Arkansas Black apples are a striking deep burgundy-red. This heirloom variety was first found in Arkansas in the 1870s. The very firm fruit can keep for months under the right conditions. Cook it, dry it, or enjoy it fresh from the tree! Arkansas Black apple trees have sterile pollen and will not pollenize other apple trees, so you'll need to have two other compatible apple trees nearby.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Malus domestica 'Arkansas Black'

COMMON NAME: Arkansas Black Apple

GARDEN SIZE: Depends on root stock - Dwarf 8-10 ft. tall and wide, Semi-Dwarf 12-15 ft. tall and wide, Standard/Full 15-20’ tall and wide, Espalier varies with culture

USDA ZONE: 5-10

EXPOSURE: Full Sun

WATER & SOIL: Loamy & well drained soil

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; Green

BLOOM TIME: Mid-season - Flowering Group 3

HARVEST TIME: Late, ripens late October - early November

FRUIT: Dark red to burgundy, firm and crisp, sweet-tart, and keeps well

USES: Cooking, fresh eating, hard cider, juice

POLLINIZATION: Not self-fertile; sterile pollen. Needs another compatible apple tree nearby in order to produce fruit. Its sterile pollen does not pollenize other apple trees.

POLLENIZATION (Trees that pollenize this one): Colonnade Golden Sentinel, Colonnade Scarlet Sentinel, CrimsonCrisp, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Russet, Golden/Yellow Delicious, Granny Smith, Hardy Cumberland, Honeycrisp, Jonathan, McIntosh, Pink Lady, PREMIER Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Royal Red Honeycrisp, Sweet Sixteen, Urban Apple 'Blushing Delight', Urban Apple 'Golden Treat', Urban Apple 'Tangy Green', Wolf River

POLLENIZATION (Trees that are pollenized by this one): None - Arkansas Black has sterile pollen and does not pollenize other trees.

CARE: Prune while the tree is dormant. Remove water sprouts in June or July. Options for controlling pests, bacterial infections, and fungal disease include dormant oils applied early in the season before blooming, scented insect traps, and copper-based fungicides. DO NOT apply insecticides during blooming. This risks harming bees, which are crucial for pollination and fruit production. If necessary, fireblight can be treated with a streptomycin antibiotic spray during blooming. Apple trees need about an inch of water every 7-10 days, though young trees need a little more during their first growing season as they establish roots. If not enough rain has fallen, give the tree extra water by running a hose at a trickle around the base of the tree until the ground is fully soaked (but not for so long that there is standing water). Waterlogged roots can harm apple trees, so don't overdo it!

DISEASE RESISTANCE: Some resistance to scab, very resistant to fireblight, very resistant to rusts

TOXICITY: Stems, leaves, and seeds contain cyanide and are therefore toxic to dogs, cats, horses, and humans. The fruit is non-toxic.