Holly

Apple

USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

Holly

[NOTE: Source text may be incorrect — Downing and Thomas describe a medium, roundish oblate, yellow and red winter apple of Georgia origin; Way (1979) describes a fully red, conic Jonathan x Delicious cross from Ohio. Two different varieties may be treated under the name Holly; details are kept distinct below.]

Origin / History

Origin, Georgia (Downing). Way describes a Holly that is a Jonathan x Delicious cross from the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, "one of the most outstanding new introductions."

Tree

Tree moderately vigorous, upright, healthy, and an early bearer (Downing). In Way's Holly the trees begin to bear earlier and are more productive than Delicious.

Fruit

Size: Medium (Downing, Thomas).

Form: Roundish oblate (Downing, Thomas). Way's Holly is conic, similar to Delicious but with less prominent protuberances at the base.

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Closed (Downing).

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Red on a yellow ground, somewhat striped (Downing); yellow and red (Thomas). Way's Holly is fully red, the deep solid red of the American holly berry.

Dots: Not described in source.

Flesh and flavor: Flesh deep yellow, firm, juicy, sweet, aromatic; quality "Good" (Downing). Way's Holly has crisp, juicy flesh, the flavor sweet, slightly more tart than and superior to Delicious.

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Downing gives November to March; Thomas, winter. Way's Holly ripens 8 days after Delicious, retains its flavor in storage longer than Delicious, and has less tendency to become mealy.

Uses

Fresh market apple, similar to Delicious (Way).

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

USDA Nomenclature (1905)

From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56

Distinct from preceding.

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 3 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois, Oregon

The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1901
Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913

View original book sources (3)

Holly. Hardskin. Northern Hardskin. Persimmon. Simmon. Origin, Georgia. Tree moderately vigorous, upright, healthy, and an early bearer. Fruit medium size, roundish oblate, red, on a yellow ground, somewhat striped. Calyx closed. Flesh deep yellow, firm, juicy, sweet, aromatic. Good. November to March.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Holly. Medium, roundish oblate; yellow and red. Winter.

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

Holly is one of the most outstanding new introductions, a Jonathan x Delicious cross from the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. It is a fresh market apple similar to Delicious, conic in shape but with less prominent protuberances at the base. The fruits are fully red; the color is the deep solid red of the American holly berry. Holly ripens 8 days after Delicious. The crisp flesh is juicy and the flavor is sweet, but slightly more tart than and superior to Delicious. Holly retains its flavor in storage longer than Delicious and has less tendency to become mealy. The trees begin to bear earlier and are more productive than Delicious.

— Roger D. Way, Apple Varieties Grown in New York State (1979)

Hardskin Northern Hardskin Persimmon Simmon