Esopus Spitzenburg

An old American dual purpose apple widely grown in the USA in 19th century renowned apple pies.

Origin: USA, 1790

Pollination: Esopus Spitzenburg is self-sterile and would require a pollinator to produce a crop.Find pollination partners >

British-grown All our bare-root trees are personally hand-grafted by our Nursery Manager and grown on at our nursery in Kent. We have Defra and Plant Healthy certification. More ...

We are now closed for the season. Ordering for winter 2026/27 will be enabled from Friday 1st May 2026.

History and description of Esopus Spitzenburg

Arose at Esopus, Ulster County, New York, USA. Known before 1790 and sent to the London Horticultural Society in 1824 by Michael Floy. A dual purpose apple, widely grown in North America both in commercial and home orchards in the 19th century. Said to make fine pies and may have contributed to the creation of the Waldorf Salad. Still appreciated by American fruit enthusiasts but commercially superseded by other varieties. As a dessert apple the flavour is rich and fruity, lively and very crisp, remaining so even into March. When grown in England the fruit often ripens poorly but can be full of flavour in a good year.

Medium-sized fruit. Conical to round-conical shape, slightly ribbed. The skin has yellow background colour, a bright red flush and numerous russet dots. Deep cream, almost yellow flesh, very hard and crisp with lively acidity and a rich, fruity flavour.

A tree of moderate vigour. Produces spurs freely. Heavy cropper.

Characteristics of Esopus Spitzenburg apple trees

Use	Dessert
Colour	Red
Flavour	Rich
Fruit size	Medium
Picking time	Early/Mid Oct
Season of use	Nov-Mar
Tree vigour	Moderate
Tree habit	Upright-spreading
Fruit-bearing	Spur-bearer
Cropping	Heavy
Pollination date	12
Pollination group	D
Self-fertility	Self-sterile
Pollinators	Pollination partners
Progeny	Jonathan