Overview
Liberty is an excellent choice for beginners and one of the best apples for Montana growers. It thrives in Rod McIver’s orchard in the colder part of Kalispell, which is a solid Zone 4. Introduced in 1978 by the NY Ag Experiment Station, Liberty is a cross between Macoun and Purdue 54-12.
Disease Resistance
Liberty is one of the few apples resistant to all the major apple diseases. It does not suffer from the scab issues or pre-harvest drop that McIntosh is known for. Its resistance comes from the Vf Malus floribunda scab-resistant gene, making Liberty an extremely easy and reliable apple to grow.
Flavor
Liberty is essentially an improved McIntosh, though without the classic McIntosh aroma. We actually prefer it more than McIntosh—its flavor is excellent, balanced, and consistently good, making it a favorite among cold-climate growers.
Hardiness
In terms of cold hardiness, we rate Liberty as being comparable to McIntosh. It can withstand temperatures as low as -40°F, but anything colder than that might be too much for it. If you’re in an area that regularly experiences sub -40°F temperatures, you may want to consider other, more cold-hardy apple varieties.
Rootstock and Availability for 2025
For Spring 2025, we’ve grafted Liberty onto several different rootstocks to accommodate various climates and grower needs:
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M26 Semi-Dwarf Rootstock: This rootstock produces trees that grow to about 12–16 feet tall at maturity.
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M7 Rootstock: A more vigorous semi-dwarf option than M26, offering slightly larger trees.
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Bud 118 Rootstock: Semi-dwarf hardy to -50°F or more.
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Dolgo: Hardy to -50°F, possibly -60°F. Full size.
