Apple trees have been grafted onto different rootstocks since before the mid-1800s. Different rootstocks are used to improve the anchoring of trees, eliminate diseases, and reduce the natural mature size of the tree itself. While there are many different types of rootstock, they are all labeled as being either Dwarf, Semi-Dwarf, or Standard. The Apple descriptions, including flowering, pollination, and Apple characteristics are the same whether the plant is grown on a standard rootstock or some varying dwarfing rootstock. The overall size can vary by climate and soil but the understock used is ultimately what affects the mature size. There will be some variation in sizes but as a guide, we are suggesting the overall mature size of these Apple varieties are:

Remember that all fruit tree sizes can easily be altered if needed by simple pruning as the trees grow and develop.

Wolf River Apple Tree

Malus 'Wolf River'

Nature Hills Nursery

$159⁶⁰

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Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: This tree requires at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight every day. Full sun is essential because it provides the energy needed to produce those massive cooking apples and helps keep the foliage dry to prevent fungal issues.
Soil: Plant in well-drained, loamy soil that holds moisture without becoming soggy. If you have heavy clay, mix in organic compost to improve the structure so the roots do not suffocate in standing water.

Watering Requirements

During the first two years, give your tree a deep soak twice a week to help the root system settle into its new home. Once established, the Wolf River is quite hardy, but it still needs a thorough watering during summer dry spells to prevent the fruit from dropping prematurely. Inconsistent moisture often leads to stressed trees and smaller harvests, so aim for a steady supply of water throughout the fruiting season.

Pruning Tips

Apple trees bloom on old wood, specifically on short fruiting spurs that develop over time. Prune your tree in late winter while it is still dormant to open up the center of the canopy for better air circulation and sunlight. Think of it like thinning out a crowded room so every branch has space to breathe, which ensures the fruit in the middle of the tree ripens as well as the fruit on the outside.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced fruit tree fertilizer in early spring just as the buds begin to swell. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers after midsummer because this triggers a flush of soft growth that will not have time to harden off before winter. This tender growth is easily damaged by freezing temperatures and can leave the tree vulnerable to pests and disease the following year.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12	Week of March 2nd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

A single Apple large enough to make a pie? The Wolf River Apple Tree (Malus 'Wolf River') is all that and more! A beautiful antique variety of Apple Tree with a stunning magenta blush against its yellowish-green background and creamy white flesh. It has a sweet-tart flavor and holds its shape well with cooking!

The lovely white blossoms are fragrant and call butterflies and beneficial pollinators galore! Bringing on spring in a burst of sweet scent and delight.

Wolf River is beloved for its use as a cooking Apple, so you can use it in a variety of culinary delights. The distinguishing feature of this superior Apple is its size. The sweet-tart flavor requires little added sugar for your baked goods and pies! It's also good for Apple butter and applesauce and primarily for cooking because of how well the flesh holds its shape when cooked!

Its 5-inch diameter, and weight of up to a pound, will create quite a sight on your tree - and be even more impressive on your plate! In fact, people often say that you can make a pie with just one Apple!

An antique specimen that was found in Wolf River, Wisconsin in the 1870s! This is a tried and true variety of Apple Tree! Wonderfully hardy throughout USDA planting zones 3 to 9, Wolf River has prominently established itself among the rest!

How to Use Wolf River Apple Tree In The Landscape

Wolf River is a productive edible landscaping and ornamental tree that will provide its luscious harvest in late September to early October. With a spreading growth habit, it is considered quite sturdy as well as hardy and long-lived!

If you enjoy Apples, Wolf River is a great choice. Not only is it an excellent Apple for eating and cooking, but it's also a bit of a conversation piece! Between the lovely white blossoms and lush shade-offering foliage, friends and neighbors are sure to be impressed with the size of these Apples. So they're not only useful but fun as well!

This Apple isn't fully self-pollinating and should be grown with another nearby for optimal crops. Try planting in high-density plantings, or if you have the room, create a group of three in an informal grouping so they all pollinate each other to ensure a bountiful harvest. A trio of apple trees could be used as a backdrop to your vegetable garden or even your perennial border.

Perhaps use a pair of 2 different Apple varieties flanking the entrance to your garden, one to pollinate the other. Why not partner up with your neighbor and each plant a different Apple variety in their yard? Plant close to each other - one to pollinate the neighbor's variety for a win-win using less space in each yard.

Antique Variety - Yellowish-Green Fruit With Magenta Blush
Creamy White Flesh is Sweet-Tart
White Flowers are Fragrant!
Spreading, Sturdy Branching
Late Season Harvest - Enormous Sized Apples
Holds Great for Cooking!
Fruits Can Be Nearly 1 Pound Each!
Baked, Pies, Sauces & Apple Butter

#ProPlantTips For Care

Growing in growing zones 3-9, this cold and heat-tolerant tree is very adaptable to a wide range of environments and soil types. Also, it's a very strong tree and disease tolerant, showing good resistance to Apple Scab, Fire Blight, and Powdery Mildew.

Fruit trees require full sun for the best fruit and bloom set. Also, fruit trees thrive best in any type of well-drained soil with organic matter and consistent watering. While drought tolerant once established, it's best to protect your investment with supplemental watering. Mulch your root system well to insulate it from heat and cold, and to hold in more moisture! Prune when dormant and thin fruit for larger fruit size and less stress on your tree.

Full Sun!
Very Cold Hardy
Disease Resistant
Highly Adaptable
~1000 Chill Hours

Order your antique Apple pie-sized Wolf River Apple Tree for a truly unique fruit tree for your orchard or home garden this year before it sells out! Call NatureHills.com today!

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Frequently Asked Questions

When to Plant Wolf River Apple Trees

Planting Bareroot trees as soon as you can dig a hole in spring and until hot weather, the earlier the better. Plant container Apple trees throughout the growing season with complete success - that is the benefit of container plants - to extend the planting season. Your County Agricultural Extension Office is a great resource for first and last frost dates in your area.

How to Plant Wolf River Apple Trees

Dig a large hole only as deep as needed to accommodate the bareroot or container root ball, and twice as wide. Add Nature Hills Root Booster to speed root establishment. Remove the pot or bag and situate it into the hole so the top of the soil (soil line if bareroot), is level with the new location's soil being careful not to plant too deep. Water in again very well and backfill with the same soil you dug up, tamping down gently to ensure there are no air pockets. Top off with a 3-4 inch thick layer of Arborist mulch. Consider staking your tree to keep its trunk growing straight for the first year to ensure it stands tall against strong winds and drifting snow.

When to Prune Wolf River Apple Trees

Trim off any broken branches from delivery as soon as you take them out of the box. Prune and trim Apple trees while dormant, in late winter or early spring, before you see new growth.

How to Prune Wolf River Apple Trees

Dormant prune to: Prune Apple trees in the summer to:

How to Care for Wolf River Apple Trees

Growing an Apple tree is easy when proper soil, good drainage, attention to moisture, and regular fertility are maintained. Once you've chosen an Apple tree that works for your climate, in the size you need for your landscape, and its pollinator (if needed), then you've accomplished half the battle! Apple trees will tolerate a wide range of soils, so long as water and nutrients are not limited and the pH level is adequate.

How to Fertilize Wolf River Apple Trees

For the first year, water alone is most important. It is always best to get a soil test to see what your soil is lacking before adding more fertilizers. Once established, a fertilizer routine may be beneficial. We do offer some excellent slow-release organic options, applied according to the package directions. Fruit trees need more phosphate and it's possible to apply too much nitrogen which affects the soil's pH. Test soil acidity or alkalinity using a pH Tester. Fertilize in spring when you first see new growth emerging.