Hewe’s Virginia Crab Apple (4-6′)

Fall. Vintage sharp cider apple. Probably a seedling of the native Malus angustifolia, the Southern Crab. Introduced about 1700 in Virginia.

One of the most prized of all American cider apples. One of the rare varieties recommended for single varietal cider. In his 1817 A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees, William Coxe devoted an entire chapter to making cider with Hewe’s. The red-skinned white-spotted fruit is small, round, juicy, tough, astringent and acidic. According to AJ Downing in 1848, Hewe’s “makes a very high-flavored dry cider, which, by connoisseurs, is thought unsurpassed in flavor by any other, and retains its soundness a long time.”

Incredibly vigorous, productive and healthy in our trials. The trees look great. Evidently it loves cold weather. Quite hardy despite its name. Long ago used as a rootstock even as far north as Maine. Blooms midseason. Climate Zone 4.

TFG apples are on standard full-sized Antonovka rootstock. Standard trees have deep, substantial—and therefore hardier— root systems. By selecting the varieties appropriate to your district, grafted on standard rootstock, you may well be planting a tree that will be picked by your grandchildren’s grandchildren. Standard trees will grow to be large, but you can manage the size with pruning. Although standard-sized apple trees may be planted as close as 10–15′ apart, they were typically planted 30′ apart in 19th-c. orchards. 

(Thanks to Fedco for variety descriptions.)

For pollination timing of Hewe’s Virgnia, see Online pollination checker for fruit trees.

Volume discounts: 1-9 trees for $48. 10-99 trees for $24. 100+ trees for $17.

Shipping: We will ship trees in March unless otherwise requested.