Alexander

Alexander is one of the most important of all hardy cooking cultivars, hardy enough for all of Maine and still found here and there around the state, especially north of Bangor. The apple presumably originated in Russia well before 1800 and may have been most commonly known as Aporta or some variation thereof. It was probably re-named Alexander in honor of the Czar Alexander I (1777-1825) before it was brought over to the US by Massachusetts Horticultural Society in about 1817. It’s been known by many other names as well including Aport, Albertin, Alexander the First, Alexandre, Aporta Nalivia, Aubertin, Beauty of Queen, Belle d'Orleans, Comte Woronzoff, Empereur Alexandre de Russie, Empereur de Russie, Fin d'Automne, Grand Alexander, Gros-Alexandre, Jolly Gentleman, Kaiser Alexander, Korallen Apfel, Phoenix, Phonix, Pomona Britannica, President Napoleon, Russian Emperor, Stoke Tulip and Wunderapfel.

The tree first arrived in the U.S. in 1835 and quickly spread north to Aroostook County and other northern areas. The fruit are large - often huge, round-conic and somewhat angular. They may resemble Northern Spy in shape, but the coloring is quite different. Northern Spy tends to be pink, and Alexander is a bright, often solid, red. The flesh is firm, coarse, tender, slightly tart and juicy. It is a pie apple. It holds its shape nicely in a pie with a tart, lemon custard flavor. If you like your fruit tart, it is also quite good for fresh eating.

Famous in Aroostook county and other northern areas where it can be picked over a several-week period and reaches its prime in mid-fall. One of its most noteworthy claims to fame is as the parent of the famous huge cultivar, Wolf River. The vigorous upright spreading tree bears young and is a good cropper. It comes fairly true to type from seed, so there may be many strains out there. Best grown in zones 3-4. Our scionwood is from the tree at Francis Fenton’s Sandy River Orchard in Mercer. Currently growing at Super Chilly Farm.