Apple, Crimson Crisp, Bare Root

Apple, Crimson Crisp (Malus domestica 'CrimsonCrisp')

Crimson Crisp is a modern, disease-resistant apple known for its vivid red color, explosive crunch, and well-balanced sweet-tart flavor. Developed by the Purdue-Rutgers-Illinois (PRI) breeding program, this mid-season apple is prized by organic growers and fresh-market sellers for its excellent eating quality, long storage life, and resistance to apple scab and other diseases. With its compact tree form and crisp, aromatic fruit, Crimson Crisp is a superb fit for home orchards, food forests, and low-input regenerative systems.

Key Characteristics

• Crisp, sweet-tart fruit with complex flavor
  Crimson Crisp apples are medium-sized, with a deep red skin and dense, fine-grained flesh. The flavor is bright and balanced—sweet with a refreshing tartness and hints of spice—perfect for fresh eating, slicing, and fall salads.
• Exceptional disease resistance
  Bred for resistance to apple scab, Crimson Crisp also shows moderate resistance to powdery mildew, cedar apple rust, and fire blight. This makes it an excellent no-spray or low-spray option for organic orchards or permaculture designs.
• Long storage life with flavor that improves over time
  Harvested in mid- to late September, Crimson Crisp stores well for 4–5 months, retaining its crunch and improving in sweetness and complexity during storage. Ideal for extending your fresh fruit availability into winter.
• Compact tree well-suited to small spaces and guild planting
  Crimson Crisp trees have a naturally compact, upright growth habit, making them ideal for small orchards, backyard food forests, or urban gardens. Their productivity and disease resistance also reduce the maintenance burden on growers.
• Excellent for diverse orchard systems
  With its mid-season bloom, this variety serves as a reliable pollinator partner for a wide range of apples. It plays an important role in orchard diversity, offering fruit quality, disease resistance, and visual appeal.

Product Details

• Sun requirements: Full sun
• Soil requirements: Medium, well-drained
• Bloom time: Mid-season
• Bloom color: White
• Fruit qualities: Medium-sized, bright crimson skin, very crisp, sweet-tart, aromatic
• Fruit uses: Fresh eating, salads, short- to mid-term storage
• Fruit ripening month: Mid to late September
• Required chill hours: ~800–1,000
• Pollination requirements: Not self-fertile. Best pollination partners include:
• Apple, Honeycrisp
• Apple, Liberty
• Apple, Fuji
• Apple, Gold Rush
• Apple, Gala
• Apple, Enterprise
• Apple, Granny Smith
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–8

Crimson Crisp is a top performer for growers who want low-maintenance trees and high-quality fruit. With its spicy-sweet flavor, crunch, and striking red skin, it’s a standout choice for orchards focused on sustainability, beauty, and taste.