| Crimson Beauty | |
| Genus: | Malus |
| Species: | Malus pumila |
| Hybrid: | 'New Brunswicker' × 'Fameuse' |
| Cultivar: | 'Crimson Beauty' |
| Marketing Names: | Early Red Bird |
| Origin: | New Brunswick, Canada |
Crimson Beauty (originally Early Scarlet, sold commercially as Early Red Bird) is a cold-hardy apple cultivar developed by Francis Peabody Sharp in New Brunswick, Canada. It is an all-purpose variety suitable for fresh-eating and cooking.
After settling on the New Brunswicker to serve as the base for his hybridization experiments, Peabody Sharp started to work on developing cold-hardy apple cultivars. He developed the Crimson Beauty by crossing the New Brunswicker with the Fameuse, a variety popular in Quebec at the time. This made the Crimson Beauty the first true hybrid apple created via intentional, controlled cross-breeding.[1]
Early in the 20th century, the Stark Brothers Nursery acquired the rights to the Crimson Beauty, and began selling it commercially under the name Early Red Bird.[2]