Cinnamon Spice Apple

Cinnamon Spice Apple was discovered as an unidentified seedling in Bolinas, California, by Jesse Schwartz, who named the selection for its pronounced warm-spice aromatic quality — no documented parentage or breeding program produced it. The variety entered the California nursery trade as an obscure local find rather than through institutional release, and formal pomological documentation of its origins is thin. Some sources have listed it under the name Laxton’s Fortune in nursery channels, though this identification is contested; the low-chill profile of the selection sold in the United States as Cinnamon Spice differs significantly from the British Laxton’s Fortune, and the two names should not be treated as interchangeable without verification.

The variety’s commercial significance lies in its adaptability across an unusually wide climate range. A relatively low chilling requirement — variously reported between 300 and 500 hours depending on source, with many nurseries citing approximately 350 hours — extends its viable range into warm-winter climates where standard apple cultivars fail, while the tree’s cold tolerance also covers traditional temperate apple zones. That breadth, combined with the spice-forward aroma uncommon among late-season dessert apples, has sustained modest but consistent demand in the specialty and edible-landscaping nursery trade.

At roughly 500 to 700 chill hours, Cinnamon Spice sits well below the 800-to-1,000-hour benchmark of standard mid-belt apples, making it viable from mild Pacific coastal climates to humid subtropical zones where late-season apples are otherwise scarce. Direct sun — at least six to eight hours daily — supports both fruit set and the color development that characterizes the wine-red skin. Soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0 keeps iron, manganese, and calcium available, directly influencing fruit texture and reducing bitter pit risk. Loamy, well-drained ground is important; standing water during fruit development promotes fungal disease at a time when the tree is already susceptible to scab. Moderate, consistent irrigation through rapid fruit sizing — roughly six to eight weeks before harvest — maintains the firm, fine-grained texture. Plant spacing of 15 to 18 feet on standard rootstock allows mature spread and adequate airflow, both of which reduce canopy humidity and limit disease pressure.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
AHS Heat Zone: 4-8
Chill Hours: 500-700
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Soil Type: Loam, well-drained
Soil Drainage: Well-drained
Water Requirements: Medium
Heat Tolerance: High
Plant Spacing: 15-18 ft apart

Cinnamon Spice Apple grows with an upright habit, typically reaching 12 to 16 feet tall and spreading 12 to 18 feet wide at maturity on standard rootstock. The upright form naturally channels energy into a central-leader scaffold, which lends itself to modified-central-leader training — a framework that balances structural strength with sunlight penetration into the fruiting zone. Annual dormant pruning to thin the canopy improves air circulation, which is particularly valuable given this cultivar's susceptibility to scab. Root architecture is fibrous with moderately deep, laterally spreading roots; this pattern anchors the tree well in loamy soils but can compete with shallow-rooted groundcovers planted in close proximity. A permanent, mulched buffer of three to four feet around the trunk discourages grass competition and helps stabilize soil moisture. Fragrant white spring flowers appear in early to late April, providing both ornamental interest and a reliable nectar source for pollinators. As a long-lived perennial — often 50 to 100 or more years under good management — the upright framework established in the first decade determines the tree's productive structure for decades.

Mature Height: 12-16 ft tall
Mature Spread: 12-18 ft wide
Growth Habit: Upright
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Food Forest Layer: Canopy, Sub-canopy
Leaf Color: Green
Thorns?: No
Attracts Wildlife: Bees, butterflies, birds
Life Span: 50-100+ years

Cinnamon Spice is self-unfruitful and requires a compatible diploid cross-pollinator blooming within the same early- to late-April window. As a diploid, it produces viable pollen and can serve as a pollinator for other compatible diploids in its bloom group. Insect-mediated pollination — primarily honeybees and native solitary bees — moves pollen between flowers; for reliable fruit set, a compatible variety should be within 50 to 100 feet. Golden Delicious Apple is a widely used, reliable cross-pollinator for mid-season bloom groups and pairs well here. Gala Apple overlaps bloom timing and offers a complementary harvest-season pairing. Fuji Apple is another option where extended bloom overlap is desired. Avoid planting the same cultivar as both specimens — cross-pollination requires genetically distinct trees.

Bloom Season: Mid
Bloom Window: Mid Apr - Late Apr
Pollination Requirements: Self-Unfruitful; requires cross-pollinator
Pollination Mechanism: Insect (bee)
Flower Color: White
Ploidy: Diploid

The defining characteristic of Cinnamon Spice fruit is its aromatic flavor — sweet with a recognizable spicy cinnamon note and a light tartness that prevents the flavor from reading as cloying. Skin is wine-red with a yellow-green background, sometimes streaked rather than fully flushed; color development improves with high light exposure in the weeks before harvest. Fruit runs 2.5 to 3 inches in diameter with a firm, crisp, fine-grained texture and smooth, shiny, thin skin. The thin skin means it bruises more readily during harvest and packing than thicker-skinned cultivars, so careful handling at pick time preserves both appearance and storage potential. Storage life runs one to two months under refrigerated conditions, making it a reliable mid-autumn supply crop. Culinary applications span fresh eating, cider production, cooking, sauce, and baking — the cinnamon-spice aromatics carry through moderate heat and complement spiced preparations without added seasoning. Seeds contain amygdalin and should not be consumed in quantity; the fruit flesh itself is fully edible and safe. The tree bears annually to biennially, with heavy yields in productive years.

Ripening Season: Late
Harvest Window: Late Sep - Late Oct
Fruit Size: 2.5-3 inch
Flavor: Sweet with spicy cinnamon notes; lightly tart; distinct aromatic character
Fruit Color: Wine-red with yellow-green background; sometimes streaked
Fruit Texture: Firm, crisp, fine-grained
Fruit Skin: Smooth, shiny, thin
Bearing Habit: Annual to biennial bearer
Years to Bear: 2-4 years
Storage Life: 1-2 months
Culinary Uses: Fresh eating, cider, cooking, sauce, baking

Cinnamon Spice carries susceptibility to apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) — without active management, lesions develop on leaves and fruit during wet springs. The core organic approach: prune the canopy open for airflow, rake and dispose of fallen leaves in autumn (the overwintering ascospore source), and avoid overhead irrigation. Where scab pressure is high, OMRI-listed sulfur applied from green tip through petal fall covers the critical infection window. Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) is a moderate concern; copper hydroxide sprays at tight cluster through pink bud, combined with cutting infected shoots 12 inches below visible discoloration, are the organic standard. Cedar apple rust (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae) is moderately susceptible; where eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) grows nearby, sulfur at pink bud limits spore transfer. Powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha) and black rot (Botryosphaeria obtusa) respond to open canopy pruning and removal of cankered wood. Codling moth (Cydia pomonella), plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar), apple maggot (Rhagoletis pomonella), and brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) are the key pests. Kaolin clay from petal fall deters codling moth and plum curculio; red sticky sphere traps reduce apple maggot populations; exclusion netting limits stink bug feeding on ripening fruit.

Apple Scab: Susceptible
Fire Blight: Moderately Susceptible
Cedar Apple Rust: Moderately Susceptible
Codling Moth: Moderately Susceptible
Plum Curculio: Moderately Susceptible
Apple Maggot: Moderately Susceptible
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: Moderately Susceptible

• Scab sanitation first: Rake and dispose of fallen leaves in autumn — leaf litter harbors overwintering ascospores that drive spring infection pressure more than any other single source.
• Choose your pollinator for bloom match: Cinnamon Spice blooms early to late April; pair with Golden Delicious, Gala, or Fuji — all reliable pollinators in the same window.
• Harvest by texture, not calendar: Pick late September through late October in a temperate climate; fruit held too long softens and loses the firm texture defining this variety. Sample for firmness rather than relying on skin color.
• Fire blight pruning protocol: Cut infected shoots at least 12 inches below visible discoloration; sterilize tools between cuts. Prune in dry weather and limit heavy nitrogen fertilization.
• Kaolin clay for multiple pests: Applied at petal fall, kaolin clay provides barrier protection against codling moth, plum curculio, and apple maggot simultaneously.

Our 365-Day Plant Guarantee: We ensure that our plants are delivered to you alive and healthy. If your plant does not survive its first year, you're eligible for store credit under these conditions:

1. Your location falls within the appropriate USDA hardiness zone for the plant variety (refer to our hardiness zone map).
2. You maintain the roots' moisture and plant within three days of delivery, following the instructions in our Planting Guide.

If you're concerned about your plant's health, please consult our guide, How to Tell if Your Tree is Dead or Dormant. Remember, our plants are shipped in a dormant state and may leaf out at different times based on their species. To check for plant vital