The comprehensive resource for apples and orchards

Jonathan apple

A classic American variety, and widely regarded as one of the best flavoured with a good sweet/sharp balance. A precocious and productive tree in US apple-growing regions.

Jonathan photo tape
Last updated 06 Jan 2012.

Summary

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Espopus Spitzenberg seedling
  • Origin: United States
  • Introduced: 1864
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 119200
  • We are grateful to Brogdale Farm - home of the UK National Fruit Collection - for providing samples of this variety.

Identification

  • Bultitude apple group: 6. Red flushed, smooth, sweet

Using

  • Good for eating fresh
  • Good for cooking
  • Cooking result: Textured puree

Growing

  • Flowering period: Mid season
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Fertility: Partially self-fertile
  • Triploid: No
  • Vigour: Average growth

Climate

  • Low-chill requirement A borderline case - only needs about 700 hours

Disease resistance

  • Fireblight  - Some susceptibility

Relationships to other varieties

Parents and other ancestors of this variety:

Offspring of this variety:

Sports (natural genetic mutations) of this variety:

See also:

Jonathan identification photos from official fruit collections


UK National Fruit Collection

©Crown Copyright more >
UK National Fruit Collection

Jonathan identification photos from website visitors


Jonathan tape


Jonathan


Rate this variety for flavor

Current rating: 4 out of 5. Total votes cast: 2
 

Visitor comments

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

15 Jan 2012 KellyUnited States
Are these apples USDA organic?
15 Oct 2011 John SmithNJ, United States
If I had to choose just one variety of apple, this would be the one. Short shelf life, but best flavor.
28 Jan 2011 FredOKLAHOMA, LINCOLN, United States
them there apples r the best id ever had and them were so dern good it was like, BAM, and i didn't know what to do so i just kept eatin'em
12 Jan 2011 BonnieUnited States
I just came back from Niles, Michigan, and bought a peck of jonathan apples from Shelton Farms Market. I had bought them in Louisiana once, but they were not fresh. I'm so glad I looked for them in Michigan, where they are more often grown. They are as good as I remembered! My family grew up driving to Michigan to buy apples every fall for canning.
14 Oct 2010 Angie CookCOLORADO, United States
Back in the 70's and 80's, the Jonathons we got around here (Colorado) came in right after Labor Day and were small, tart and delicious. Now they don't show up until October and are large, mushy and not very tart. My theory is that the breeders have ruined them in the quest for ever larger fruit. Occasionally you can find some organic Jonathons similar to the old fashioned ones . I really miss them.
20 Sep 2010 John LittleNAGANO-KEN, Japan
This apple was renamed "Kougyoku" when introduced into Japan. It was a standard here for a long time, until the (bland and insipid) Fuji came along. Thousands of acres of Kougyoku were ripped up and the orchards replanted with Fuji. However, it looks as though the Kougyoku is staging a comeback. Many older customers are now searching for this variety as, in agreement with the other comments above, they recall it as having had a superior flavour both as an eater and as a cooker. Many orchards are starting to restock and M9, virus-free seedlings are now widely available. And yes, it's a rollicking good apple!

15 Sep 2010 JaneMA, United States
Just had my first taste of one from the E.L. Sylvia Farm of Dighton, MA (they come to the Stoneham Farmer's market). A wonderful discovery!
08 Nov 2009 RandalLAKE HAVASU CITY,AZ., United States
I agree with this person.Jonathan apples were,are the best!But where do you buy them?I grew up in Washington State where ALL those were grown,and have family still there,and THEY can't find them either.Where can I buy them from a packer?
01 Nov 2009 Ginny JohnsonBRAZORIA COUNTY, TEXAS, United States
In the '40s and '50s, Mom used to buy Jonathan apples for us, even 'way down here on the Texas Gulf Coast, south of Houston. They were our favorites. But I haven't seen them in the stores for years. They're still my favorites. Jonagold and Honeycrisp are good, but not nearly as good as Jonathan. I know I'd eat a lot more apples if Jonathans were available at the local markets.
12 Oct 2009 Joe BickmanPEORIA, MARICOPA CO. ARIZONA, United States
I need a source to buy Jonathans; anyone?
17 Sep 2009 BobPHILADELPHIA, United States
If you can get to Langhorne Pa. find Styers orchard. They allow you to 'pick your own' and that includes Jonathan apples. Thee apples are so sweet/tart and must be eaten with a napkin, to catch the juice. The family sold out the store a few years back, and you must drive behind the store to get to the pick your own spot. Well worth the trip.
22 Mar 2009 DeniseNew Zealand
We are growing one of these on our property. It has a grafted branch of granny smith apples and a local expert tells us this is required for the Jonathon to be more productive.
22 Feb 2009 JonathanAGOURA HILLS, CA, United States
How could I not like this apple? ;-)
22 Oct 2008 ChristineWAUKEGAN, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, United States
The Jonathan is my favorite apple for baking. In my opinion it makes the most flavorful and delicious apple pie possible. It has the perfect sweet/tart flavor for pie and any baked apple dessert. Sadly, in recent years it has become harder and harder to find around here. It only seems to be available for a short time in the fall and even then is hard to find.
08 Oct 2008 OddjobESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS, United States
This is probably my favorite eating apple, but I have only had it a very few times. I live on the East Coast of the USA, and from what I have been told it is more widely available in the Midwest (Ohio) than it is in the East. :-( To my mind the flavor does indeed have a nice balance of sweet with sharp, but infusing both is a distinct hint of spice. It is the only apple I know of whose flavor immediately reminds me of apple cider. To me when I bite into one it is as if I am biting into apple cider, a fascinating experience considering apple cider is a liquid! :-)

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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 Jonathan 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

Belgium

Australia

Switzerland

Poland



Latest Spring blossom records for this variety

2010 season

  • 15th October  2010  - tree owned by Marinus in MOUNT EVELYN, Australia
  • 5th May  2010  - tree owned by Johan in GENT, Belgium
  • 12th April  2010  - tree owned by Natalie in CHESAPEAKE, United States

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

Latest harvest records for this variety

2010 season

  • October  2010  - tree owned by Freyja in KINGS MEABURN/ PENRITH, United Kingdom

Mature heights for Jonathan trees

This table shows the likely mature height for a Jonathan 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 2.5 ft
0.8 m		 3.1 ft
0.9 m		 3.7 ft
1.1 m		 4.3 ft
1.3 m		 4.9 ft
1.5 m
M27 2.8 ft
0.9 m		 3.5 ft
1.1 m		 4.2 ft
1.3 m		 4.9 ft
1.5 m		 5.6 ft
1.7 m
M9 4.2 ft
1.3 m		 5.3 ft
1.6 m		 6.3 ft
1.9 m		 7.4 ft
2.3 m		 8.4 ft
2.6 m
Bud.9 4.2 ft
1.3 m		 5.3 ft
1.6 m		 6.3 ft
1.9 m		 7.4 ft
2.3 m		 8.4 ft
2.6 m
Geneva 16 4.2 ft
1.3 m		 5.3 ft
1.6 m		 6.3 ft
1.9 m		 7.4 ft
2.3 m		 8.4 ft
2.6 m
Geneva 11 4.9 ft
1.5 m		 6.1 ft
1.9 m		 7.4 ft
2.3 m		 8.6 ft
2.6 m		 9.8 ft
3.0 m
M26 5.3 ft
1.6 m		 6.6 ft
2.0 m		 7.9 ft
2.4 m		 9.2 ft
2.8 m		 10.5 ft
3.2 m
Geneva 30 5.6 ft
1.7 m		 7.0 ft
2.1 m		 8.4 ft
2.6 m		 9.8 ft
3.0 m		 11.2 ft
3.4 m
MM102 5.6 ft
1.7 m		 7.0 ft
2.1 m		 8.4 ft
2.6 m		 9.8 ft
3.0 m		 11.2 ft
3.4 m
M7 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
M116 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
MM106 7.0 ft
2.1 m		 8.8 ft
2.7 m		 10.5 ft
3.2 m		 12.3 ft
3.8 m		 14.0 ft
4.3 m
MM111 8.4 ft
2.6 m		 10.5 ft
3.2 m		 12.6 ft
3.9 m		 14.7 ft
4.5 m		 16.8 ft
5.2 m
Bud.118 9.1 ft
2.8 m		 11.4 ft
3.5 m		 13.7 ft
4.2 m		 15.9 ft
4.9 m		 18.2 ft
5.6 m
M25 10.5 ft
3.2 m		 13.1 ft
4.0 m		 15.8 ft
4.8 m		 18.4 ft
5.6 m		 21.0 ft
6.4 m

From an idea by N. Buck - more details.

Where to buy apple trees

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

  • Cummins Nursery
    United States  More >>

Where to buy apples

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

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