Glowing Coal

This variety was not reported as growing in the San Juan Islands, but genetic fingerprinting identified three trees on Spring Street in Front of Spring Street International School in Friday Harbor as this variety and one in an ancient orchard near West Sound on Orcas. It is also known as Glowing Cole. The variety was available from New York and New Jersey nurseries in the late 1800s. It is a large early yellow apple with distinct red cheeks. Students at Spring Street describe it as "sweet, crisp, a little tart, and very sticky. Juice would run down your hands when you ate them." There is a honeyed element to the flavor, and it is best enjoyed fresh off the tree, as the texture deteriorates quickly in storage. We are working with Spring Street students to document this wonderful local variety and make it more widely available. Grafted trees and cuttings will be available through that collaboration starting in 2026.

You can view a watercolor of Glowing Coal in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection.