Kerr Crab Seedling (Bundle of 3)

Kerr crab seedling fruit ripening on the branch

Kerr Crab Seedling (Bundle of 3)

$19.99

Reliable shipping

Flexible returns

Pollination Needs a partner

Bloom group 4 of 7 (Mid)

See trees that will pollenize it Apple Pollination Map

Ripening

Will it finish before your first hard freeze?

Check it on the Ripening Map (opens in a new tab)

At a glance: Kerr Crab Seedling is an applecrab tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), and not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 4 of 7, mid for an apple or crabapple).

Hardy to	Zone 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°F). Find your zone with our cold hardiness calculator.
Pollination	Needs Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), late spring here. Not self-fertile. Every seedling is a different tree, so plant a different named apple or crabapple nearby that blooms in groups 2 to 4 on our chart to be sure of a good pollenizer. Good partners we carry: Otterson Crabapple, Trail Crabapple, Alexander Apple, Burgundy Apple and 103 more. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. Apple Pollination Map.
Good for	Feeding wildlife (7/10), juice and sweet cider (6/10), hard cider (6/10), jams and jellies (6/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.
Deer	A deer favorite. Fence it or cage it.
What you get	Bare root, Less than 6" or 1-2 ft or 2-3 ft or 3-4 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.

Overview

Kerr Crab is one of our all-time favorite apples. This apple crab (a cross between an apple and a crabapple) blew Luke away when Roger Joy introduced it to him in the summer of 2016. It is Roger’s favorite apple and he has since popularized it throughout Montana. Since then, we’ve been hooked.

The cross of Kerr (not these particular seedlings) was made by W.L. Kerr in 1938 at the Canada Experimental Farm, combining Haralson and Dolgo. It was officially released in 1952. Kerr Crab is a wonderful keeper, storing well into the new year, and it is also insect-resistant. With its beautiful red skin, yellowish flesh, and unique flavor, it will leave you wanting more. They actually kind of look like plums on the tree!

Flavor Profile and Uses

Kerr Crab is known for its distinctive flavor profile. Some of the reactions we’ve heard from people after trying it include everything from floral, cinnamon, cherry and grape, to almond, pineapple, and even hops.

In addition to being excellent for fresh eating, Kerr Crab makes a rosé-colored cider, pink applesauce, and is a delightful addition to oatmeal. This apple can withstand temperatures as low as -50°F and is rated Zone 2 for hardiness.

Hardiness and Cold Tolerance

Kerr Crab is cold-hardy and can survive temperatures as low as -50°F, but this is likely its limit. Look to other even hardier applecrabs, such as Trailman, Centennial, and Rescue for even hardier applecrabs that we know can survive -50F without winter injury.

Kerr Crab Seedling Genetics

These trees are seedlings, meaning they were grown from seed rather than clonally propagated. As a result, there will be some genetic variability between the trees. However, we find that seedling apples in Montana often exceed expectations in flavor, and we’re consistently impressed by their quality.

The genetics of these Kerr Crab seedlings are 50% Kerr (25% Dolgo and 25% Haralson), and 50% unknown. The unknown parent could be a variety of apples, including Wolf River, Goodmac, Spartan, Honeycrisp, Liberty, Haralson, Wealthy, or Goodland.

These 50% parent apples are generally Zone 3 or colder, with several being Zone 2. Based on this, we estimate that these seedlings are hardy to at least -45°F or even colder.

Tree Size and Pollination

These seedlings are grown on their own roots, which means they will likely develop into full-size trees ranging from 20–30 feet tall. Since they are genetically unique, each seedling can pollenize the others, making them excellent for cross-pollination.

Questions we get about Kerr Crab Seedling

Does Kerr Crab Seedling need a pollenizer?

Yes. Kerr Crab Seedling needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Not self-fertile. Every seedling is a different tree, so plant a different named apple or crabapple nearby that blooms in groups 2 to 4 on our chart to be sure of a good pollenizer. Partners we carry include Otterson Crabapple, Trail Crabapple, Alexander Apple.

How cold hardy is Kerr Crab Seedling?

We rate Kerr Crab Seedling hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.

What is Kerr Crab Seedling good for?

Our top use scores for Kerr Crab Seedling are feeding wildlife (7/10), juice and sweet cider (6/10), hard cider (6/10), jams and jellies (6/10).

Will deer eat Kerr Crab Seedling?

Yes, deer love it. Protect Kerr Crab Seedling with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.

What arrives, and when does Kerr Crab Seedling ship?

A dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: Less than 6" or 1-2 ft or 2-3 ft or 3-4 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.

Pollination partners

Trees that will pollenize Kerr Crab Seedling

Kerr Crab Seedling needs a different apple or crabapple nearby to set fruit. Every tree below blooms at the same time and has pollen that works for it. Plant partners within about 100 feet.

Bloom group 4 of 7 (Mid)

Pollination Needs a partner

Pollen Not tested yet

107 trees we carry will pollenize it. Showing the best matches, in-stock first.