Pre-order for spring 2024We are now accepting pre-orders for the spring 2024 planting season.
Orange Pippin Trees USA logoSpecialist fruit trees for your orchard or back-yard

Redfree apple tree

Redfree
Redfree is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Early
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Pollination group: 3
A disease-resistant and cold-hardy summer apple with a sweet flavor, also known as Co-op 13.
StarStarStarStar emptyStar empty See or add reviews

Redfree apple trees for sale

  • 1Small 1-year bare-root tree $38.95
    Mature height: 6ft-9ft after 10 years
    Dwarf rootstock
  • 2Medium 1-year bare-root tree $38.95
    Mature height: 8ft-12ft after 10 years
    Semi-dwarf rootstock
Next deliveries

We are now accepting pre-orders for the spring 2024 planting season.


Redfree is an attractive modern summer apple, with a high level of disease resistance. As well as excellent resistance to scab it also has good resistance to fire blight and cedar apple rust.

The apples have a crisper texture than is normally found in summer apples, and can be kept in a fridge for several weeks after picking.

How to grow

Redfree is easy to grow and adapted to both cold and warm climates, but flavor is generally better in cooler areas.

Thanks to its unusual parentage, which includes a scab-resistant crab apple, Redfree is a good pollinator of many other apple varieties.

Redfree is one of the most resistant varieties to cedar-apple rust, and is therefore a good choice if you live in an area where CAR is present.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Redfree was developed by the co-operative breeding program at Purdue, Rutgers, and Illinois universities. It was known during development as Co-op 13 and was released in the 1980s.

Redfree characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Pollination group3
  • Pollinating othersGood
  • PloidyDiploid
  • Bearing regularityRegular
  • Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
  • WildlifeRHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking seasonEarly
  • UsesEating fresh
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
  • Flavor style (apples)Sweet/Sharp
  • General resistanceGood
  • FireblightSome resistance
  • ScabVery resistant
  • Cedar apple rustVery resistant
  • MildewSome resistance
  • Cold hardiness (USDA)(4) -30F / -34C
  • Summer maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
  • Country of originUnited States
  • Period of origin1950 - 1999
  • Fruit colorRed