Royal Limbertwig History
[Limbertwig] is not a single apple variety but rather a very large family of apples. It is difficult to say what exactly holds this family together — what trait the various kinds of Limbertwigs have in common. … The late and lamented Henry Morton had his own idea of what holds together the Limbertwig family, and he did more than anyone else to save old Limbertwig varieties. Mr. Morton was a full-time Southern Baptist preacher and a part-time nurseryman living near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Gatlinburg was important Limbertwig country at one time when there were commercial orchards around Gatlinburg and in the adjacent Smoky Mountains. … Mr. Morton said, “Limbertwigs vary in size, shape, color, quality and tree habit, but they all have one distinguishing characteristic and that is their distinct Limbertwig flavor. No other apple that I have ever tasted has this particular flavor of Limbertwig. Once a person has tasted a Black Limbertwig or a Royal Limbertwig, one can then be able to determine if a variety is a Limbertwig”