Growing in crevices on rock in subacid to circumneutral soil; mossy granite-schist ledges in the upper Piedmont and vertical limestone sinks in the Cumberland Plateau; very rare.
If your season is short, try the original Beefsteak, an indeterminate plant type, producing huge (2 pounds is not unusual), irregular and flattened pink fruit, with a lovely, naturally-sweet subacid flavor.
Jonathan apples squeeze out a sprightly subacid juice that the Kuhns blend in the renaissance spirit with Stayman Winesap, Arkansas Black, and Saint George.