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Huonville Crab crab-apple

This is an Australian apple, found growing wild in Tasmania. It may be a cross between a domestic apple and a red-fleshed crab.

The apples are almost identical to Scarlet Surprise and Almata in appearance. They are round-conical, about two inches in diameter. The stalk is however longer and thinner, like a crab apple, in a shallow cavity, projecting beyond the base. The skin is wholly red and smooth, with no greyish bloom. The flesh is red and rather hard and crisp when first picked. The juice is sweet and tart. The eye is closed and there is little or no cavity. The tree fruits in most years during the first half of October.

This apple is more acidic than typical dessert varieties, having a very sharp flavour. It keeps in good condition for about a month. After this time it is sweeter without much richness or complexity and most of the acidity has disappeared. The fruit texture by this time is softer but with some residual crispness.

The tree is slender and makes a very attractive ornamental. The blossom is bright crimson, new leaves are bronze-coloured, and the wood is pigmented red. The flowering period is quite early; about a week before Bramley. It is an effective pollinator. The tree grows quite vigorously and there is no susceptibility to woolly aphis or mildew. It sometimes gets small black blotches on the skin, like James Grieve. 

More details on the Diversity website.

Description by: .   

USDA identification images for Huonville Crab

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

    Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

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    Tree register

    Australia

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2011 season

    • October  2011  - tree owned by Sam in Melbourne, Australia

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


    Harvest records for this variety

    2011 season

    • 1st week April  2011  - tree owned by Sam in Melbourne, Australia

    2010 season

    • April  2010  - tree owned by Sam in Melbourne, Australia

    Origins

    • Species: Malus species - Crab-apple
    • Parentage: Unknown
    • Originates from: Tasmania, Australia

    Where to buy fresh fruit

    No orchards have registered as growing this variety. If you grow this and want to register please go to our Orchard Registration form.



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