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DNA analysis identifies ancient Maine tree as a lost ancestor of American apples

As of September 2026: Current stewards of the Drap d'Or tree

A hollow, blackened apple tree on Verona Island, Maine kept producing sweet yellow fruit through nearly two centuries of neglect. In 2023, DNA analysis identified it as a Drap d'Or de Bretagne, a variety first recorded in France in 1628 and previously unknown in North America. The tree is one of three genetic founders behind many of the continent's apple varieties.

Updated Sep 18