Bittersharp · 10 trees planted · confidence high
America's most historically important cider crab, grown by Jefferson at Monticello and the backbone of colonial Virginia cider. The fruit is tiny and fibrous but yields a viscous, high-acid juice that ferments to a structured, aromatic cider, and it is one of the few crabs capable of standing alone as a varietal. Its very early bloom plus abundant long-lasting pollen make it a valuable orchard pollenizer - but note it blooms far too early to serve the late bittersweets.
Disease: Generally healthy and extremely cold hardy - historically used as a rootstock as far north as Maine. Susceptible to fireblight; light cedar-apple rust reported. WSU records the cleanest blind-wood rating in this set (1.0) and no alternate bearing. Fruit is tiny at 1.55 inches, so expect slow hand-harvest.
Discrepancies: Tannin: MSU Montana measured 0.52% but WSU Mt Vernon measured 0.19% - recommended medium per WSU as climate-local; the Montana figure would imply markedly more bitterness than PNW-grown fruit delivers. Harvest: WSU records 8/31, well ahead of the Sep-Oct cited by East-coast sources and MSU's 9/7-9/18 - recommended late Aug-early Sep per WSU. Bloom: nurseries say early midseason, group 2, but WSU's 4/19 is the earliest date in the database - recommended 1. Biennial: nurseries say it needs thinning to hold annual bearing, WSU records no alternate bearing - recommended low per WSU.