Arkansas Black Spur Apple Tree

Arkansas Black Spur apple trees are prized for their deep red, almost black fruit with a dense texture and bold, sweet-tart flavor. These apples are excellent for fresh eating, baking, or storing, as they develop even richer flavor with time in storage. This late-season variety thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, requiring moderate chill hours. Arkansas Black Spur trees are vigorous and benefit from a pollinator, such as Granny Smith or Fuji, to produce abundant yields. Their striking fruit and robust growth make them a standout choice for home orchards, combining beauty, flavor, and versatility. Semi-Dwarf on M-111 rootstock. Growing Zones: Suitable for USDA zones 5-8. Chill Requirements: Requires around 500-600 chill hours for optimal fruiting. Bloom Time: Typically blooms late in the spring. Harvesting Dates: Harvesting usually occurs between October 5 to October 25. Looks: Arkansas Black Spur Apples are medium-sized with a dark red to almost black skin. The flesh is crisp, and the flavor improves with age. Personality: Known for its distinctive, almost “foxy” flavor, excellent for cooking, cider making, and fresh eating after storage. Facts of Note: The variety is considered an heirloom from Arkansas, dating back to the 1830s. It needs storage to achieve its full flavor potential. Pollinator: Partially self-fruitful but benefits from cross-pollination from varieties like Golden Delicious or Granny Smith for better yields. Ideal Soil Temperatures: Arkansas Black Spur Apples prefer soil temperatures between 60F to 75F (15C to 24C). Planting Depths: Plant young trees at the same depth they were in the nursery container. Germination Periods: Typically grown from grafted trees rather than seeds. Apple seeds can take a few weeks to a few months to germinate. Height at Maturity: These trees can reach heights of about 15-20 feet. Days to Maturity: Begins fruiting in about 2 years, but full production may take 5-7 years. Sun/ Shade: Requires full sun for optimal growth and fruit production. Spacing After Thinning: Space trees 20-25 feet apart to allow for proper growth and airflow.Arkansas Black Spur Apple Tree, Growing Conditions: Arkansas Black Spur Apple Trees flourish in Zones 5 to 8 and thrive in regions with approximately 500 to 700 chill hours. They bloom late in the season, making them suitable for areas with typical Central Valley California weather patterns. Their harvest window spans from October 5 to October 25, producing large apples adorned with unique dark red skin. Characteristics: These apples boast a personality characterized by very crisp flesh and a sharp flavor that matures and improves over time. Their distinct, outstanding flavor unfolds after an extended period in storage. Initially, the medium-sized fruit exhibits very dark red to nearly black skin, intensifying to a deep black hue during storage. Culinary Uses: The Arkansas Black Spur Apple is a versatile cultivar, revered for its excellent cooking properties and often utilized in the production of delectable ciders. Its distinct flavor profile, often described as “foxy,” adds depth to culinary creations, especially in cider blends and various apple-based recipes. Historical Roots: Originating from the apple-growing boom in Benton and Washington counties during the 1830s to the early 1900s, this apple variety played a significant role in shaping Arkansas’s apple-growing heritage. Despite setbacks like the Civil War, apple orchards continued to thrive, establishing Benton and Washington counties as the largest apple-growing regions in the United States by the late 1800s. Parentage and Identification: While the exact cross remains unidentified, the prevalent belief is that the Arkansas Black Spur Apple is a seedling of Winesap and an unknown parent. Although frequently confused with the Arkansas Black Twig variety, they are distinct cultivars, although Arkansas Black Twig has been speculated as a possible parent to the Arkansas Black Apple. Growth and Pollination: These trees start fruiting within two years, showcasing their productive nature. While partially self-fruitful, they fare better with a pollenizer. Varieties like Golden Delicious or Granny Smith serve as suitable pollinizers, enhancing fruit set and yield. Cultivating the Arkansas Black Spur Apple Tree offers not just a fruitful addition to gardens but also a connection to a storied past entrenched in the apple-growing history of Benton County, Arkansas. With its unique flavor and historical significance, this apple tree stands as a testament to the rich heritage of apple cultivation in the United States. Zones: 5-8 Chill hours: 500-700 Bloom Time: Late (Based on typical Central Valley California weather) Harvest: October 5 – October 25 Looks: Large, apples with unique dark red skin. Personality: Very crisp flesh, the sharp flavor improves with age. Facts of note: An heirloom apple variety from Arkansas that produces a distinct, outstanding flavor after an extended time in storage. The medium-sized fruit is very dark red to almost black skinned but becomes nearly black during storage. Very uniquely flavored, often described as foxy, this apple must be stored to achieve its wonderful flavor. The Arkansas Black is an excellent cooking apple and is quite often used as a blending apple in delicious ciders. Arkansas Black Apple traces its root to the Apple growing boom in Benton and Washington counties in Arkansas state from the 1830s to the early 1900s. The Ben Davis Apple was the backbone of the Arkansas apple growers. Despite the damage done by the Civil War the Arkansas apple orchards continued to grow and by the late 1800s Benton and Washington counties were the largest apple growing regions in the United States. The exact cross has yet to be Identified, but the most common belief is that it is a seedling of Winesap and unknown Parent. Though often confused with the variety Arkansas Black Twig these are not the same varieties, but Arkansas Black Twig has been cited as a possible parent to the Arkansas Black Apple. Begins to fruit in 2 years. Pollination: Partially self-fruitful, does much better with pollenizer. Golden Delicious or Granny Smith work well. Visit our Fruit Tree Central for a listing of all our fruit tree videos and articles. Visit Tree Characteristics for a listing of all our fruit & nut tree growing characteristics.