Large Red Siberian
Crab Apple
Large Red Siberian
Origin / History
Hedrick calls it an old sort, an improvement on Red Siberian, and says it is being superseded by varieties having larger and handsomer fruits. It differs from Red Siberian in being larger in tree and fruit, with coarser foliage and longer and more slender twigs. Large Yellow Siberian and Yellow Siberian differ from Large Red Siberian and Red Siberian chiefly in having yellow fruit. All four varieties are from the Old World, but "when and by whom introduced does not appear" (Hedrick).
Downing (1845) lists it as Large Red Siberian Crab, about twice the size of the common Siberian Crab and esteemed for the same purposes. Beach cites it from Downing (1845), Cole (1849), Fitz (1872), Barry (1883), Wickson (1889) and Bailey (1892). Beach says it has long been known in cultivation and is still listed by nurserymen, but larger and handsomer varieties of more recent introduction are generally preferred in market.
Tree
Tree larger than that of the common Siberian Crab and of Red Siberian; medium to rather large, a vigorous grower, erect or roundish, with long, slender twigs. Foliage rather coarser than that of the common variety (Downing), coarser than that of Red Siberian (Beach). Very hardy, healthy, moderately long-lived. A reliable cropper, yielding heavy crops biennially or sometimes annually (Beach).
Fruit
Size: Medium for a Siberian crab, uniform in size and shape. Larger than Red Siberian, smaller than either Transcendent or Hyslop (Beach). About twice the size of the common Siberian Crab (Downing).
Form: Roundish to roundish ovate, regular.
Stem: Medium to long, slender.
Cavity: Acuminate, shallow, moderately broad, often furrowed, usually russeted.
Calyx: Medium size, closed (Beach); large and prominent (Downing). Lobes long, narrow, acuminate. Calyx tube short, wide, urn-shape. Stamens median to marginal.
Basin: Shallow or none, obtuse, wrinkled, having mammiform protuberances.
Skin: Thin, tough, smooth, pale yellow, almost wholly overlaid with bright red and marked with obscure narrow stripes of dark red. Downing describes it as pale red and yellow.
Dots: Very small, light, inconspicuous.
Flesh and flavor: Yellowish, very firm, subacid, astringent. Similar to Red Siberian in appearance and quality (Beach). Hedrick rates it "good."
Core and seeds: Core medium size, axile; cells closed; core lines meeting. Carpels ovate to obovate, emarginate. Seeds glossy, dark brown, rather small, short, wide, obtuse.
Season
September and October.
Uses
Good for culinary uses (Beach). Esteemed for the same purposes as the common Siberian Crab (Downing). Larger and handsomer varieties are generally preferred in market (Beach).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 41 catalogs (1845–1947) from Alabama, California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845
- St. Helena Nursery , Howell Prairie, Marion County, OR (Marion Co., Ogn.) — 1864
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1884
- Fancher Creek Nursery , Fresno , California — 1886
- California Nursery Co. , Niles , California — 1889
- William H. Moon Co. , Morrisville, Bucks County , Pennsylvania — 1890
- Rogers Nursery Co. , Moorestown , New Jersey — 1893
- Sherwood Hall Nursery Co. , Timothy Hopkins (Menlo Park Nurseries), San Francisco / Menlo Park , California — 1893
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- The Lovett Company , Little Silver , New Jersey — 1896
- Reading Nursery , Jacob W. Manning, Proprietor, Reading , Massachusetts — 1898
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1899
- Alabama Nursery Co. , Huntsville , Alabama — 1900
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1901
- Mountain Grove Nurseries (Tippin & Moore , Proprietors; Geo. T. Tippin, J. W. Tippin, J. C. Moore), Mountain Grove , Missouri — 1901
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904
- The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1906
- Carlton Nursery Co. , Carlton , Oregon — 1909
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- Milton Nursery Co. (A. Miller & Sons , Proprietors), Milton , Oregon — 1909
- Wm. J. Corse (successor to Robert Sinclair / Sinclair Nurseries) , Baltimore , Maryland — 1909
- C.F. Lansing , Salem , Oregon — 1910
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1910
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1911
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- J. B. Pilkington , Nurseryman, Portland, OR (nurseries near Newberg, forty miles from Portland) — 1913
- Van Holderbeke Nursery Co. , Incorporated, Spokane, Washington (nurseries at Otis Orchards WA, Pasadena WA, Kennewick WA) — 1913
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1914
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1915
- Ornamental & Fruit Nursery Company , Wapato, County of Yakima , Washington — 1915
- Union Nurseries , J.B. Weaver & Sons, Union , Oregon — 1915
- J.B. Pilkington , Portland , Oregon — 1916
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1916
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1917
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
- Benedict Nursery Co. , Portland , Oregon — 1921
- Columbia & Okanogan Nursery Co. , Wenatchee , Washington — 1925
- Milton Nursery Co. , Milton-Freewater , Oregon — 1947
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Large Red Siberian Crab.
This variety is about twice the size of the common Siberian Crab, roundish ovate, with a large and prominent calyx, and a pale red and yellow skin. It forms a larger tree, with rather coarser foliage than the common variety, and is esteemed for the same purposes. September and October.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)LARGE RED SIBERIAN.
REFERENCES. 1. Downing, 1845:147. 2. Cole, 1849:137. 3. Fitz, 1872:147. 4. Barry, 1883:359. 5. Wickson, 1889:249. 6. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:243.
SYNONYMS. None.
This fruit is of medium size for a Siberian crab, being larger than Red Siberian, but smaller than either Transcendent or Hyslop. It is similar to Red Siberian in appearance and quality. The foliage is coarser than that of Red Siberian, and the tree is larger, being medium to rather large, a vigorous grower, erect or roundish, with long, slender twigs. It is very hardy, healthy, moderately long-lived, and a reliable cropper, yielding heavy crops biennially or sometimes annually. It has long been known in cultivation, and is still listed by nurserymen (6), but larger and handsomer varieties of more recent introduction are generally preferred in market.
FRUIT.
Fruit of medium size, uniform in size and shape. Form roundish to roundish ovate, regular. Stem medium to long, slender. Cavity acuminate, shallow, moderately broad, often furrowed, usually russeted. Calyx medium size, closed; lobes long, narrow, acuminate. Basin shallow or none, obtuse, wrinkled, having mammiform protuberances. Skin thin, tough, smooth, pale yellow, almost wholly overlaid with bright red and marked with obscure narrow stripes of dark red. Dots very small, light, inconspicuous. Calyx tube short, wide, urn-shape. Stamens median to marginal. Core medium size, axile; cells closed; core lines meeting. Carpels ovate to obovate, emarginate. Seeds glossy, dark brown, rather small, short, wide, obtuse. Flesh yellowish, very firm, subacid, astringent, good for culinary uses. Season September and October.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)LARGE RED SIBERIAN. This old sort, an improvement on Red Siberian, is, in its turn, being superseded by varieties having larger and handsomer fruits. Large Red Siberian differs from Red Siberian in being larger in tree and fruit, with coarser foliage and longer and more slender twigs. Large Yellow Siberian and Yellow Siberian differ from these two varieties chiefly in having yellow fruit. All four varieties are from the Old World, but when and by whom introduced does not appear. Tree very hardy, healthy, moderately long-lived, productive biennially and sometimes annually. Fruit of medium size, uniform in size and shape, round to round-ovate, regular; stem medium to long, slender; cavity acuminate, shallow, broad, often furrowed, usually russeted; calyx closed; lobes long, narrow, acuminate; basin shallow or none, obtuse, wrinkled, having mammiform protuberances; skin thin, tough, smooth, pale yellow, overlaid with bright red and marked with obscure, narrow stripes of dark red; dots small, light, inconspicuous; calyx-tube short, wide, urn-shape; stamens median; core medium size, axile; cells closed; core-lines meeting; carpels ovate, emarginate; seeds glossy, dark brown, small, short, wide, obtuse; flesh yellow, firm, subacid, astringent; good; September and October.