Extremely hardy. Medium-sized round red-striped fruit is crisp, tender, juicy, subacid and aromatic. Highly recommended for all sorts of cooking, especially pies and sauce. If you live where it’ s cold and you’ re looking for one apple, this is it. Historically planted extensively wherever growers needed extreme hardiness. It’s still quite popular in Aroostook county and other northern districts.

Small to medium-sized adaptable tree. Duchess seedlings come relatively true to type, are rugged and hardy, and make good rootstock for grafting (known as ‘Borowinka’ in the nursery trade). Scab resistant. Does not perform well in warmer districts. Blooms early-midseason. Z3. Maine Grown. (Standard: 3–6' bare-root trees)