Otterson Crabapple

Overview

Otterson is a red-fleshed crabapple or cider crab valued for intensely red, astringent juice and strong ornamental appeal.

History & Parentage

Its background is described in cider-focused sources as being selected for deep red juice and vigor. According to Pomiferous: "Long considered an open-pollinated seedling of RF: Niedzwetzkyana's Apple. The pollen parent is now pegged as Fameuse .

Fruit Quality & Uses

Primarily a cider and blending crab: high color, notable astringency, and best when blended with other juices.

Growth Habit & Spacing

Often described as vigorous. Treat like an apple or crabapple for spacing: commonly 12–16 ft on semi-dwarf, wider on standard roots.

Pollination

Like most Malus, it’s not reliably self-fertile and benefits from another apple or crabapple nearby. It also serves as an excellent pollinizer for many apples if bloom overlaps.

Cold Hardiness

Commonly sold around the Zone 4 class, if it is anything like its parents, we would suspect is to be hardy in zone 3, but not much if any below -40F.

Image: Resolution enhanced from a public domain image. The crabapple is unchanged, but some of the surrounding text and numbers may vary.