Arkansas Black Apple Tree

Arkansas Black is an heirloom dessert apple valued for its firm, dark red fruit and long storage life. The fruit is notably dense and tart when first picked, then develops a mellower aromatic flavor in storage. ## Fruit and pollination The skin deepens to a purplish red that can appear almost black. Apples may be eaten fresh, baked, or pressed for cider; flavor improves after storage, which may take several months. Arkansas Black is triploid, so it needs other compatible apple cultivars flowering nearby to set a crop, and its pollen cannot pollinate other apple varieties. Oklahoma State University Extension recommends three cultivars when planting a triploid apple. The [Arkansas Black product profile](https://www.cumminsnursery.com/buy-trees/product-detail.php?id=15678&type=tree) documents this selection and its fruit characteristics. ## Site and growth Plant in full sun in a well-drained site. Mature size depends substantially on rootstock, training, soil, and pruning, so the height and spread of a nursery tree should be checked against its rootstock rather than assumed from the cultivar name. Good air circulation and a balanced framework help support healthy growth and fruit production. ## Maintenance During establishment, water deeply and keep competing grass away from the root zone. In late winter, remove broken, crowded, or crossing branches while preserving a sturdy branch structure. Thin a heavy fruit set early so the remaining apples can size well and the tree is less likely to bear heavily in alternate years.