Excelsior
Crab Apple
Excelsior
Origin/History
Originated by Peter M. Gideon of Excelsior, Minnesota. According to Gideon (reported in the American Pomological Society Report, 1885), "It came from seed of Wealthy which had a chance to be crossed with the Cherry Crab and also the Oldenburg." Listed in the American Pomological Society Catalog, 1897.
Tree
Tree large with long, moderately stout branches. Form somewhat flat and spreading, rather dense. Twigs short, curved, stout; internodes medium. Bark dark brown tinged with red, slightly pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, medium size, oval, slightly raised. Buds medium to large, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent. A good strong grower, hardy, healthy, comes into bearing rather young and yields full crops in alternate years.
Fruit
Size: Very large for a crabapple, being nearly as large as a medium-sized apple.
Form: Roundish ovate to roundish oblate, symmetrical. Thomas (1903) describes it simply as roundish-oblate.
Stem: Rather long and slender, sometimes bracted.
Cavity: Small, acute or approaching acuminate, narrow, rather shallow, often slightly russeted.
Calyx: Rather large, closed; lobes reflexed. Calyx tube wide, cone-shape. Stamens median or above.
Basin: Shallow, moderately broad, obtuse, furrowed.
Skin: Smooth (Beach). Yellow, shaded and splashed with red over much of its surface. Thomas characterizes the overall appearance as handsome.
Dots: Numerous, russet.
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish (Beach) to white (Thomas), firm, a little coarse, crisp, juicy, subacid, with some Siberian crab flavor yet agreeable for dessert use; quality good to very good.
Core/Seeds: Core large, decidedly abaxile; cells unsymmetrical, wide open; core lines clasping. Carpels elongated ovate, sometimes tufted. Seeds above medium size, long, moderately narrow, acute, tufted.
Season
Early September.
Uses
Excellent in quality for either dessert or culinary uses. Described as one of the most desirable varieties of its class during its season.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Very attractive in appearance. As grown at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, regarded as one of the most desirable crabapple varieties during early September.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 4 catalogs (1906–1912) from Missouri
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1906
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1910
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1911
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1912
View original book sources (2)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)EXCELSIOR
REFERENCES. 1. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1880. 2. Gideon, Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., 1885:26. 3. Rural N. Y., 45:184. 1886. figs. 4. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:238. 5. Beach and Paddock, N. Y. Sta. An. Rpt., 13:580. 1894. 6. Munson, Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 12:73. 1896. 7. Lyon, U. S. Pom. Bul., 6:11. 1897. 8. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1897:11. 9. Munson, Me. Sta. An. Rpt., 18:83. 1902. 10. Thomas, 1903:348. 11. Budd-Hansen, 1903:218. 12. Farrand, Mich. Sta. Bul., 205:47. 1903. 13. Powell and Fulton, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 48:41. 1903.
SYNONYMS. None.
Fruit very large for a crabapple being nearly as large as a medium sized apple. It is very attractive in appearance and excellent in quality for either dessert or culinary uses. As grown at this Station it appears to be one of the most desirable varieties of its class during early September. The tree is a good strong grower, hardy, healthy, comes into bearing rather young and yields full crops in alternate years.
Historical. Originated by Peter M. Gideon, Excelsior, Minn. “It came from seed of Wealthy which had a chance to be crossed with the Cherry Crab and also the Oldenburg” (2).
TREE.
Tree large with long, moderately stout branches. Form somewhat flat and spreading, rather dense. Twigs short, curved, stout; internodes medium. Bark dark brown tinged with red; slightly pubescent. Lenticels quite numerous, medium size, oval, slightly raised. Buds medium to large, plump, obtuse, free, slightly pubescent.
FRUIT.
Fruit very large. Form roundish ovate to roundish oblate, symmetrical. Stem rather long and slender, sometimes bracted. Cavity small, acute or approaching acuminate, narrow, rather shallow, often slightly russeted. Calyx rather large, closed; lobes reflexed. Basin shallow, moderately broad, obtuse, furrowed. Skin smooth, yellow, shaded and splashed with red over much of its surface. Dots numerous, russet. Calyx tube wide, cone-shape. Stamens median or above. Core large, decidedly abaxile; cells unsymmetrical, wide open; core lines clasping. Carpels elongated ovate, sometimes tufted. Seeds above medium size, long, moderately narrow, acute, tufted. Flesh whitish, firm, a little coarse, crisp, juicy, subacid, with some Siberian crab flavor yet agreeable for dessert use, good to very good in quality. Season early September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Excelsior. Very large, roundish-oblate; stem long and slender; skin yellow, shaded and splashed with red, sprinkled with many russet dots, handsome; flesh white, juicy, good. Early. Minnesota.