Shell Apple of Alabama

Buy Shell Apple Trees for sale at Advanced Nursery Growers in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.

Shell Apple, also known as Shell of Alabama, is a historic Southern heirloom apple originating in Escambia County, Alabama, near the Florida Panhandle. This Gulf Coast variety was once grown commercially and shipped by rail to northern markets.

Shell Apple is particularly valuable for Southern growers because of its history of producing in warm, humid, relatively low-chill climates. UF/IFAS reports that Shell of Alabama has produced in Florida and flowers at approximately the same time as established low-chill Florida apple cultivars.

The medium-sized fruit has crisp flesh with a distinctive combination of sweet and tart flavors. Shell Apple is excellent for fresh eating, cooking, baking and traditional Southern recipes.

Plant Details:

• Plant Type: Deciduous fruit tree
• Botanical Name: Malus domestica ‘Shell of Alabama’
• Common Names: Shell Apple, Shell of Alabama
• Origin: Escambia County, Alabama
• Mature Size: Approximately 12–20 feet tall and wide, depending on rootstock, pruning and growing conditions
• Sun: Full sun
• USDA Zones: Generally suitable for Zones 7–9
• Chill Hours: Low-chill Southern variety; the exact chill requirement has not been firmly established
• Bloom Time: Early spring; reported to bloom around the same time as other low-chill Florida apple varieties
• Harvest: Summer, generally around July into early August
• Fruit: Medium-sized, crisp apple with a distinctive sweet-tart flavor
• Fruit Color: Green to yellow-green, sometimes developing a blush as it ripens
• Pollination: Plant with another compatible apple variety for dependable pollination and improved fruit production
• Best Pollinator Partners: Anna, Dorsett Golden and TropicSweet
• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil with a preferred pH of approximately 6.0–6.5
• Water: Water regularly while establishing; avoid continuously wet or poorly drained soil
• Landscape Uses: Home orchards, edible landscapes, wildlife plantings and Southern heirloom collections

North Florida Growing Note: Shell Apple is an especially promising choice for the Florida Panhandle because it originated just across the Florida–Alabama state line. UF/IFAS lists Shell of Alabama among the Southern apple varieties reported to produce in Florida, although it was not included in its formal cultivar trials. Shell Apple has also been locally recommended based on years of successful growing experience in our area.

Contact Advanced Nursery Growers

For current availability, sizes, pollination assistance or help selecting fruit trees for North Florida, contact Advanced Nursery Growers.

Advanced Nursery Growers
1911 McLeod Road
DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32435
Phone: (850) 391-2228

Local pickup is available for most plants and trees. Limited shipping may be available for select trees, liners and smaller plants. Shipping charges are calculated separately and may vary based on plant size, quantity, destination and packaging requirements. Please contact us before ordering if shipping is required so we can confirm availability and provide the shipping cost.

Wholesale

Wholesale pricing may be available to qualifying nurseries, landscapers and other plant-industry professionals. Please contact Advanced Nursery Growers for current wholesale availability, quantities and pricing.