Arkansas Black: A Striking, Hardy Apple

Arkansas Black produces a medium-sized fruit with dark red skin—so dark it’s nearly black. The flesh is firm, white, juicy, and crisp, offering a well-balanced, pleasant flavor. It’s excellent for fresh eating and also makes great juice.

Storage and Shelf Life

Arkansas Black is a heavy-bearing, vigorous tree hardy to Zone 4. The apples are known for their excellent storage capabilities. In our experience, the apples retained their firmness 3–4 months after harvest, though they did lose some tartness over time. Despite that, they remained fairly sweet and very edible.

Disease Resistance

Another strong point for Arkansas Black is its resistance to cedar-apple rust, along with some resistance to scab and fireblight—a big plus for growers in areas prone to these common apple diseases.

Cold Hardiness and Rootstock

Because Arkansas Black is unlikely to survive temperatures below -40°F, we’ve grafted it onto EMLA 111 rootstock. This rootstock has proven hardy enough for winters in Western Montana.

Note: Arkansas Black is not recommended for planting in Eastern Montana, Alaska, or any region where winter temperatures regularly drop below -40°F.

Photo Credits

First two images courtesy of Forest Starr and Kim Starr (CC 2.0) and CalStanhope.