This apple is unlike anything we have ever had and in a good way. It has been growing on David and Janet Stickler’s Amazing Grace Farm on the west side of the Missoula Valley for at least 60 years. The apple looks in appearance to Winter Banana except for the fact that none of the apples have the classic suture that typifies Winter Banana. We will get this tree genetically tested so that we can find out definitively what this variety is because it is likely a named cultivar given its placement and growth habit. So until we get this apple genetically tested, which we’ll do in the summer of 2025, we are referring to this as Tropical Winter. If you purchase this, we will notify you later if the apple is indeed a named cultivar. In terms of the flavor, according to taste notes by Elizabeth, “Honey Flavor, sweet. Very pleasant.” And from what Luke recalls, the flavor has “tropical fruit notes with hints of pineapple, slight banana, and honey”. The apple has a really good crunch and is very juicy.”

One last note about this apple, as soon as the green on the skin turns to yellow, that is when you know the apple is ready. And the flavor compared when this happens vs. doesn’t is night and day. The apples don’t all turn yellow at the same time either, so you need to harvest over roughly 1-2 weeks. This is also a late apple, ripening in Missoula between the first and second weeks of October.

In terms of hardiness, the apple has survived in one of the coldest, lowest parts of Missoula and has seen temps near -40F without any winter injury. We have grafted this onto M7, which is hardy to -40F. This shouldn’t be planted in areas that see below -40F. Trees are 2-4 ft. tall.