Black Twig

Black Twig
Species	Apple
Trees Found	1
Orchards	McCoin Upper
Preserved	Clarno Arboretum(2025)

Black Twig is a apple variety found in 1 tree(s) across Central Oregon heritage orchards.

Description

Black Twig is a heritage apple variety with a rich history in American orchards.

Characteristics

Attribute	Details
Origin	Fayetteville, Lincoln County, Tennessee, USA; discovered around 1830 as a seedling on Major Rankin Toole's farm
Harvest Season	Late fall (October)
Flavor Profile	Sharp, complex flavor; tannic; balanced (neither too tart nor too sweet); cider-like aromas; reaches peak flavor after storage
Storage	Excellent - stores very well; darkens in storage; flavor improves with age

Uses

• Fresh eating
• Cider (sweet and hard)
• Cooking
• Baking

History

Reportedly Andrew Jackson's favorite apple. Became one of the most popular apples in the American South. Often confused with Mammoth Black Twig and Arkansas Black. Celebrated by Lee Calhoun in 'Old Southern Apples.'

Trees

Tree	Orchard	Tag	Condition
McCoin Upper Tree 63	McCoin Upper	63	good

USDA Pomological Watercolors

• 
  POM00001241 by Shull, James Marion, Linden

U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705