Red Delicious (Bisbee Spur) Apple Tree

Red Delicious (Bisbee Spur) Apple Tree produces the classic, deep-red apple silhouette that has represented American orchards for generations. The Bisbee Spur strain was selected for dependable cropping and attractive fruit, pairing glossy color with a sweet flavor and crisp bite suited to fresh eating, salads, and lunchboxes. Its spur-bearing habit concentrates fruiting wood along compact shoots, helping create a productive canopy when branches are well trained and illuminated. Pale spring blossoms add seasonal beauty before the fruit gradually colors, and the familiar harvest has broad appeal for families who enjoy mild, sweet apples rather than strongly tart ones. For gardeners building a traditional mixed orchard, this selection offers recognizable fruit, useful pollination relationships, and the pleasure of picking a polished red apple directly from the branch.

Plant in full sun and well-drained soil, keep the graft union above grade, and train a strong framework early. Thin fruit clusters to improve apple size and reduce stress on branches, then prune during dormancy to maintain light and airflow. Because Red Delicious (Bisbee Spur) does not appear on the confirmed characteristics sheet, zone, chill-hour, harvest-date, and rootstock details are intentionally omitted until verified.

This variety requires another compatible apple with overlapping bloom. Existing recommendations include Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji Red, Gala, and Liberty.

Red Delicious (Bisbee Spur) Apple Tree is suited to USDA zones 4–7 and requires about 700 chill hours. Harvest is typically late August to early September, with timing varying by region and season.

Red Delicious (Bisbee Spur) Apple Tree Details

• Fruit: Classic elongated apples with deep, glossy red skin
• Flavor and texture: Sweet, mild, juicy, and crisp when freshly harvested
• Best uses: Fresh eating, salads, and lunchboxes
• Harvest: Late August to early September, with timing varying by region and season
• USDA zones: 4–7
• Chill hours: About 700 chill hours
• Pollination: Requires another compatible apple with overlapping bloom
• Recommended pollinizers: Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji Red, or Gala
• Special care: Thin fruit assertively and prune to keep productive spurs well lit
• Something Special: The Delicious apple was first called Hawkeye after Jesse Hiatt found it in Iowa; Stark Brothers later supplied the famous commercial name.

Orchard Planning Resources

• Bare Root Tree Selection Guide
• How to Plant Bare Root Trees
• Fruit and Nut Tree Characteristics
• Tree Rootstock Characteristics Chart