Wolf River apple trees

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• Picking season: Late
• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
• Pollination group: 3

Wolf River is the perfect cooking apple for the north - reliable, cold-hardy, disease resistant.

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Wolf River apple trees for sale

Choose a size - Delivery in spring 2026.

• Semi-dwarf, 1-year bare-root tree $39.95

  Mature height: 8ft-12ft after 10 years
  G.935 rootstock
  

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All about Wolf River apple trees

If you are looking for a completely reliable disease-resistant cooking apple, which will thrive in the north country, this is it.

Wolf River is a very large culinary apple, with a good tart flavor, dating back to the 19th century. It is best used in the kitchen, and slices will keep their shape when cooked. The flesh is quite dry - a useful quality when baking as it means the pastry is not flooded with too much liquid.

Wolf River applesauce often has an attractive pale pink color. 

This is a fool-proof variety which will keep you supplied with heavyweight apples with little effort on your part.

How to grow

Wolf River pre-dates the development of modern disease-resistant apples, but has a high resistance to scab and mildew. It is however somewhat susceptible to fireblight.

The tree is also exceptionally winter-hardy, long-lived and productive. A particular characteristic of Wolf River is that it leafs out very late in the spring.

Be sure to pick the apples before they are fully ripe, as they do not keep.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Wolf River was found in the Wolf River valley of Wisconsin, around 1875. It is thought to be a seedling of a Russian variety called Alexander.

Wolf River characteristics

• Gardening skillBeginner
• Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
• Pollination group3
• Pollinating othersAverage
• Picking seasonLate
• UsesCulinaryJuiceTraditional cooker
• Keeping (of fruit)3 months or more
• General resistanceGood
• FireblightSome susceptibility
• CankerSome resistance
• ScabVery resistant
• Cedar apple rustSome resistance
• MildewVery resistant
• Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 3 (-40C)
• Summer maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
• Country of originUnited States
• Period of origin1850 - 1899

Similar varieties

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  Redfield
  An unusual apple / crab-apple cross, with distinctive red-flesh.