Cultivar 'Wijcik McIntosh' | Origin mid-1960s | |
Hybrid parentage Mutation of McIntosh apple Similar Apple, Fruit, Creston, Court Pendu Plat, Ariane | ||
Wijcik McIntosh is a mutation of the McIntosh apple that has a columnar growing habit, meaning that it grows straight and upright, and is spur bearing, without any major branching. This property is very much appreciated for use as an ornamental plant for itself, and also in the breeding of other apple cultivars, to make them columnar as well.
This mutant was discovered first in the mid 1960s by Anthony Wijcik in Kelowna British Columbia. His daughter Wendy pointed out the mutated branch on the tree. It was initially developed by Dr. Don Fisher of the "Summerland Research Station" in British Columbia Canada. Then rights were sold to Stark Brothers Nursery. It was the first "columnar style" ornamental apple trees. Over 300 crosses were made from this single McIntosh Wijcik tree, by various apple breeding programs throughout the world, in order to develop more columnar apple cultivars.