Wolf River Apple

Overview

Wolf River originated as a chance seedling in Wisconsin, dating back to at least 1875. It quickly gained a reputation for its massive fruit size, making it one of the largest apples we’ve seen growing in Montana—second only to Spokane Beauty.

Flavor & Uses

Great for fresh eating, but especially valued for its rich, fluffy apple butter, which develops beautifully after slow cooking for hours.

A true old-fashioned apple that shines in both flavor and function.

Hardiness & Performance

Hardy to -50F or more, Wolf River does exceptionally well even east of the Continental Divide, where conditions are colder, drier, and windier.

For more on its Montana performance, check out research from the Western Ag Research Center in the Bitterroot Valley.

Rootstock & Tree Size

Grafted onto Spy 227 rootstock, a full size rootstock hardy to -50F or colder, as well as Bud 118. For Bud 118, a practical spacing range is 14–18 feet between trees, depending on how hard you plan to prune for size control and how vigorous your site is. In richer soils or irrigated ground, wider spacing reduces shading and improves airflow; in leaner soils with consistent pruning, spacing can be somewhat tighter.

Image courtesy of WARC