FRUIT TREE 

MALUS:  DWARF APPLE

These prairie hardy apples are grown on Ottawa #3 dwarfing rootstocks making them approximately 50% smaller in size than apple trees growing on the standard rootstock.  Because they take up less space in your yard, there is less cost and effort involved in maintaining and harvesting . The dwarf apple will also begin to bear fruit earlier: significant fruit production may be two years earlier.  By fruiting earlier, the dwarf apple tree reduces the vigorous vegetable growth and therefore make the tree more winter hardy. These edible apple varieties require two different cultivars in order to cross pollinate so that they can produce a good quantity of fruit.  Bees and insects can cross pollinate your tree from other apple trees growing in the neighborhood if they are within 150 metres (450 feet) of your tree.  In the spring, apple trees display a beautiful show of fragrant white flowers, making them useful as an ornamental tree as well as a fruit tree.  Apples prefer to be planted in well drained soil in a sunny location.

 Dwarf Apple Cultivars for the Prairies

Cultivar Name Height Spread

Zone

Fruit

Description
Goodland Apple

Malus x 'Dwarf Goodland'

   3 Large apple that is creamy yellow with a splash of red. The flesh is white. The Goodland apple ripens in August and is an excellent choice for eating fresh and cooking.  It also  stores well.
Norkent Apple

Malus x 'Dwarf Norkent'

   2 Large fruit The Norkent apple matures in late August with a pleasant apple/pear taste similar to Golden Delicious. It is suitable for storage.
Prairie Magic Apple

Malus x 'Dwarf Prairie Magic'

   3 A crisp and delicious medium to large sized apple. The Prairie Magic matures in mid-September producing the best fruit we have tasted from a hardy apple.  
Red Sparkle Apple

Malus x 'Dwarf Red Sparkle'

   3 Medium sized fruit that stores well. The Red Sparkle apples mature in early September.  The nutty/fruity flavor make them  an excellent dessert apple. 

Compiled by Rachel Giesbrecht on August 5, 2004

 

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