Scab-Resistant Apple & Crabapple Trees

Apples, crabapples and applecrabs that resist apple scab, the disease behind those dark, cracked spots on leaves and fruit. Scab needs wet spring weather, so it matters more the wetter your spring is. Plant these and you can skip the spray schedule.

More about apple scab

Liberty, Pristine, William's Pride, Nova Easygro, Red Baron and Triumph were bred to shrug off scab. Old varieties like Wolf River, Alexander, Golden Russet and Black Oxford resist it too.

For the coldest country, Dolgo and Siberian crabapples take zone 1b and lower, and Centennial and Kerr applecrabs are hardy to zone 2. Honeycrisp and Paula Red are on the list too. For cider, Franklin and Binet Rouge resist scab.

Raking up and composting fallen leaves in fall cuts down on scab no matter what you plant. The apple and crabapple disease resistance charts show each variety's ratings.

Questions we get

What's the most scab-resistant apple for a cold climate?

Dolgo crabapple is hardy to zone 1b and resists scab, fire blight and mildew. For a full size eating apple, Wolf River is rated to zone 2b, and Liberty and William's Pride resist all the big apple diseases.

Is Honeycrisp scab resistant?

Yes, Honeycrisp holds up to scab, and it's hardy to zone 2b.

What causes apple scab?

A fungus that overwinters in fallen leaves and spreads in wet spring weather. Dry springs keep it down, wet ones bring it on.

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