Apple Scion, Sheepnose

Apple Scion Wood – Sheepnose (Malus domestica)

Sheepnose is a distinctive American heirloom apple believed to have originated in the Midwest during the 1800s, most often associated with Ohio orchard traditions. The variety is named for its unusual elongated shape that tapers toward the blossom end, giving it a pointed “sheep nose” appearance. The fruit has dense yellow flesh with a rich sweet flavor, making it a prized apple for baking and traditional autumn harvest use.

Key Characteristics

Distinctive heirloom shape
Sheepnose apples are easily recognized by their unusual elongated form, which narrows toward the blossom end. This unique shape has made the apple memorable in historic orchards and helped give the variety its colorful name.

Sweet, dense yellow flesh
The flesh is firm and fine-grained with a rich sweetness and mild acidity. Its dense texture makes it particularly well suited for baking, where the apples hold their shape and develop deep flavor.

Excellent baking and dessert apple
Sheepnose has long been valued as a kitchen apple. The fruit performs especially well in pies, baked dishes, and traditional autumn desserts where a sweet apple that maintains structure is preferred.

Late-season heirloom harvest
This variety typically ripens in mid to late fall. When stored under cool conditions, the apples can keep for several weeks, allowing growers to extend the apple season after harvest.

Product Details

• Type: Apple scion wood
• Variety: Sheepnose
• Sun requirements: Full sun
• Soil requirements: Medium, well-drained soils
• Bloom time: Mid-season
• Bloom color: White to pale pink
• Fruit qualities: Firm dense yellow flesh; sweet flavor
• Fruit uses: Baking, pies, fresh eating, cooking
• Fruit ripening month: October
• Required chill hours: ~800–1000 hours
• Pollination requirements: Requires a different apple variety for pollination. Good pollination partners include Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala, Liberty, Enterprise, Granny Smith, and Honeycrisp.
• USDA Hardiness zones: 4–8

Important: What You Are Buying (Scion Wood)

This product is apple scion wood, which is a dormant cutting taken from a mature tree during winter. It is essentially a stick with no roots and will not grow on its own. In order to grow a tree, the scion must be grafted onto a compatible apple rootstock.

Grafting allows growers to combine the fruiting variety with a root system that controls tree size, vigor, and adaptability. If you are planning to graft this season, check out our selection of apple rootstocks and build your own apple tree.