Paula Red Apple Tree | Bare Root, Hardy to Zone 3b | Spring 2027

Paula Red Apple (Spring 2027)

$59.99

Reliable shipping

Flexible returns

Pollination Needs a partner

Bloom group 3 of 7 (Early-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: Paula Red Apple is an apple tree rated hardy to zone 3b in our ratings (winters to -35°F), not self-fertile, so it needs a different variety nearby as a pollenizer (bloom group 3 of 7, early-mid for an apple or crabapple), and it ripens about Sep 18 to Sep 30 in Missoula (picked and dated at our place in Missoula).

Hardy to	Zone 3b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 3 only (winters to -35°F). Our notes have it taking -40°F. Find your zone with our cold hardiness calculator.
Pollination	Needs Cross-Pollination. Bloom group 3 of 7 (early-mid), late spring here. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 2 to 4. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Good partners we carry: Hewe's Virginia Crabapple, Hyslop Crabapple, Wickson Crabapple, Blue Pearmain Apple and 100 more. Apple Pollination Map.
Ripens	About Sep 18 to Sep 30 in Missoula (picked and dated off our own trees). Real years swing about a week either way. See the date for your town.
Rootstock and size	Bud 118: semi-dwarf in our dry Montana soils, semi-standard on paper, about 12 to 18 ft tall unpruned. Stands on its own, few suckers. Our rootstock guide.
Good for	Sauce and butter (8/10), fresh eating (7/10), canning and freezing (7/10), jams and jellies (7/10), juice and sweet cider (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, 4-6 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.

Overview

Paula Red is a cross between McIntosh and Duchess of Oldenburg, giving it impressive cold hardiness and versatility. With McIntosh typically hardy to -40°F and Duchess to at least -50°F, Paula Red is likely hardy to -45°F or even lower.

Flavor and Use

This is a large, strikingly red apple that performs exceptionally well on Bruce Benson’s farm in Missoula, MT, where it is a prolific bearer. It ripens in late September in Missoula and is:

Crunchy and sweet, with a hint of that classic McIntosh tang
Flavor profile ranges from sub-acid to sweet, depending on harvest timing
Great for fresh eating, drying, sauces, pies, cider, and even short-term storage (up to 2 months—longer than McIntosh!)

In many ways, it shares the multi-purpose appeal of McIntosh, but with improved storage and hardiness.

Hardiness

Estimated hardiness: -45°F (possibly more but this needs to be verified)
Suitable for nearly all regions of Montana, especially those with harsh winters

For Spring 2027, Paula Red is available in two different ages of the following:

Bud 118 (semi-dwarf, very cold-hardy): Recommended for regions that regularly see temperatures below -40°F.

Questions we get about Paula Red Apple

Does Paula Red Apple need a pollenizer?

Yes. Paula Red Apple needs pollen from a different variety that blooms at about the same time. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms in groups 2 to 4. It has good pollen, so it can also pollenize other apples blooming at the same time. Partners we carry include Hewe's Virginia Crabapple, Hyslop Crabapple, Wickson Crabapple.

How cold hardy is Paula Red Apple?

We rate Paula Red Apple hardy to zone 3b, which means winters down to about -35°F. Our notes have it taking -40°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.

When does Paula Red Apple ripen?

About Sep 18 to Sep 30 in Missoula, Montana (picked and dated off our own trees). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.

How big does Paula Red Apple get?

We graft Paula Red Apple onto Bud 118 (semi-dwarf in our dry Montana soils, semi-standard on paper), which makes a tree roughly 12 to 18 ft tall if you never prune it.

What is Paula Red Apple good for?

Our top use scores for Paula Red Apple are sauce and butter (8/10), fresh eating (7/10), canning and freezing (7/10), jams and jellies (7/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.

Will deer eat Paula Red Apple?

Yes, deer love it. Protect Paula Red Apple with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.

Pollination partners

Trees that will pollenize Paula Red Apple

Paula Red Apple 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 3 of 7 (Early-Mid)

Pollination Needs a partner

Pollen Good pollenizer

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