Mark Kane
Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
Malus domestica 'Honeycrisp' PP7197
Plant Common Name
Apple, Eating Apple, Honeycrisp Apple
General Description
This cultivar, 'Honeycrisp,' is a large, very juicy, very sweet apple, with yellow skin overlain by red. It has little tartness and a mild apple flavor, which becomes stronger the longer fruits are left on the tree. Bred at the University of Minnesota, which is located in a cold northern climate, 'Honeycrisp' is a hardy deciduous tree with a somewhat spreading habit, but can be trained to a central leader (one trunk). It bears early, so the fruits should be removed from a young leader to keep it straight, or the leader should be staked. This apple bears reliably full crops every year that mature in mid-autumn. Remove about one third of the apples while they are small to improve the quality of the remaining fruits. The fruits hang well on the tree, allowing a prolonged harvest, and they keep well in cold storage for up to six month.
Like most domestic apples, ‘Honeycrisp’ grows and fruits best in full sun in average, well-drained soil. Not particularly resistant to diseases, it should be planted with room for breezes to dry the leaves after a rain. Mulch the tree with compost, composted manure, or shredded leaves to enrich the soil, conserve moisture, and avoid encouraging rapid growth, which is susceptible to fireblight, a bacterial disease. Use ‘Honeycrisp’ in a large yard or foundation planting. For smaller spaces, it should be grafted to a rootstock that controls its size.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
3 - 9
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Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16
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Plant Type
Fruit
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
12'-25' / 3.7m - 7.6m
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Width
15'-25' / 4.6m - 7.6m
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Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring
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Native To
Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Russia/Siberia, Southern Asia, Western Asia
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam
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Tolerances
Drought
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Pink, Rose
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Fruit Color
Yellow, Red, Green, Gold, Pink, Dark Red
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Light Yellow, Brown
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Bark Color
Brown, Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
Yes
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
