The Origins of ‘Alexander’

‘Alexander’ likely originated in Ukraine sometime during the 1700s, where it was thought to have been known as Aporta. The name Alexander was later attributed to the apple in honor of Russia's Emperor Alexander I.

Arrival in America

In the early 1800s, as pioneers migrated to the colder, harsher regions of the western United States, many European cultivars and their American seedlings struggled to survive the extreme winters of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and northern New England.

Recognizing the need for more cold-hardy varieties, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society partnered with the London Horticultural Society to import four Russian cultivars:

• 'Tetovsky'

• 'Red Astrachan'

• 'Duchess of Oldenburg'

• 'Alexander'

These varieties have since spread across Montana. While 'Alexander' is found in lower numbers than 'Duchess', it can still be spotted from the Bitterroot and Flathead areas to valleys throughout Eastern Montana.

In 1906, the Montana State Board of Horticulture declared that ‘Alexander’ was a cultivar “successful in nearly every part of Montana.”

Flavor and Usage

‘Alexander’ is a large dessert apple and tastes great fresh off the tree. However, it does not store well and tends to become mealy quickly, making it better suited for sauce.

The apples produce a rich, lemony-flavored applesauce that’s both intense and pleasantly tangy. Though not widely known for it, ‘Alexander’ also has the potential to make a great cider—something we have yet to try ourselves.

Hardiness and Growing Tips

‘Alexander’ is extremely cold-hardy, reportedly surviving temperatures as low as -50°F or more.

Currently, we graft 'Alexander' only onto M26 rootstock, which is hardy to -40°F. If you're in a region where winter temperatures regularly drop below -40°F, we recommend burying the graft completely. This allows the 'Alexander' scion to root on its own, resulting in a full-size tree with maximum cold tolerance.

We plan to offer ‘Alexander’ grafted onto the more cold-hardy Dolgo rootstock next year.