The Apple Tree Colony: A Unique Natural Phenomenon With No Parallel in the World

In the town of Krolevets, within the Sumy region, lies what appears at first glance to be an ordinary apple orchard with several trees. However, at the entrance, a sign marks the area as a state-protected natural landmark of national significance, and the site is constantly surrounded by crowds of tourists and environmentalists. What could be so fascinating about an apple orchard, and why does it attract so much attention?

The uniqueness of this site lies in the fact that it is home to the world’s only apple tree that has managed to expand into an entire vast orchard. In other words, the total area of this grove consists not of individual trees, but of one single apple tree. This natural phenomenon fundamentally challenges the established laws of biology.

Photo: NativePlanting, 4 July 2016, own work, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

How Did One Tree Become a Thriving Orchard?

A typical apple tree lives an average of 50–80 years, which is quite a long time. However, the Krolevets apple tree is over 220 years old. How has it managed to survive for so long? Usually, when the main trunk ages, the tree dies. But the Krolevets Colony Apple Tree has discovered a "secret to eternal youth" - natural vegetative propagation through its branches on an incredible scale.

The process works like this: when one of the trunks begins to age or leans heavily under its own weight, its branches touch the ground. Instead of withering and falling off, the branch sprouts new roots directly into the soil.

As soon as the roots take hold, the branch begins to grow upward, transforming into a fully functional new trunk. While the original (mother) trunk continues to live for a while, it eventually dies off and decays. Thanks to this ability, the apple tree literally "walks" across the land, expanding its territory and extending its life indefinitely.

Why Is It Impossible to Reproduce the Apple Tree Colony?

This tree fundamentally challenges the fields of apple cultivation and general horticulture. Naturally, this raises a question: why not take a cutting from the Krolevets tree and plant it elsewhere? This could allow for the creation of massive orchards from just a few dozen trees instead of hundreds. Scientists have repeatedly attempted to breed this unique tree, selecting the best shoots and planting them in various regions across Ukraine. The result? They always grew into ordinary apple trees, lacking the extraordinary "walking" traits of the Krolevets original.

Based on scientific experiments, researchers have concluded that it is not only the apple tree itself that is unique, but also the soil in which it grows. Overall, after several unsuccessful attempts, efforts to selectively breed or clone this extraordinary tree were discontinued.

Photo: NativePlanting, 4 July 2016, own work, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

What is the Size of the Apple Tree Colony?

Today, what was once a single sapling looks like a dense apple orchard. Since the original mother trunk has long since vanished, the site is more accurately described as a colony of individual trunks that are, in fact, a single genetic organism.

The Apple Tree Colony: Key Features

1. Total Area: The colony covers approximately 0.1 hectares (around 10,760 square feet).
2. Number of Trunks: There are currently 15 main rooted trunks, though this number is constantly changing as the tree continues its unique growth pattern.
3. Fruit Variety: The tree produces the Lozivka variety—medium-sized apples that are sweet and sour with a slightly tart finish.
4. Flowering Habit: Interestingly, the colony bears fruit every year but only in halves. One part of the colony yields a harvest one year, while the other part yields the next.

Preservation and Visiting This Unique Natural Wonder

In 1998, the Apple Tree Colony was officially designated as a Botanical Natural Landmark of National Significance in Ukraine. It is meticulously cared for by local environmentalists and schoolchildren. Special supports are placed under branches that lean toward the ground to help the tree take root more easily, thereby ensuring the continuation of its life cycle.

How and When Is the Best Time to Visit?

The landmark is located in the town of Krolevets (Sumy region). The town is easily accessible from Kyiv, as it sits on the E101 international highway, which features high-quality road surfaces. The optimal times of year to visit are:

1. May: The best time for a visit, as the apple tree begins to bloom, covered in a sea of white blossoms.
2. Summer (June – August): A wonderful time to visit with comfortable seasonal weather.
3. September – October: The fruit ripening period. Tourists often try to taste the unique apples.

Important Reminder: The Sumy region is a border territory. When planning your trip, be sure to check the current security situation and strictly follow the instructions of local authorities. While visiting the landmark, please be careful: do not step on young shoots attempting to take root, and do not break branches for souvenirs.

Learn Ukrainian with Language Lab

Exploring the wonders of Ukrainian nature is an even richer experience when you know the language. The Sumy region offers many fascinating places to visit, and speaking Ukrainian will be a comfortable advantage for your travels across the country. Our certified specialists have prepared several terms and words related to our article:

1. Sadyty (plant) or Sadzhaty (to seat)? In the Ukrainian language, both verbs are correct, but they carry different stylistic nuances. When referring to plants (trees, flowers), it is better to use "sadyty" (e.g., Ya posadyv yabluniu - I planted an apple tree). The word "sadzhaty" is more frequently used for people or animals (e.g., seating someone at a table or putting a bird in a cage).
2. Pahin (sprout): A shoot; the stem of a plant with leaves and buds that has grown during a single growing season.
3. Vkorinnia (rooting): the biological process of forming new roots.

If you want to discover more about the Ukrainian language, our certified specialists are here to help. We make it easy to master Ukrainian and will teach you how to use it fluently and confidently. 

Language Lab is a premier language school with a 5-star Google rating, over 7 years of successful teaching experience, and more than 50,000 lessons conducted. Our professional instructors are certified linguists dedicated to helping you master the Ukrainian language with quality and precision.