Article

Historic Apple Cultivars in Yosemite National Park

The orchards of Yosemite date to the mid-1800s in California when the state saw an influx of settlers due to the goldrush. It was also an unrivaled era for the development of new fruit tree varieties. During this era known as, “The Golden Age of Pomology” there were around 6,700 unique varieties of apple grown in the U.S. according to one count of publications between 1804-1904.

Orchards were a common feature of homesteads and ranches throughout the country with apples being the most widely grown fruit. Grafted trees became the norm leading to a greater variety of trees suited to different growing conditions. Nurseries popped up in newly settled towns and supplied homesteaders with the common varieties of the time. Customers could choose from dozens of cultivars with catchy names and enticing characteristics. Some apples were better for cider, others for baking, and yet others for eating fresh.

An inventory of the yosemite orchards, completed in 2016-2017, included genetic testing of the trees. The majority of trees matched known cultivars from the mid-1800s, while some trees matched to rare, unknown cultivars. The following apples represent the known cultivars growing in the historic orchards of Yosemite. The watercolor sketches are from the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection.