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Tasting notes and identification advice for apples, pears, plums, cherries and other orchard varieties.

Horse apple

Greenish yellow in color usually with a pink blush. The fruit is medium to large. It is very tart until fully ripened. Firm white flesh white stained red. A little tough, sprightly, subacid, aromatic.

USDA identification images for Horse

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

  • USDA watercolor image of Malus domestica: Horse
  • USDA watercolor image of Malus domestica: Horse

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

Visitor reviews

  • 22 Aug 2019  Billy CampbellTENNESSEE, United States
    The Horse (Hoss) apple originated in Washington Co Tn in the late 1700s. It was developed by Jacob Hoss.
  • 09 Dec 2018  AnthonyGEORGIA, United States
    My grandfather was born in Georgia in 1895. He once told me that if you had a Horse Apple tree and a Yates Apple tree you'd have all the apples you'd ever want. I used to have a Horse Apple tree and it made apples every year... until it died in a drought. In August when the apples were so hot you'd think they were going to bake on the tree, but one day they would reach perfection, and the flavor was indescribably wonderful.
  • 14 Dec 2014  Eleanor JenkinsNH, United States
    I have a Horse apple tree on standard root stock that is about thirty years old. I am looking for the history of this variety. It was purchased from a Lawson's Nursery in Ballground Georgia, I think.
  • 09 Dec 2014  Karen SpencerTX, United States
    Jim, to find this variety try Bighorsecreekfarm.com They are an heirloom apple tree (do their own grafting) located in North Carolina. Good luck! Karen in Central Texas
  • 20 Nov 2014  JimAL., United States
    This apple was common and much used for drying and for pies in this region. Excellent tart flavor. This is the first mention of it that I have seen in print. I and several others that I know would love to buy some of these trees to get them started again in this area. I hope this web site will show me where I can find them.

Register your trees

Tree register


United States

Spring blossom records for this variety

2012 season

  • 1st April  2012  - tree owned by Ryan in Cumming, United States

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


Harvest records for this variety

2015 season

  • August  2015  - tree owned by Roger in Madison Heights, United States

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
  • Originates from: Missouri, United States
  • Introduced: 1872

Identification

  • Country of origin: United States


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