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Item Number: FT050

Spitzenburg Apple Tree

Spitzenburg Apple Tree

Aromatic apples with rich heritage.

Spitzenburg apple trees are a beloved heirloom variety, producing medium-sized fruit with deep red skin and crisp, aromatic flesh. Known for their rich, sweet-tart flavor, Spitzenburg apples are perfect for fresh eating, baking, and cider-making. This late-season variety thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, requiring moderate to high chill hours. The tree benefits from a pollinator, such as Golden Delicious or Pink Lady, to ensure consistent fruit production. With its exceptional flavor, long storage life, and historical significance, Spitzenburg is a must-have for gardeners seeking a classic apple variety with a rich heritage.

Semi-dwarf on M-111 rootstock.

  • Zones: 4-8
  • Chill hours: 800
  • Bloom Time: Late (Based on typical Central Valley California weather)
  • Harvest: September 20 - October 5
  • Looks: Red over yellow skin, dense yellowish flesh.
  • Personality: Firm, juicy, moderately sweet with a sharp spicy flavor. Renowned flavor; possibly best dessert apple
  • Facts of note: Favorite in colder regions. Old variety also called Esopus Spitzenburg after where it was found in the 1800's in the Esopus settlement Ulster County, New York. Said to be Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple. Good keeper
  • Pollination: Requires pollenizer; Red Fuji works well.

Visit our Fruit Tree Central for a listing of all our fruit tree videos and articles.

Visit Tree Characteristics for a listing of all our fruit & nut tree growing characteristics.

Available to Ship After: 1/17/2025. Order today to reserve yours!
$59.99
Satisfaction guaranteed shipping

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Description

Spitzenburg apple trees are a beloved heirloom variety, producing medium-sized fruit with deep red skin and crisp, aromatic flesh. Known for their rich, sweet-tart flavor, Spitzenburg apples are perfect for fresh eating, baking, and cider-making. This late-season variety thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, requiring moderate to high chill hours. The tree benefits from a pollinator, such as Golden Delicious or Pink Lady, to ensure consistent fruit production. With its exceptional flavor, long storage life, and historical significance, Spitzenburg is a must-have for gardeners seeking a classic apple variety with a rich heritage.

Semi-dwarf on M-111 rootstock.

  • Zones: 4-8
  • Chill hours: 800
  • Bloom Time: Late (Based on typical Central Valley California weather)
  • Harvest: September 20 - October 5
  • Looks: Red over yellow skin, dense yellowish flesh.
  • Personality: Firm, juicy, moderately sweet with a sharp spicy flavor. Renowned flavor; possibly best dessert apple
  • Facts of note: Favorite in colder regions. Old variety also called Esopus Spitzenburg after where it was found in the 1800's in the Esopus settlement Ulster County, New York. Said to be Thomas Jefferson's favorite apple. Good keeper
  • Pollination: Requires pollenizer; Red Fuji works well.

Visit our Fruit Tree Central for a listing of all our fruit tree videos and articles.

Visit Tree Characteristics for a listing of all our fruit & nut tree growing characteristics.

Apples are generally late blooming. Need full sun, well-drained soil, and moderate fertility. Thin fruit to maximize quality and size. Susceptible to codling moth, apple scab, powdery mildew, and gophers. Harvest 4-5th year.

Please Note: Although most of our bare-root trees arrive to our warehouse in mid-December, there are a few varieties that will not arrive until mid-January. If you order any of those varieties along with varieties that arrive in mid-December, your order will be delayed for shipment until mid-January. If you'd like us to split your shipments, please contact us at (888) 784-1722 or orderdesk@groworganic.com. Additional shipping charges will apply.

Shipping Information

Ships from Northern CA.

Cannot ship to the following states: HI, AK, PR, GU, VI

Shipping Weight: 5.0 lb

Dimensions: 47.5"L x 7.3"W x 2.75"H

Features

  • Bare Root
  • Flavor Pick
  • Good Keeper
  • Suited to Cold Climates

Characteristics

USDA Growing Zone: 4 - 8
Approximate Harvest Time : Early Fall
Chill Hours Needed : 800 hours
Fruit Bearing : Spur
Planting Time : Winter
Time to Fruit Production : 2-3 Years
Tree Size : Semi-dwarf

Planting & Care

Useful Information

Guarantee

Limited Dormant Tree & Plant Guarantee

* Claim deadline is June 15th

We guarantee that your dormant tree or plant will arrive in good, viable condition. If your tree arrives in substandard condition, notify us within 3 days of delivery. Please email pictures of the box, inside packaging, the tree and its roots to helpdesk@groworganic.com.  We will investigate your claim and process a request to exchange or refund the damaged product.

If your dormant tree or plant has not grown new leaves by June 15th, you may be eligible for our Limited Dormant Tree & Plant Guarantee. This guarantee provides for a store credit for the purchase price of the tree, excluding shipping. Please see the Instructions below.

Important Dates:

  • April 1st Dormant trees/plants must be planted in the ground
  • May 15th Perform scratch test, if no new leaves have grown
  • June 15th Deadline to apply for a dormant tree/plant credit

All required documentation must be received by June 15th for your claim to be considered. Claims or documentation received after June 15th will be denied, without exception. Instructions listed below

Terms and Conditions

We cannot guarantee that your tree or plant will remain alive and healthy after it is received, or bear fruit as there are too many variables in your environment that are beyond our control (i.e. soil preparation, weed and pest control, proper irrigation, chill hours, compatible hardiness for your growing zone, proper choice of pollinator, extreme weather, rodent damage, disease, etc.). 

We cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide a replacement tree/plant of the same species either that same growing season or in future years. Customers are responsible for all shipping fees associated with replacement trees and plants. 

If we determine that the tree you purchased directly from us is not viable, we will issue you a store credit (not a refund) for the purchase price of the affected dormant tree or plant. Shipping is not included in the dormant tree/plant guarantee. Store credits can be used to purchase any product we sell and are valid for use only until July 1st of the following year.

Historically, 98% of our dormant trees and plants grow and thrive when they have been cared for and planted using our growing guides. Dormant trees and plants must be planted in the ground by April 1st in order to be eligible for credit. If the ground in your area is still frozen solid, you may temporarily plant your tree or plant in a pot. 

Potted, non-dormant trees or plants are excluded from this guarantee as they are not dormant at the time of shipment. Evergreen trees such as citrus, avocado and olive trees are not available for credit under the Dormant Tree and Plant Guarantee. 

Instructions

We guarantee that your dormant fruit tree or plant will leaf out, if you care for it according to our growing guides. In the unlikely event that your dormant tree or plant does not have leaves by May 15th, follow these simple steps to apply for a store credit:

Before you call or email, please perform a “scratch test” to determine if the tree or plant is still alive. This video shows how to check for live tissue under the bark. Scratch tests need to be done a few inches above and below the graft. 

Green Cambium Layer / Living Trees

If the cambium layer under the bark is green, give your tree a little more time. It is still alive, but hasn’t come out of dormancy yet. Check to make sure that it is getting the right amount of deep root water, enough sunlight and that the weather is warm enough for that type of tree/plant to come out of dormancy. Every tree has its own personality and will come out of dormancy at different times. Be sure to submit the required documentation listed below by June 15th, if it doesn’t grow leaves.

Brown Cambium Layer / Dead Trees

If the scratch test shows a brown cambium layer or if your dormant tree/plant doesn’t have leaves by June 1st, please email us at helpdesk@groworganic.com. All required documentation listed below must be received by June 15th for your claim to be considered. To be considered for the guarantee claim, all required documentation must be received by June 15th.  Incomplete submissions will be denied.

Required Documentation

  1. Order number
  2. Name of dormant tree/plant and the quantity affected
  3. Photos of each tree or plant showing: 
    1. The roots (tree or plant must be pulled out of the ground)
    2. The scratch test areas
    3. The entire tree/plant

We reserve the right to not issue credit for items that have already been replaced. We also reserve the right to require photographic evidence that the tree/plant was not killed by root rot, rodent or mechanical damage.

View full details

Customer Reviews

Based on 3 reviews
67%
(2)
33%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
J
Jim Young
All good

Fast delivery. Healthy tree as promised.

S
Sandra Scott
Spitzenburg Apple Tree

My tree came packaged well and looking good. I was thrilled to get it. I have planted it and am waiting for spring to see how well the roots do to support the tree. On with my opinion of this tree species... I have grown this apple tree before. This is the most wonderfully flavored crisp juicy flavor around especially for applesauce, pie filling (canned or fresh). It takes a long time for a young tree to produce apples. It is well worth the wait, Quite the treasure. I rated this a 5 because it is a hard one to find, and I love it.

H
Hayseed
trees look very healthy

First time planting this variety, bought it along with other varieties. Trees looked very healthy and I got them in the ground early for our area. They won't break bud for another couple months because I am in zone 6, but I am sure they will do just fine. Rated 4 out of 5 stars, just because I don't know yet; but dealing with PV has always been a 5 star experience so far for me.

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