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Honeycrisp apple

Sometimes marketed as Honey Crisp, this is a crisp, and predomoninantly sweet, modern variety from the USA. It was developed by the University of Minnesota specifically for growers in cold climates, and is one of the most cold-hardy of apple varieties.

Honeycrisp, or Honey Crisp, is a modern apple variety, developed in the 1960s and introduced to the market in the 1990s - sometimes trademarked as Honeycrunch. It is increasingly available in supermarkets. Honeycrisp comes from a long line of apples developed by the University of Minnesota from the 1930s onwards. One of the objectives of this breeding programme has been to develop varieties which can tolerate the bitter cold of winters in some parts of the USA, and most plantings have been in the northern USA, including New England, Minnesota and Washington State.

The parentage of modern apple varieties is often obscure because they are the result of lengthy breeding programmes with cross after cross, although the original parentage is generally known - often Golden Delicious or one of its offspring.  However in the case of Honeycrisp the original parentage posted by the developers at the University of Minnesota appears to have been wrong ! Originally it was believed that one of the parents was  Honeygold, raised in the 1930s from a cross between Golden Delicious and another University of Minnesota development, Haralson. Honeycrisp's other parent was thought to be Macoun, a widely used American variety, developed in the 1920s from a cross between two old American varieties, McIntosh and Jersey Black. This meant that Honeycrisp represented a relatively rare combination of Golden Delicious and McIntosh styles - which did indeed seem to be reflected in the flavour and to some extent the appearance.  (Try tasting it alongside Golden Delicious and McIntosh - or a freshly-picked Spartan or Empire which are very similar).  However subsequently the University of Minnesota carried out a DNA test which indicated that their own records were wrong, and the parentage is currently unknown.  Some authorities believe Keepsake is one of the parents.  Quite embarrasing for the university, but not likely to harm Honeycrisp's commercial prospects.

Honeycrisp is a medium-to-large sized apple, with a light green/yellow background largely covered with red-orange flush with strong hint of pink if grown in good sunlight. The skin may be flecked with occasional russet dots. The flesh is white, perhaps not quite as bright as a McIntosh style apple, but similarly crisp and not too dense.  The colour however can be quite variable.

The flavour is sweet with very little trace of acidity and little depth or complexity. There can also be a trace of pear-drop flavour. In a good example this is a juicy and instantly refreshing apple, in a less good example it will be simply sweet and bland (but still very nice).  As its name suggests this is genuinely a crisp / crunchy apple.  However since the flesh is quite light, the crunch is surprisingly soft, nothing like the hard crisp crunch of a good Golden Delicious.

Surprisingly for a modern commerical apple variety, Honeycrisp tends to bruise easily, and therefore is usually sold in packs rather than loose. Northern hemisphere fruit ripens relatively early in September. The apples keep until April in storage and retain their crispness.  Interestingly it appears that the flavour can improve for 7-10 days after being taken out of cold store, which means that stock taken from cold store and then purchased by consumers is likely to be in optimum condition.  In contrast many apple varieties held in cold store tend to ripen and then go past their best very quickly once they are taken out of storage.

It is probably too early to tell how successful Honeycrisp will become, but it is certainly a good-quality dessert apple. The flavour whilst not outstanding is certainly very good, making it a very enjoyable and undemanding apple, particularly if cooled in the fridge before eating.

See MinnesotaHarvest.net for some very detailed and interesting information on the confused orgins of this variety - it gives a good insight into the development programmes which lead to new apple varieties.

Last updated 23 Sep 2011.

Summary

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Keepsake?
  • Origin: United States
  • Introduced: 1960s
  • Developed by: University of Minnesota
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 112300

Identification

  • Fruit colour: Red
  • Fruit size: Medium
  • Bultitude apple group: 6. Red flushed, smooth, sweet

Using

  • Good for eating fresh
  • Flavour quality: Good
  • Flavour style: Sweeter
  • Ripening period: Mid-Late season
  • Use / keeping: 3 months or more

Growing

  • Flowering group: 4
  • Fertility: Self-sterile
  • Triploid: No
  • Vigour: Weak growing
  • Gardening skill: Average
  • Attractive fruit

Climate

  • Suitable for warm climates
  • Suitable for temperate climates
  • Tolerates cold winters

Disease resistance

  • Cedar apple rust  - Some resistance

Relationships to other varieties

Parents and other ancestors of this variety:

Honeycrisp identification photos from website visitors


Honeycrisp apples tape


Honeycrisp apples


Rate this variety for flavor

Current rating: 4 out of 5. Total votes cast: 26
 

Visitor comments

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

23 Jan 2012 Some IdiotNY, United States
This apple may have the best texture of any apple Ive come across, the flavor is not bad either. I will most certainly be planting some of these come spring.
12 Jan 2012 Aaron Curtis GrahamILLINOIS, United States
This apple will convert anyone pomologically "on-the-fence"--growing up on a farm, I was never one to rave about apples--until now! One bite and I can say that I love, love, love you, HoneyCrisp!
04 Jan 2012 Jody ReyesCO, United States
I have never been a big apple fan, because they all seem too tart to me, then I tasted a HoneyCrisp and now I am a big fan of this apple Yum-O. It is sweet, juicy and crisp the way an apple should be, just sorry they aren't in the stores longer.
31 Oct 2011 Cynthia PhillipsIN, United States
I haven't had an apple this good in a long long time. I'm struggling with being a diabetic and if I finish my meals with a Honey Crisp (and my friendly salt shaker) it takes care of my sweet tooth. Instead of snarfing down cake, candy or a cookie, I'm munching on an apple. Eating a Honey Crisp takes a while, by the time I'm done with the apple I realize I am full and don't have to eat more. I love them and they are so good for my diabetis!
23 Oct 2011 Allan SmithILLINOIS, United States
I am a displaced native Oregonian. The apples from Oregon and Washington have always been my favorite. Growing up with Gravensteins, and later Granny Smiths as my favorites, That was until I tasted my first Honeycrisp. Without a doubt the BEST apple I have ever tasted. It is my VERY FAVORITE!!! Every person I have introduced to the Honeycrisp apple feels the same way. Thank You Minnesota for putting the fun and excitement back in eating apples again!!!
19 Oct 2011 Kim O'ConnorFL, United States
Hands down the best apple I've tasted. Crisp, firm, sweet with the lightest tang. I'm lucky they're not available throughout the year; I'd never eat a proper meal again.
23 Sep 2011 MattWISCONSIN, United States
Honeycrisp grown here in Wisconsin are a wonderful taste treat. If you like tart apples or balanced sweet/tart you may find them too sweet for your tastebuds. I like sweet apples and this is one of the best. Skip the grocer section and get these from a local orchard or farmer's market. They do have issues with calcium deficiency related problems - good to know if you plan to grow them in your yard. For fans of sweet apples, if you like Honeycrisp why not seek out a Sweet Sixteen apple as they are even a touch sweeter with unique aromatics.
21 Sep 2011 LostindajungleUnited States
Honey Crisp apples are hands down the best if you can get them fresh. Pink Ladies generally fare better in the grocery store, but here in the SE U.S. you can get them in season and they are amazing.
27 Mar 2011 KenWISCONSIN, United States
Honeycrisp flavor depends largely on soil and weather conditions. Washington grown Honeycrsip apples I've sampled have been blandly sweet and moderately crunchy while every Minnesota and Wisconsin apple I've had has been complex and distinctively crisp. The HC does tend towards calcium deficiency so foliar calcium may be needed for best results
14 Oct 2010 Jim KinneyNEW JERSEY, United States
Our Ramsey, NJ fruit store (Steve's) get's my applause for bringing both Pink Lady and Honeycrisp apples to this North NJ area. Like many that have given up smoking, need better digestive health or just a pick me up during a late evening drive, Honey Crisp Apples are my top vote getter for their sweet, crisp and juicy taste. There are 100+ good reasons for putting any apple into one's grocery basket. 5 co-workers and I had quit smoking more than 5 years ago and shared the common 3 o'clock yearning to sneak a smoke. Lucky for all of us, my wife Ann had brought home some Pink Lady's from Steve's Grocery Store. I took a few to work, chilled and sliced them and then asked my smoker associates to join me at 2:30-3:00 for Sliced Apples and Tea/Coffee. It was fun and became a challenge for associates to bring other varieties and score them versus our top 3. Two years ago, I sampled Honey Crisp Apples and feel they are the best for my taste buds. Four out of Six of us, have made it through 5+ years, without going back to smoking. Apples certainly provide a wonderful sensory diversion during temptations to fall off the wagon.
14 Oct 2009 NiamhIRELAND, Ireland
I just tried my first HoneyCrunch apple from Lidl the other day and I enjoyed them a lot. That's quite a big deal for an apple snob like me. Not my absolute favorite but definitely in my top 10.
30 Sep 2009 Kevin HauserCALIFORNIA, United States
Believe it or not Honeycrisp is outstanding when grown in the heat of Southern California. September was stinking hot- well over 100 degrees most of the month which fried the Queen Cox tree next to the Honeycrisp, but the Honeycrisp apples came through without a mark and are crisp, sweet, juicy, wonderful. It definately has lack of vigor in our climate and so a robust rootstock is recommended.
16 Feb 2009 Mark KaneIOWA, United States
Very juicy, almost no acid, mild flavor at best, and less dense than most dessert apples, hence a yielding crispness, not a crackling crispness. Lacking tartness, it is too sweet for me.
12 Dec 2008 MarieMARYLAND, United States
I LOVE HONEYCRISP APPLES!!! I have no idea why this article says the flavor isn't outstanding because these apples are just that. They have the perfect combination of sweetness and tart and I love how crispy they are as i despise a sandy, too sweet, no tart apple.
01 Dec 2008 KathieLANGLEY, B.C., Canada
Fantastic apple in season. Honeycrisp is full of fruit flavours. although it doesn't have all the 'honey' tones Golden Delicious sometimes has, it is more complex in flavour and more fully floral-fruity. Also more crisp!. Nice tart sweet balance. I must have gotten mine at the right of the year. It's now my favourite apple.
15 Nov 2008 Michael LandryLINCOLN, RI USA, United States
Since I first came upon the apple 2 years ago, I always fell back on the earlier types. Since then, NOTHING CAN COMPARE. I usually buy apples at a farm stand, but since these are not available there, I buy them at a supermarket. Something I would never think of doing. I eat apples with a knife because I think you can better judge all the aspects of it. A crispness and crunch that cannot be compared with a flavor that's delightful. Sadly, only available for a short time in this area. Does anyone have any experience with cooking this apple??
05 Nov 2008 HollyFAIRPORT, NY, United States
Another great tasting apple. I like the sweeter varieties.
10 Oct 2008 Jim Mehle Sr.HIBB., ST. LOUIS, MN. 55746, United States
3 yrs ago I purchased 2 Honey Crisp trees from Northern Landscaping of Hibb., Mn. I have finally gotten 10 apples on one of the trees...no blossoms yet on the other tree. The one that has finally gotten some apples has produced large-sized red apples but the exterior of the skin has some dimples and when I cut one open a day ago, it had some brown streaks in it and some thin brown tunneled streaks. In cutting a second apple I encountered the same. Is this a desease or parasite, etc. that has attacked the apple? Is there a way to prevent this from happening again? Being that these were the first apples produced by this 6 foot tree, it has been mentioned that maybe the first growth should be eliminated. Please advise. Thank you.
27 Mar 2008 Melanie MinobeFORT WAYNE, IN, United States
I have three favorite apples - Haralson, Honeycrisp, and Jazz. I like my apples crisp. I am originally from MN where both the Haralson (very tart) and Honeycrisp were developed. As with the Jazz, all are very good eating apples. Honeycrisp are very seasonal though and are best early in the apple season (early to mid fall). After mid-fall, their shelf life declines and subsequently their crispness. They are typically more expensive in grocery stores but can now be found early in the season at apple farms. The smaller ones are as good as the larger ones.
02 Mar 2008 Clay WhitneyCanada
Very sweet apple when heavily blushed. Crisp all season from Sept through Dec and enough juice to warrent wearing a bib. Good grower in West Coast Canada.
06 Feb 2008 Kitty KacirKILLEEN, TX, United States
Love this apple. This is the first year I've ever even seen it and tried it on a whim. It quickly became an obsession. They are not around in this area any longer (February) but I sure hope they come back next year!

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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 Honeycrisp 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

2011 season

  • 25th May  2011  - tree owned by Karen in QUILCENE, United States

2010 season

  • 20th April  2010  - tree owned by Bren in NEW VIRGINIA, United States

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

Latest harvest records for this variety

2011 season

    2010 season

    • 3rd week September  2010  - tree owned by Joey in CABINS, United States

Mature heights for Honeycrisp trees

This table shows the likely mature height for a Honeycrisp 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 1.8 ft
0.5 m		 2.2 ft
0.7 m		 2.6 ft
0.8 m		 3.1 ft
0.9 m		 3.5 ft
1.1 m
M27 2.0 ft
0.6 m		 2.5 ft
0.8 m		 3.0 ft
0.9 m		 3.5 ft
1.1 m		 4.0 ft
1.2 m
M9 3.0 ft
0.9 m		 3.8 ft
1.2 m		 4.5 ft
1.4 m		 5.3 ft
1.6 m		 6.0 ft
1.8 m
Bud.9 3.0 ft
0.9 m		 3.8 ft
1.2 m		 4.5 ft
1.4 m		 5.3 ft
1.6 m		 6.0 ft
1.8 m
Geneva 16 3.0 ft
0.9 m		 3.8 ft
1.2 m		 4.5 ft
1.4 m		 5.3 ft
1.6 m		 6.0 ft
1.8 m
Geneva 11 3.5 ft
1.1 m		 4.4 ft
1.3 m		 5.3 ft
1.6 m		 6.1 ft
1.9 m		 7.0 ft
2.1 m
M26 3.8 ft
1.2 m		 4.7 ft
1.4 m		 5.6 ft
1.7 m		 6.6 ft
2.0 m		 7.5 ft
2.3 m
Geneva 30 4.0 ft
1.2 m		 5.0 ft
1.5 m		 6.0 ft
1.8 m		 7.0 ft
2.1 m		 8.0 ft
2.5 m
MM102 4.0 ft
1.2 m		 5.0 ft
1.5 m		 6.0 ft
1.8 m		 7.0 ft
2.1 m		 8.0 ft
2.5 m
M7 4.5 ft
1.4 m		 5.6 ft
1.7 m		 6.8 ft
2.1 m		 7.9 ft
2.4 m		 9.0 ft
2.8 m
M116 4.5 ft
1.4 m		 5.6 ft
1.7 m		 6.8 ft
2.1 m		 7.9 ft
2.4 m		 9.0 ft
2.8 m
MM106 5.0 ft
1.5 m		 6.3 ft
1.9 m		 7.5 ft
2.3 m		 8.8 ft
2.7 m		 10.0 ft
3.1 m
MM111 6.0 ft
1.8 m		 7.5 ft
2.3 m		 9.0 ft
2.8 m		 10.5 ft
3.2 m		 12.0 ft
3.7 m
Bud.118 6.5 ft
2.0 m		 8.1 ft
2.5 m		 9.8 ft
3.0 m		 11.4 ft
3.5 m		 13.0 ft
4.0 m
M25 7.5 ft
2.3 m		 9.4 ft
2.9 m		 11.3 ft
3.5 m		 13.1 ft
4.0 m		 15.0 ft
4.6 m

From an idea by N. Buck - more details.

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