In 1903 nearly 7000 different apple varieties were grown in orchards across the United States. Over the next few decades historic, regional varieties were abandoned in favor of those with high yields, uniform size, and good shipping qualities. Old orchards were ripped out and planted with modern varieties. By 1983, 86.2% of the apple varieties grown at the turn of the 20th century were extinct. Gone. Never to be grown or tasted again.

Luckily, we haven’t lost all of the apples our ancestors grew. Monticello’s Center for Historic Plants offers several heirloom apple varieties grown by Thomas Jefferson in his Virginia orchard. I’m most interested in ‘Hewes’ crabapple.

Jefferson’s entire north orchard was devoted to this apple, which apparently produces a “delicious cinnamon flavored cider”. The tree is pretty enough to be grown as an ornamental and grows to a modest 12 to 15 feet in height.

‘Albemarle’ or ‘Newtown Pippin’ is a green skinned apple with a sweet yellow flesh and a flavor that is said to improve with storage (the apple is pictured at the top of the post, its blossom is pictured above). This variety was favored by Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, who imported barrels of the apples to England in 1759.

Jefferson also planted 32 ‘Esopus Spitzenburg’ apple trees in his orchard. Prized as a dessert apple, the green fruit is blushed with red and is apparently thought to be one of the best tasting apples ever.

If only I had a bigger yard…for now if I want to plant more apple trees I will have to learn how to espalier!

Monticello begins shipping apple trees on February 23rd. The trees are $35 each and grafted onto MM-111 rootstock, which is valued for its drought tolerance and adaptability to a range of soils. You can order them online at Monticello’s online store. Like all apples, these varieties need to be planted in a spot with full sun.

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