Kavanagh Apple Scionwood

This is a twig for grafting. Fall. Parentage unknown. James Kavanagh intro, Damariscotta Mills, Maine, 1790.

This unforgettable large russet apple is sometimes called Cathead because of its distinctive shape: a large stem end tapering to a small blossom end, typical of some Irish varieties and of the cats’ noggins. About half russet and half deep rich lime green. Good fall and early winter eating, excellent for cooking, drying and even frying. The slightly yellow flesh is mild, moderately crisp, moderately tart and subtle. Quickly cooks up into a frothy yellowish sauce—tart, tasty, thick, incredibly creamy with skins dissolved. No sugar necessary.

Popular ages ago along the Maine coastal peninsulas, anywhere a schooner could land. Thought to have disappeared forever but rediscovered in 1978 by George Dow in Newcastle, Maine. Blooms late. Z4.

7863 Kavanagh

Item	Discounted From	Quantity
L 7863 A: 8" scionwood stick, 1 for $6.00
L 7863 B: scionwood by the foot (10' minimum), 1 ft for $5.50

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Additional Information

Scionwood

Scions are twigs, not trees. They have no roots and will not grow if you plant them. They are cuttings from dormant branch tips, intended for spring grafting.

We do our best to provide ¼" caliper stock. Because of factors beyond our control (such as weather!) stock may be ³⁄₁₆–³⁄₈".

We sell scionwood in two ways:

By the stick: One 8" stick will graft 3-4 trees.
By the foot: Minimum order of 10 feet per variety. For orchardists grafting large numbers of trees of a particular variety. In our own nursery work, we are usually able to graft 6-8 trees from one foot of scionwood.

You can graft right away or store scionwood for later use. It will keep quite well for several weeks stored in sealed ziplock bags in the refrigerator.

The deadline for ordering scionwood is February 21, 2025, for shipment around March 10. (Please note: we ship scionwood only in mid-March. If you would like to order rootstock to arrive in the same shipment, select mid-March shipping when adding the rootstock to your cart.)

For more info:
About Scionwood