Detroit

Apple

Detroit

Origin/History

Introduced to Detroit, Michigan, by early French settlers; described as of foreign origin. The variety is sometimes grown under the name the Black Apple (Elliott).

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size: Medium to large (Elliott); medium or rather large (Thomas).

Form: Roundish flattened (Elliott); roundish or slightly conical (Thomas). The two sources conflict on the vertical profile — Elliott indicates a flattened shape while Thomas indicates a tendency toward conical.

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Deep (both sources agree).

Calyx: Closed (Elliott).

Basin: Plaited (Elliott); shallow and plaited (Thomas).

Skin: Dark, blackish crimson, dotted and marbled with fawn specks in the sun (Elliott); thick, smooth, dark purple when mature (Thomas).

Flesh/Flavor: White, often stained with red to the core, crisp, juicy, sub-acid (Elliott); white, often stained with red, crisp, of an agreeable sub-acid flavor (Thomas). Both sources agree on the white flesh stained with red, crisp texture, and sub-acid flavor; Elliott additionally notes juiciness.

Core/Seeds: Core large and hollow (Elliott).

Season

October to February (Elliott).

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

The Black Detroit (also called Grand Sachem) is described by Thomas as a distinct apple — larger and more irregular in form, and a rather dry fruit of inferior quality. Elliott, by contrast, lists Black Detroit as an alternate name for the main variety rather than a separate subtype; the two sources are in conflict on whether Black Detroit is a synonym or a distinct inferior form.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Detroit. Foreign. Red Detroit, | Jacksonia, Black Detroit, | Crimson Pippin. Foreign. Introduced to Detroit, Michigan, by early French settlers. Fruit, medium to large, roundish flattened, dark, blackish crimson, dotted and marbled with fawn specks in sun ; cavity, deep ; calyx, closed ; basin, plaited ; core, large, hollow ; flesh, white, often stained with red to the core, crisp, juicy, sub-acid. October to February. This is sometimes grown as the Black Apple.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Detroit. (Red Detroit.) Medium or rather large, roundish or slightly conical; skin thick, smooth, dark purple when mature; cavity deep; basin shallow, plaited; flesh white, often stained with red, crisp, of an agreeable sub-acid flavor.

The Black Detroit, or Grand Sachem, is a larger apple, more irregular; rather dry fruit of inferior quality.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Black Apple Black Detroit Crimson Pippin Grand Sachem Jacksonia Large Black Red Detroit Detroit Black Detroit Red Jersey Black Ortley Grand Sachem Scarlet Pippin Ortley Pippin