Osceola
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Origin/History
Originated in Putnam County, Indiana. Brought into notice by Henry Ward Beecher, who did much to stimulate the culture of fine fruits when a resident of that state (Warder). Warder noted that this variety did not seem to have won its way into public favor to the extent that was expected for it some years ago. Elliott noted it resembles the Newtown Spitzenberg; Thomas noted it resembles New York Vandevere.
Tree
Vigorous, upright spreading, with shoots dark reddish brown, grayish (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Medium (Warder, Downing, Thomas). Elliott describes it as above medium.
Form: Flattened, sometimes unequal, regular (Warder). Roundish oblate conic, sides unequal (Downing). Flat (Elliott). Roundish-oblate, angular (Thomas).
Skin: Smooth, slightly colored red and striped with the same (Warder). Pale yellow, shaded, splashed, and striped with red (Downing). Yellow, striped with red, dotted with dark spots (Elliott). Yellowish, shaded and striped with red (Thomas).
Dots: Scattered, irregular, more frequent and minute about the apex, few and larger at base of the fruit (Warder). Large light dots (Downing).
Stem: Short (Warder, Downing). Long (Elliott). Small (Thomas).
Cavity: Medium, acute (Warder). Slightly russeted (Downing). Deep (Elliott). Large, russeted (Thomas).
Calyx: Eye small, closed (Warder). Calyx closed (Downing).
Basin: Wide, regular (Warder). Deep, uneven (Downing). Deep (Thomas).
Flesh: Yellowish, firm, rich, juicy (Warder). Whitish, firm, juicy (Downing). Yellowish, juicy (Elliott). Yellowish, firm, crisp (Thomas).
Flavor: Sub-acid, mild; quality good (Warder). Pleasant, mild subacid; good to very good (Downing). Sub-acid (Elliott). Mild sub-acid, "very good" (Thomas).
Core/Seeds: Core small, round, closed, clasping; seeds numerous, plump, dark (Warder).
Season
January to March (Warder, Downing). Keeps till May (Elliott). A good keeper (Thomas).
Uses
Table and market (Warder).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 3 catalogs (1891–1901) from Illinois, Missouri
- Missouri Nursery Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1891
- J.V. Cotta (Cotta Nursery) , Carroll County , Illinois — 1898
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Osceola.
Originated in Indiana, brought into notice by that earnest horticulturist, Henry Ward Beecher, who did much to stimulate the culture of fine fruits when a resident of that State.
Fruit medium, flattened, sometimes unequal, regular;
Fig. 103.—OSCEOLA.
Surface smooth, slightly colored red, and striped with the same; Dots scattered, irregular, more frequent and minute about the apex, few and larger at base of the fruit.
Basin wide, regular; Eye small, closed.
Cavity medium, acute; Stem short.
Core small, round, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, plump, dark; Flesh yellowish, firm, rich, juicy; Flavor sub-acid, mild; Quality good; Use table and market; Season January to March.
This variety does not seem to have won its way into public favor to the extent that was expected for it some years ago.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Osceola. Young
Origin, Putnam Co., Ind. Tree vigorous, upright spreading, shoots dark reddish brown, grayish.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate conic, sides unequal, pale yellow, shaded, splashed, and striped with red, large light dots. Stalk short. Cavity slightly russeted. Calyx closed. Basin deep, uneven. Flesh whitish, firm, juicy, pleasant, mild subacid. Good to very good. January to March.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Osceola.
From Indiana. Fruit, above medium, flat; yellow, striped with red, dotted with dark spots; stem, long; cavity, deep; flesh, yellowish, juicy, sub-acid: keeps till May. Resembles the Newtown Spitzenberg.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Osceola. Size medium, roundish-oblate, angular; skin yellowish, shaded and striped with red; stalk small; cavity large, russeted; basin deep; flesh yellowish, firm, crisp, mild sub-acid, "very good." A good keeper. Indiana. Resembles New York Vandevere.