Heritage Apple Varieties

Why Antique Apple Orchards?

Do you remember the crisp snap and delicious flavor of the apples on your grandfather’s tree or the fruit harvested on a family outing to an old apple orchard? Recall those old favorites and learn how you too, can grow them when you visit Applewood’s orchard.

Many antique apple varieties are being lost and replaced with commercial varieties. Often, these newer apples are chosen for their red color and shipping or keeping quality rather than their flavor. Antique varieties have a taste and charm unto themselves and unfortunately, once a variety is lost it is gone forever. Using the orchard as an example, Applewood tries to educate the public about the serious issue of disappearing varieties and the consequences of a reduced gene pool. Applewood hopes to encourage people to plant older varieties to help keep them from disappearing.

Applewood’s antique apple orchard is unique for two reasons. Not only are the trees antique or heritage varieties, but this is the only area of the estate purposely restored with the original varieties. When relandscaping of the grounds began in 1977, the decision to use new, improved plants was made. It was felt the public would be more interested in plants with improved characteristics that were showier than the original plantings. The exception is found in the apple orchard, for which Applewood is named. There are 75 trees representing 29 different varieties. A few of the old trees remain but most of them have been replaced with identical varieties. Because some varieties are very difficult to find, the staff at Applewood has grafted their own trees using buds from the original trees in the orchard.

Link to Heritage Apple Varieties Database: List Varieties