Iowa Blush
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Iowa Blush
Origin / History
Distributed from Iowa City, Iowa, and supposed to be an unknown stray from Ohio (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). Thomas (1903) describes it as a seedling originating in Iowa, and labels it "Russian." Hedrick (1922) notes the variety is briefly described by nurserymen of Iowa and Nebraska, who speak of it in superlative terms; it seems not to be known elsewhere, and the author has been unable to learn its history other than that it had been grown in the states named for at least twelve years. A clone (A34386) was preserved by Snyder Bros., Center Point, Iowa, and listed as "Iowa Bluch" in the USDA WyC collection (Fisher 1963).
Tree
Very productive; a strong grower in nursery and orchard (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). Hedrick (1922) describes the tree as very vigorous and productive, but only second-hardy, not thriving in the Dakotas and northern Minnesota. Under the bark of the young, thrifty trees are hard, detached warty excrescences (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914).
Fruit
Size
Small (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914); medium (Thomas 1903; Hedrick 1922).
Form
Roundish conical (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914); conical, regular (Thomas 1903); round-conical (Hedrick 1922).
Stem
Medium.
Cavity
Regular, acuminate, narrow (Budd & Hansen 1914); regular, acuminate, deep, narrow (Hansen 1902); regular, deep (Thomas 1903).
Calyx
Prominent, closed; segments erect convergent.
Basin
Rather shallow, narrow, abrupt, with fine corrugations.
Skin
Surface smooth, yellow, with bright mottled red blush, or washed with bronze on the sunny side (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). Thomas (1903) describes it as yellow, blushed red on the sunny side. Hedrick (1922) describes it as pale yellow with a red cheek. Dots obscure, numerous, minute, white, with many large areolar dots (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914).
Flesh / Flavor
White, juicy, mild subacid, good (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914). Thomas (1903) describes the flesh as fine grained, juicy, sub-acid, good. Hedrick (1922) describes the flesh as yellowish, subacid or tart, rich and good.
Core / Seeds
Core closed, clasping; cells obovate; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median; seeds many, plump, pointed ovate, nearly black, packed tightly in cells (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914).
Season
Early winter (Hansen 1902; Budd & Hansen 1914); midwinter (Thomas 1903); November to February (Hedrick 1922).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Illustrated as Fig. 453 in Thomas (1903). Thomas (1903) classifies the variety as "Russian."
Book Sources
Described in 6 period pomological works
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914)
- Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)
- Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)
- Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)
- Fisher, A Survey of Apple Clones in the United States (1963) — listed as Iowa Bluch
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 6 catalogs (1894–1921) from Illinois, Oregon
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Union Nurseries , J.B. Weaver & Sons, Union , Oregon — 1915
- Benedict Nursery Co. , Portland , Oregon — 1921
View original book sources (5)
— N.E. Hansen, A Study of Northwestern Apples (1902)Iowa Blush.
Iowa Blush—Distributed from Iowa City, Iowa, supposed to be an unknown stray from Ohio. Tree very productive, a strong grower in nursery and orchard. Under the bark of the young, thrifty trees are hard detached warty excrescenses—Fruit small, roundish conical; surface smooth, yellow, with bright mottled red blush, or washed with bronze on sunny side; dots obscure, numerous, minute, white, many large areolar dots; cavity regular, acuminate, deep, narrow; stem medium; basin rather shallow, narrow, abrupt, with fine corrugations; calyx prominent, closed, segments erect convergent. Core closed, clasping; cells obovate; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median; seeds many, plump, pointed, ovate, nearly black, packed tightly in cells; flesh white, juicy, mild subacid, good. Early winter.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Iowa Blush. Medium, conical, regular, smooth; yellow, blushed red on sunny side; cavity regular, deep; stem medium; flesh fine grained, juicy, sub-acid, good. A seedling originating in Iowa. Midwinter. Fig. 453. Russian.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Iowa Blush. — Distributed from Iowa City, Iowa.; supposed to be an unknown stray from Ohio. Tree very productive, a strong grower in nursery and orchard; under the bark of young thrifty trees are hard, detached warty excrescences.
Fruit small, roundish conical; surface smooth, yellow with bright mottled red blush, or washed with bronze on sunny side; dots obscure, numerous, minute, white, many large areolar dots; cavity regular, acuminate, narrow; stem medium; basin rather shallow, narrow, abrupt, with fine corrugations; calyx prominent, closed; segments erect convergent. Core closed, clasping; cells obovate; tube funnel-shaped; stamens median; seeds many, plump, pointed ovate, nearly black, packed tightly in cells; flesh white, juicy, mild subacid, good. Early winter.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)IOWA BLUSH. This variety is briefly described by nurserymen of Iowa and Nebraska, who speak of it in superlative terms. It seems not to be known elsewhere. The author has been unable to learn its history, other than that it has been grown in the states named for at least twelve years. The tree is described as very vigorous and productive, but only second-hardy, not thriving in the Dakotas and northern Minnesota. The fruit is medium in size, round-conical, pale yellow with a red cheek. The flesh is yellowish, subacid or tart, rich and good. The season is November to February.
— H.H. Fisher (USDA ARS), A Survey of Apple Clones in the United States (1963)Iowa Bluch
Snyder Bros., Center Point, Iowa A34386 WyC