Spencer Apple Tree

The Spencer apple tree is a classic Canadian variety developed from a cross between McIntosh and Golden Delicious at the Summerland Experimental Station in British Columbia. It produces medium to large apples with a yellow-green background that is flushed and streaked with bright red to orange-red coloration, giving the fruit an attractive appearance. The flesh is white to creamy-white, crisp, and juicy, with a notably sweet, honeyed flavor balanced by mild acidity. Spencer apples are considered excellent dessert apples, prized for fresh eating due to their rich sweetness and sprightly taste. They are also suitable for culinary uses such as applesauce and light baking, and they store well for several months under proper conditions.

This variety typically ripens in mid to late September or early October, depending on climate, placing it in the early to mid-fall harvest window. The tree belongs to bloom group 4, meaning it flowers in the mid-season and requires a compatible pollinator for fruit production. Spencer apple trees show some disease resistance, particularly to cedar apple rust, though they may be somewhat susceptible to fire blight and mildew. The tree itself is vigorous and winter hardy, making it suitable for colder climates. Its growth habit is typically upright to spreading, forming a moderately dense canopy as it matures. Spencer trees are somewhat slow to begin bearing fruit, but once established, they produce reliable and abundant annual crops. Overall, the Spencer apple tree is valued for its combination of cold hardiness, dependable productivity, and exceptionally sweet, flavorful fruit.

USDA Zone: 5-10

Mature Height: G.935 ~10-12' Tall at Maturity; Dwarf

Sun: Full Sun

Bloom Group: 4, Late Mid-Season

Pollination: Required, tree is not self fertile.

Harvest Dates: Late September

Ships Spring 2026