The comprehensive resource for apples and orchards

Wolf River apple



A well-known American cooking apple, notable for its large size.  Wolf River is mainly used for cooking, and it keeps its shape when cooked.  It is fairly sweet and doesn't need much sugar added.

Wolf River has a very high natural resistance to the disease apple scab, and good resistance to fireblight and mildew.  It is also very cold hardy, making it a good choice for growing in the northern part of North America.

Last updated 21 Nov 2010.

Named after the place where it was found. Notable for its very large size, primarily used for cooking. The tree is exceptionally cold hardy and disease resistant.

Wolf River photo tape

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Alexander seedling?
  • Originates from: Wolf River, Wisconsin, United States
  • Introduced: 1870s
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 120500
  • We are grateful to Brogdale Farm - home of the UK National Fruit Collection - for providing samples of this variety.

Identification

  • Fruit size: Very large 450g / 16oz is common
  • Bultitude apple group: 6. Red flushed, smooth, sweet

Using

  • Good for cooking
  • Cooking result: Keeps shape

Growing

  • Flowering period: Mid season
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Fertility: Self-sterile
  • Triploid: No

Disease resistance

  • Scab  - Very resistant
  • Mildew  - Very resistant
  • Bacterial canker  Pseudomonas syringae  - Some resistance
  • Cedar apple rust  - Some resistance
  • Fireblight  - Some susceptibility

Relationships to other varieties

Parents and other ancestors of this variety:

Wolf River identification photos from official fruit collections


UK National Fruit Collection

©Crown Copyright more >
UK National Fruit Collection

Wolf River identification photos from website visitors


Wolf River tape


Wolf River


Rate this variety for flavor

Current rating: 4.6 out of 5. Total votes cast: 9
 

Visitor comments

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

16 Jan 2013 Madeline HollandMICHIGAN, United States
When I was a kid (I'm 70 now) we had a wolf river apple tree in our front yard. It was one of about 3 apple trees. We did not farm, so we never sprayed the trees for rose chafers. The other apple trees had fruit that was so wormy and stunted that it was inedible. The wolf river apples, however, did not seem to be affected by the rose chafers and the fruit was very large. One thing, though. If the fruit fell to the ground it would rot almost immediately. We used to go out in the morning and pick up the fruit that had fallen since the day before. My mother would core them and slice them and dip the slices in pancake batter and fry them. They were delicious.
12 Dec 2012 Paul SchwabeWI, United States
I grew up with a large standard sized Wolf River tree in our yard. It produced some of the largest apples I have ever seen. The biggest was almost enough for a pie! The flesh is somewhat dry, primarily for cooking only.
23 Oct 2012 Judy MillerCA, United States
We have two Wolf River apple trees on our property. They usually produce the largest apple we have ever seen. They are not very good fresh eating but worth growing for they are delicious cooked in various dishes. It is a beautiful tree also. The better of the two trees is right next to our parking lot thus gets all the attention from visitors.
11 Sep 2012 Luke SchisselMS, United States
We had one tree of this type on the south side of our apple orchard. I will be in the Winneshiek county area latter on this month and will try to locate this tree as I know precisely where it was. I am more than convinced that the tree I have in mind was a Wolf River.
21 Oct 2011 Paul BulasONTARIO, Canada
Found Wolf River for the first time at the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market north of Kitchener-Waterloo. I found the apples to have a tart, subtle flavour; definitely something "old style" about the taste. They are attractive apples. I juiced some to add to my cider blend.
30 Sep 2011 MaijaONTARIO, Canada
These awesome apples are getting harder to find. Many years ago I did an experiment with three apples (Spy, Cortland, Wolf River). I made three pies, exactly the same, but each with a different apple. I took these three pies to a dinner party. I told everyone that they HAD to have a slice of each, even if that slice was a smidgen. Only I knew which pie was which. All eleven people at that dinner chose the Wolf River pie, hands down! Amazing, eh?! I just called to order a bushel where I have always gotten them, and discovered they can no longer get them! The farmer that had them had cleared them out to plant something else! That's bordering on sinful!
23 Jan 2011 DebraBRITISH COLUMBIA, Canada
Debra ~ Seameadows Farm/BC. We very much enjoy the wolf river apple after having tasted it fresh picked at the annual Salt Spring Island apple festival held late Aug/early Sept. The pies made locally are also available (and although a bit high in cost, the money go to local charity). wow! They are certainly a variety I would endorse, however not sure if they require a freeze prior to good taste as we really don't have a good freeze here annually, at least not before harvest.
22 Oct 2010 Teri DavisMASS, United States
I was told this apple needs to be hit by a frost before it gets its full flavor..an Old Farmer told me that it was considered a "Frost Apple" This would explain the blah flavor ....some people think the apple is tasteless...they eat it before the frost!
19 Sep 2010 MaryMONTANA, United States
I bought them at a local supermarket when I lived in Michigan, I thought they were awsome and delicious. They were the biggest apples I ever saw and good pie apples too. I would like to get ahold of a twig or two to graft on my apple tree to carrie on their legecy.
23 May 2010 Gordon ReidONTARIO, Canada
I happened to be recalling my youth and how we used to climb this large apple tree in a cow pasture very close to my home in Madoc Ontario, and eat these incredibly large apples. This routine would repeat itself many times over the days of my youth. We snacked on these giants many times.....sometimes not by choice, as the cattle would chase us up the tree. I can recall my friends mother calling them Wolf River apples. The tree is located on the edge of town, in Madoc Ontario where I grew up. I will make a point of going to the site again to check on this tree, now that I know they live to such an old age. Gordon Reid Campbellford, Ontario
20 Apr 2010 Hamlin GrangeONTARIO, Canada
We have two Wolf River apple trees that are more than 100 years old. Every other year we get an abundant amount of fruit. Almost too much! Of course I make pies with them (they are wonderful frozen and uncooked...just pop them in the oven). My wife makes apple and mint jellies with them. Outstanding!! Would love to know how to do a graft of the trees before they are gone forever.
29 Mar 2010 RMICH, United States
you need to buy a grafted wolf river tree to get wolf river apples. try jungs, or henry field's, or google others. this apple is rather blah for my taste, but if you add lemon, it helps.
29 Mar 2010 RMICH, United States
there are a lot of catalogs that carry wolf river. origin in wolf river, wis. your seeds may grow into something good, it will take years to know. do not expect to get wolf river apples from the seeds tho. you have to graft to do that, or buy a grafted tree. some people like wolf river, they are big, but rather blah for my taste. add cinnamon, sugar and lemon and they can come out decent. try jungs, or henry field catalogs, or google for them.
20 Mar 2010 Jeremy StricklandID, United States
I recently acquired some Wolf river apple seeds from my grandfathers tree. His tree is in Washington state on the west side of the mountains. He says that about every other year the tree is packed, the year before last it produced 40 boxes worth of apples. His largest apple to date was 8" in diameter and 24" around, I am trying to grow some seeds he sent me to see if they will grow here in Idaho and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I'm using a small store bought green house just to get the seeds to sprout. My biggest problem is that none of the nurseries around here have even heard of the Wolf river apples, nor have they ever heard of an apple that grows that big. Thank you for any suggestions you might have.
12 Dec 2009 Mary GoodSEARSMONT, WALDO, MAINE, United States
I remember a wild Wolf River apple tree years ago in Searsmont. I am planning on planting some apple trees and wondered if that was really a type of apple or just a local name. They made the best pies. So glad to have found this.
09 Oct 2009 Kathy GibbsARGONNE, WI, United States
We have a very old Wolf River in our front yard. It still bears beautiful big apples that make wonderful pies and sauce. I would like tofind a location to buy a new tree to start in the event this one should die. We have many varieties of apple trees on the farm but love this old one that started it all.
07 Oct 2009 JeanSIMCOE COUNTY, ONT., Canada
Wolf River are my favourites for pie. They hold their shape better after cooking than any other variety I've tried. They are so big they won't fit in my apple peeler, corer and I have to peel most of them by hand. My hand is not big enough to hold many of them and it gets all cramped up, LOL, small price to pay for these wonderful fruit. They are NOT good to eat out of hand, tasting unlike any other apple I've eaten and having a solid, mealy texture. They are hard to find.
05 Oct 2009 TeresaEWEN, MI, United States
I have a wolf river apple tree, planted about 6 years ago. This year it is full of big beautiful apples...with absolutely no taste, either sweet or tart. Do they need time to develope flavor? At this point I am very disappointed in them.
29 Sep 2009 Kelly TardaniGRAND HAVEN, MI, United States
I love the Wolf River apple, VERY LARGE, 1-2 make a very nice pie. I counted, 30 to a 1/2 bushel. I make sauce, pie, crisp with them. Wonderful apple!! Got them off Maple Island Road in Muskegon County.
27 Sep 2009 RonEAU CLAIRE, WI, United States
I planted a Wolf River apple tree 5 years ago originally intending it to be ornamental, but now its big and beautiful and I would like it to bear. Can someone tell me how well does a flowering crab tree do as a pollinator and how close or far away should it be planted?
13 Sep 2009 MelissaLAFAYETTE COUNTY, WISCONSIN, United States
My Wolf River variety bore substantial fruit for the first time this year. (It's seven years old, but has not received the best of care) The apples are as big as a supermarket variety, good for eating out of hand. They are not mealy, and have a nice dry, meady taste.
04 Jun 2009 Nancy WilsonONTARIO, Canada
I've never had a tree of this variety, but I used to buy these at Stouffeville farm market, years ago.....they're delicious for sauce......sauce is tart & has a slightly "bitter" flavour(maybe the word "bitter" sounds bad, but, I dont know how else to describe it.....I guess it's like with beer, where a bit of bitterness is actually delicious). Not so good fresh IMO....& yes, they're a BIG apple, about the same as Spy's , the ones I've bought, anyway.
17 May 2009 Don WheelerTAMWORTH ONTARIO, Canada
So did I. I estimate the tree to be 80 to 100 yrs old. Still flowering but apples not too big. Told that 1 apple could make 1 pie by my grandmother.
01 Feb 2009 Jane PaulKINGSTON, ONTARIO, Canada
We had a Wolf River applie tree in our backyard when I was growing up. Mum made pies with the apples (and applesauce with the windfalls). The apples held their shape and were delicious, sweet-tart.

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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 Wolf River 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



Latest Spring blossom records for this variety

2012 season

  • 11th May  2012  - tree owned by Susanjames2 in WEST NEWBURY, United States
  • May  2012  - tree owned by Judy in PINERIDGE, United States
  • April  2012  - tree owned by Roy in CENTRALIA, United States
  • April  2012  - tree owned by Roy in CENTRALIA, United States

2011 season

  • 19th June  2011  - tree owned by Susanjames2 in WEST NEWBURY, United States
  • April  2011  - tree owned by Roy in CENTRALIA, United States
  • April  2011  - tree owned by Roy in CENTRALIA, United States

2010 season

  • May  2010  - tree owned by Kris in HOLDEN, United States
  • April  2010  - tree owned by Roy in CENTRALIA, United States
  • April  2010  - tree owned by Roy in CENTRALIA, United States

2009 season

  • 18th June  2009  - tree owned by Jeremy in Montesano, United States
  • 12th March  2009  - tree owned by Hamlin in TORONTO, Canada

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

Latest harvest records for this variety

2012 season

  • 2nd week October  2012  - tree owned by Roy in CENTRALIA, United States
  • 1st week October  2012  - tree owned by Judy in PINERIDGE, United States
  • 2nd week September  2012  - tree owned by Susanjames2 in WEST NEWBURY, United States
  • 4th week August  2012  - tree owned by Roy in CENTRALIA, United States

2011 season

  • November  2011  - tree owned by Roy in CENTRALIA, United States
  • November  2011  - tree owned by Roy in CENTRALIA, United States
  • 2nd week September  2011  - tree owned by Susanjames2 in WEST NEWBURY, United States
  • 3rd week August  2011  - tree owned by Phil in WINNECONNE, United States

2010 season

  • 3rd week September  2010  - tree owned by Kris in HOLDEN, United States

2009 season

  • 3rd week October  2009  - tree owned by Jeremy in Montesano, United States
  • 3rd week October  2009  - tree owned by Hamlin in TORONTO, Canada

Where to buy apple trees

The following fruit tree nurseries offer Wolf River apple trees for sale:

Where to buy apples

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