4 ft
1.7 m		 6.8 ft
2.1 m		 8.1 ft
2.5 m		 9.5 ft
2.9 m		 10.8 ft
3.3 m
Bud.9 5.4 ft
1.7 m		 6.8 ft
2.1 m		 8.1 ft
2.5 m		 9.5 ft
2.9 m		 10.8 ft
3.3 m
Geneva 16 5.4 ft
1.7 m		 6.8 ft
2.1 m		 8.1 ft
2.5 m		 9.5 ft
2.9 m		 10.8 ft
3.3 m
Geneva 11 6.3 ft
1.9 m		 7.9 ft
2.4 m		 9.5 ft
2.9 m		 11.0 ft
3.4 m		 12.6 ft
3.9 m
M26 6.8 ft
2.1 m		 8.4 ft
2.6 m		 10.1 ft
3.1 m		 11.8 ft
3.6 m		 13.5 ft
4.1 m
Geneva 30 7.2 ft
2.2 m		 9.0 ft
2.8 m		 10.8 ft
3.3 m		 12.6 ft
3.9 m		 14.4 ft
4.4 m
MM102 7.2 ft
2.2 m		 9.0 ft
2.8 m		 10.8 ft
3.3 m		 12.6 ft
3.9 m		 14.4 ft
4.4 m
M7 8.1 ft
2.5 m		 10.1 ft
3.1 m		 12.2 ft
3.7 m		 14.2 ft
4.3 m		 16.2 ft
5.0 m
M116 8.1 ft
2.5 m		 10.1 ft
3.1 m		 12.2 ft
3.7 m		 14.2 ft
4.3 m		 16.2 ft
5.0 m
MM106 9.0 ft
2.8 m		 11.3 ft
3.5 m		 13.5 ft
4.1 m		 15.8 ft
4.8 m		 18.0 ft
5.5 m
MM111 10.8 ft
3.3 m		 13.5 ft
4.1 m		 16.2 ft
5.0 m		 18.9 ft
5.8 m		 21.6 ft
6.6 m
Bud.118 11.7 ft
3.6 m		 14.6 ft
4.5 m		 17.6 ft
5.4 m		 20.5 ft
6.3 m		 23.4 ft
7.2 m
M25 13.5 ft
4.1 m		 16.9 ft
5.2 m		 20.3 ft
6.2 m		 23.6 ft
7.2 m		 27.0 ft
8.3 m

From an idea by N. Buck - more details.

Where to buy apple trees

The following fruit tree nurseries offer Mutsu apple trees for sale:

Where to buy apples

The following orchards and suppliers offer Mutsu apples for sale. map >

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