Mark Kane
Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
Malus domestica 'Mutsu'
Plant Common Name
Apple, Cider Apple, Mutsu Apple, Yellow Eating Apple
General Description
Bred in Japan with ‘Golden Delicious’ as one parent, 'Mutsu' is a very large, heavy apple with crisp, juicy flesh and an unusual spicy flavor that has a hint of anise. This tree is small to medium-sized, deciduous, and hardy. The harvest falls in mid-autumn, with fruits hanging well on the tree and holding good quality in cold storage. This is a triploid (having three complete sets of chromosomes instead of the usual two), a condition that often produces plants of uncommon vigor and size that are also infertile. It needs a tree of a different apple nearby for pollination to bear reliable crops. The tree is precocious (starts fruiting young) and needs staking when young to stand straight.
Like most domestic apples, ‘Mutsu’ (also known as ‘Crispin’) grows and fruits best in full sun in average, well-drained soil. This apple is susceptible to diseases, especially fire blight, a damaging bacterial disease that typically begins in vigorously growing new shoots. Give this tree room so the breeze can dry the leaves after rains. Mulch the tree with compost, composted manure, or shredded leaves to enrich the soil, conserve moisture, and encourage slow growth. Use ‘Mutsu’ in the yard or a foundation planting. For smaller spaces, it should be grafted to a rootstock that controls its size.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 2
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USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 8
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Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 15, 16
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Plant Type
Fruit
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
12'-20' / 3.7m - 6.1m
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Width
15'-20' / 4.6m - 6.1m
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Bloom Time
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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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, Summer, Fall
