Yellow Siberian

Crab Apple

Yellow Siberian

Origin/History

Among the most widely referenced Siberian crab apples in American pomological literature, appearing in sources from at least 1826 (Buel, N.Y. Bd. Agr. Mem.) through the early twentieth century. Additional references include Kenrick (1832), Downing (1845), Cole (1849), Thomas (1849), Waring (1851), Barry (1851), Gregg (1857), Warder (1867), and Budd-Hansen (1903). It is sometimes called Golden Beauty. Downing lists it under the name Amber Crab. It is closely related to Red Siberian, differing chiefly in the color and size of its fruit.

Tree

Medium size or below, a good grower (Beach). Thomas characterizes the grower as vigorous. Habit upright, becoming roundish and somewhat drooping with age. Very hardy and healthy, though under certain circumstances it suffers from blight. Comes into bearing rather young and is a reliable cropper, yielding heavy to very heavy crops annually or nearly annually.

Fruit

Size: Rather larger than the common Siberian Crab (Downing); medium (Thomas, Beach).

Form: Round (Thomas).

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Clear golden-yellow (Beach); fine amber or golden yellow (Downing); golden yellow (Thomas).

Flesh/Flavor: Not described in source.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

September (Downing, Beach). Thomas notes "Early."

Uses

Esteemed for preserves and jellies. Both this variety and the Red Siberian are described as beautiful ornaments to the fruit garden in summer and autumn (Downing). Grown principally for home use, though sometimes a portion of the fruit is disposed of in local markets (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 7 catalogs (1886–1911) from Alabama, California, England, Illinois, Missouri, Virginia

W.R. Strong & Co. , Capital and Orange Hill Nurseries (Robert Williamson, prop.), Sacramento , California — 1886
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 Salem Nursery (John A. Francis , Proprietor), Salem , Virginia — 1897
Alabama Nursery Co. , Huntsville , Alabama — 1900
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
James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911

View original book sources (3)

Amber Crab.

This scarcely differs from the common Siberian Crab except in its fruit, which is rather larger, and of a fine amber or golden yellow. Both this and the red are beautiful ornaments to the fruit garden in summer and autumn, and are equally esteemed for preserves and jellies. September.

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

YELLOW SIBERIAN.

References. 1. Buel, N. Y. Bd. Agr. Mem., 1826:177. 2. Kenrick, 1832:58. 3. Downing, 1845:147. 4. Cole, 1849:137. 5. Thomas, 1849:158. 6. Waring, 1851:30. 7. Barry, 1851:287. 8. Gregg, 1857:62. 9. Warder, 1867:732. 10. Budd-Hansen, 1903:228.

Synonyms. Amber Crab (3). Golden Beauty. Siberian Crab (6). Yellow Siberian (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10).

This is sometimes called Golden Beauty. It is similar to Red Siberian except in the color and size of the fruit, it being rather large and of a clear golden-yellow color. Season September. Tree medium size or below, a good grower, upright becoming roundish, and somewhat drooping, very hardy and healthy except that under certain circumstances it suffers from blight. It comes into bearing rather young and is a reliable cropper, yielding heavy to very heavy crops annually or nearly annually. It is grown principally for home use but sometimes a portion of the fruit is disposed of in local markets.

— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)

Yellow Siberian.* Medium, round, golden yellow. Vigorous grower. Early.

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

Amber Crab Golden Beauty Siberian Crab Yellow Siberian Crab Large Yellow Siberian Red Siberian