CrimsonCrisp® is a hybrid apple in the rose family (Rosaceae) developed by Purdue, Rutgers and Illinois Universities and introduced in 2006. Parentage includes 'Rome Beauty', 'Jonathan' and 'Golden Delicious' apples (PCFW2-134 x PRI 669-205) CrimsonCrisp® requires 900 chill hours and is grafted to both dwarf and semi-dwarf root stock giving height choices of 12-14 feet or 15 to 17 feet. It is immune to apple scab and resistant to cedar-apple rust. Plant in full sun in well-drained soils. This North Carolina Production Guide for Smaller Orchard Plantings from NC Extension has detailed information on planting, pruning and harvesting. Here is a guide to pest and disease management from NC State for fruit trees. The apple is medium-sized, with a deep pinkish-red blush over yellow skin, maturing in mid-September. It has a pleasing flavor that is a good balance between sweet and tart and stores well for about 3 months. Apple trees can be grown commercially or in the home edible garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to powdery mildew and firenlight. Watch for aphids, codling moths and apple maggots. VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Malus domestica .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheMalus domesticaPyrus communis 'Hosui'Pyrus communis 'Kosui'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Edible; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 17 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenulate; Entire; Serrate; Undulate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Very variable leaf shape and size. Underside has raised veins and may or may not be pubescent.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The 1 to 1 1⁄2 in. flowers are white with a pink tinge that gradually fades, five-petaled, with an inflorescence consisting of a cyme with 4–6 flowers. The central flower is called the "king bloom", opens first and can develop a larger fruit.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, > 3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Medium-sized apples with dark pinkish-red blush over a yellow skin. It has a crisp, sweet/tart flavorand keeps well
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Looks similar to prunus species, grey and smooth with raised lenticels.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
The tree has long shoots and short shoots (spurs). Flowers are borne on the latter.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Mammals will eat the fruits. Pollinators are attracted to the flowers.
Attracts
Pollinators; Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Pome
Edibility
The fruit is edible raw or cooked
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow
Landscape theme
Edible Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree
Garden tags
#deciduous tree #edible fruit #apple tree #frequent insect problems #frequent disease problems #white flowers #children #spring flowers #vhfn #fall fruit #vhfn-f #high maintenance #th-taste #th-wildlife
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Tufted Apple Bud Moth; Green Apple Aphid / Spirea Aphid; Rosy Apple Aphid; Predatory Mites on Apple