'Dolgo' Crabapple

Malus baccata (or hybrid)

Origin: Siberia

Improvement status: Cultivar

Seeds per packet: ~10

Germination tested 12/2022: 93%

Life cycle: Perennial

'Dolgo' crabapple originated in Siberia and was brought to the United States around 1897 by Professor Niels Ebbesen Hansen of the South Dakota Experiment Station. They are called "dolgo," which means "long," due to their elongated shape. Hansen started a number of Malus baccata appleseeds and determined 'Dolgo' to be the winner. It has truly stood the test of time. The fruit are large for crabapples and taste quite good out of hand (the flavor has been described as candied cranberry). It makes a great addition to hard ciders, adding a "bittersharp" flavor. They also make excellent jelly or apple butter. What's more, the tree is incredibly cold-hardy and resilient, making it a popular rootstock for weaker cultivars, and it blooms in profusion for an extended period, making it a great pollinator for other apple trees.

Our seed comes from the good folks at Sheffield's Seed Company in Locke, NY.

GROWING TIPS: Cold-moist stratify for 30 days. Soak in water for 24 hours. Plant 1/4-1/2" deep.

Photo credit: By Виталий Брыкин, downloaded under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.