Heart River
Crab AppleHeart River
Origin and History
Heart River is a hybrid crabapple resulting from a cross of Dolgo × Duchess. The variety was maintained at the Northern Great Plains Field Station in Mandan, North Dakota (station number N5288) and distributed to multiple USDA Agricultural Experiment Stations in the northern United States, including facilities in Minnesota and South Dakota, as documented in H.H. Fisher's 1963 survey of apple clones.
Tree
The tree is reported as very hardy, suitable for the northern Great Plains climate. Other tree characteristics are not described in source.
Fruit
Size and form: Large, round fruit, with approximately 12 fruits per pound.
Color and surface: Orange-red skin.
Flesh and flavor: Juicy with good flavor.
Other characteristics: Blight susceptible.
Cavity, calyx, basin, stem, flesh texture, core, and seed characteristics are not described in source.
Season
Ripens in the middle of August.
Uses
Excellent for pickles and jelly.
Subtypes or Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— H.H. Fisher (USDA ARS), A Survey of Apple Clones in the United States (1963)Heart River. Reported by three stations. The Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus, St. Paul, Minnesota (MnS) received this clone from Northern Great Plains Field Sta., Mandan, N.D., under station number N5288, with the note: Dolgo X Duchess. Red crabapple. The Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station, South Dakota (SdC) received it from Will's Nur., Bismarck, N.D., describing it as: very, hardy crabapple. The Northern Great Plains Field Station, Box 203, Mandan, North Dakota (NdM) reported: 12/lb., large, round, orange-red, juicy, good flavor, excellent for pickles and jelly; blight susceptible. Middle of August. Hardy.