American apple from the Hudson River Valley in New York, introduced to California by Gillet in 1884. Swaar means “heavy” in Dutch, and describes the dense medium to large, roundish fruit with green to deep yellow skin, shaded with bronze blush. Flesh is yellowish, firm, moderately tender, fine-grained, juicy, aromatic, and rich. A fine dessert variety that improves in flavor and texture after being in storage. Frequently rated the best of the heirloom apples. Used fresh, keeper, sauce, dried, juice and hard cider. Ripens in late October through November at 4200'. A biannual bearer, that can be made more annually consistent by thinning excess fruit early in the “on” year.

The mother trees grow wild in Alleghany, Sierra County, CA @ 4200’ on the Pliocene Ridge and in Humbug, Nevada County @ 3250’ on the San Juan Ridge. Alleghany was a famous hard rock gold mining town, still supporting the Sixteen to One Mine, the last of the old timers. Wild trees, more than a 100 years young are still thriving there and giving great fruit.