Apple trees are a fantastic choice for the home gardener. With around 7500 varieties, you should have no trouble finding the apple you want in a tree that will work for your location.
Apples are part of the Malus genus in the Rosaceae family, related to roses and cherries.
Apples were domesticated between 4,000 and 10,000 years ago in Asia from Malus sieviersii, the wild ancestor of modern apples.
The fruit is a delicious pome (accessory fruit) that can be eaten fresh, dried, baked in pies, or made into applesauce, cider, juice, and other delicious things.
We will learn how to identify the different types of apple trees, even when not in fruit, and look at some of the varieties available.
Crabapples are very closely related, but we won’t discuss them here. This guide on different types of crabapples will teach you everything you need to know.
Exploring Varieties – 26 Apple Tree Types and Their Distinctive Characteristics
1. Gala Apple – Malus domestica ‘Gala’
The Gala Apple is a favorite at my house. They are sweet and oh-so crisp, and their thin skin seems to handle getting banged around in a lunch box better than some apples.
They are ready to harvest in October or November, and you can eat them right off the tree or keep them for several months in cold storage, remaining crisp and sweet until spring.
They also work great in cooking, baking, and dried snacks.
The Gala is a popular southern apple species, needing only about 500 chill hours to set fruit, which it will do about 2 – 5 years after planting.
They have no serious pests or diseases.
Best grown in full sun in any soil type; the Gala tolerates wet and heavy clay soil.
Gala apple trees are in Flowering Group 4 and are self-fertile, but productivity increases with a pollinating partner like Fuji, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, or Crabapple trees.
Identifying Features of the Gala Apple
Gala Apple is a small tree that comes in semi-dwarf, dwarf, and standard sizes.
Pink floral buds open to fragrant white flowers in the spring. They are self-fertile and can set fruit without a pollinator companion, but yields will be increased with another tree.
Apples are small to medium in size and mature around September and are very crisp and semi-sweet, with a thin aromatic yellow to orange skin with pink to red stripes covering more than 60% of the surface.
Gala apples have dense, crisp flesh that is creamy yellow, mildly sweet, and tangy with hints of vanilla and florals which makes this a popular variety of fruit tree for home gardeners.
Other Common Names: N/A
Origin: Selected by J.H. Kidd in New Zealand in the 1930s from a cross between Golden Delicious and Kidd’s Orange Red.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 10
Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 20 ft tall, 8 – 10 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
2. McIntosh Apple – Malus domestica ‘McIntosh’
McIntosh Apples are a classic cultivar made popular for their slightly tart, juicy, and crunchy apples that are great for eating fresh.
The tartness of this variety of apples also makes them popular for baking pies, apple crisps, and other desserts.
McIntosh apple trees are heavy producers of small to medium-sized apples that ripen from August to mid-September and can be eaten fresh from the tree.
These naturally pest and disease-resistant trees lend themselves well to organic growing.
While some sources say they require 900 chill hours, others say they are more adaptable to a wider range of climates and can set fruit with fewer than 300 chill hours.
Sometimes McIntosh trees need pruning in order to reduce the density of branches to allow more sunlight which will allow the fruits to grow larger.
They’re in Flowering Group 2, are not self-fertile, and pair well with Pink Lady, Cox’s Orange Pippin, Fuji, Jonathon, and Chestnut Crabapple.
Identifying Features of the McIntosh Apple
McIntosh Apples are small trees that come in semi-dwarf or standard sizes with a single trunk and dense branching.
Floral buds are pink and open to five-petaled pink-blushed white flowers. They are self-sterile and require a pollinator companion.
Apples are small to medium-sized with bright red and green skin that is dotted with white lenticels. The flesh is white and crisp and has a pleasantly tart taste.
Other Common Names: Mac Apple, McIntosh Red Apple, MacIntosh Apple (misspelled)
Origin: Discovered in 1811 by John McIntosh on his Ontario farm and commercially available since the 1880s
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 10
Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 25 ft tall, 8 – 18 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
3. Liberty Apple – Malus domestica ‘Liberty’
Liberty Apples were bred with Japanese Crabapple genes to give them superior disease resistance to all the major apple diseases, making it a fantastic choice for organic growers.
The apples are yellow but mostly covered with a dark red blush. They are juicy with a mild tart flavor that is fantastic for eating fresh, juicing, or used in baking.
Liberty apple trees take well to pruning and can be trained as dwarf-sized trees at around six feet tall.
This apple tree variety produces reliable harvests every year that ripen in early October.
Liberty apple trees require about 800 chill hours to set fruit and starts bearing fruit about 2 – 5 years after planting.
Liberty apples continue to sweeten in storage, lasting for about three months after harvest.
They are in Flowering Group 2 and are partial triploids that are self-sterile and cannot pollinate others. They pair well with McIntosh, Yellow Transparent, Cortland, and Zestar!
Identifying Features of the Liberty Apple
Liberty Apples are small trees whose size depends on the grafted stock.
They produce showy clusters of lightly-scented pink-blushed white flowers that emerge from bright pink buds in mid-spring. They are partially triploid and self-sterile, requiring a pollinator companion, and cannot pollinate other trees.
The fruit is medium-sized with yellow skin with deep dark red striations (not blush) that often cover 90% or more of the surface area. There are numerous light yellow lenticels over the surface.
The fruit’s stem is short, and the calyx is medium-large.
The flesh is yellowish, fine-textured, juicy, and crisp. It is sweet-tart like a McIntosh but a little more tart with hints of citrus and melon flavors.
Other Common Names: N/A
Origin: A hybrid seedling selected by the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in 1955 from Macoun and the research apple ‘Purdue 54-12’ to acquire the disease resistance of Malus floribunda
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 18 ft tall, 10 – 15 ft spread OR Standards to 25 ft tall and 18 ft spread
Available at: Nature Hills
4. Fuji Apple – Malus domestica ‘Fuji’
Fuji Apples have a higher sugar content than most other apples, so if you have a sweet tooth, then this is the apple for you!
They are delicious and crisp when eaten fresh, with a sweet flavor like apple juice. They can also be used in cooking, but they are usually paired with a tart apple. Or, if you normally add sugar to your applesauce, try just using Fuji apples without any sugar!
This apple species is best grown in average to loamy soil that is enriched with organic matter yearly to increase production.
Fuji apples are not drought-tolerant and should be irrigated regularly when young. In areas with very hot summers, they benefit from a little bit of afternoon shade.
Apples from the Fuji tree are harvested from October to early December, and they store well for 4 – 6 months.
The low chill hours (200 – 400) of Fuji apples make it a great choice for areas with mild winters.
It’s in Flowering Group 3, is not self-fertile, and pairs well with Braeburn, Rome, Gala, and Granny Smith.
Identifying Features of the Fuji Apple
Fuji Apples come in dwarf and standard-sized trees.
In April, its pink floral buds open to either pure white blossoms or white with pink-flushed backs. They are self-sterile and require a pollinator companion.
The fruits are large to very large (3” in diameter) and have a very high sugar content of 9 – 11%, giving them a very sweet flavor compared to other apples.
The apple skin is a pink speckled flush over a yellow-green background. The flesh is a dull white, very crisp and juicy.
Other Common Names: N/A
Origin: Developed from a cross between Red Delicious and Virginia Ralls Janet by growers at Tohoku Research Station in Fujisaki, Japan, in the late 1930s and marketed commercially in 1962
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 25 ft tall, 10 – 18 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
5. Dorsett Golden Apple – Malus domestica ‘Dorsett Golden’
Dorsett Golden Apples are bred for tropical climates like the Bahamas and southern Florida, having one of the lowest chill hour requirements at 100 – 300 hours.
This Golden Delicious descendant has sweeter and more flavorful apples with pale yellowish skin and the firmness of a fall apple that ripens in summer.
It produces high yields of large apples and can set fruit in its first year. In warm climates, it’s possible to get an extra harvest since it can flower as early as January, producing apples in June.
Like most early apples, it doesn’t store well and should be eaten or processed soon after harvest.
Dorsett Golden apples make a delicious fresh-eating apple but can also be used in desserts, often paired with a more tart apple.
It’s resistant to most common apple diseases.
Dorsett Golden apple trees are in Flowering Group 2, self-sterile, and pairs well with Tropical Anna and Ein Shemer.
Identifying Features of the Dorsett Golden Apple
Dorsett Golden Apple is a small tree in semi-dwarf and standard sizes with average vigor and is a precocious spur bearer.
Pink floral buds open to pinkish-white blossoms early in the year (as early as January in warm climates). They are self-sterile and require a pollinator companion.
The fruit is a medium-sized apple that is golden yellow to yellowish-green and sometimes has a small pink flush to it.
The flesh is firm, crisp, and fine-textured. It is sweeter and more flavorful than Golden Delicious, with a hint of vanilla.
Other Common Names: Golden Dorsett Apple
Origin: Dorsett Golden Apples were first grown by Irene Dorsett in the 1950s in Nassau, Bahamas, a descendant of the Golden Delicious variety
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 ft tall, 8 – 15 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
6. Tropical Anna Apple – Malus domestica ‘Anna’
Tropical Anna apple trees are another southern favorite that is easy to grow and produces high yields of delicious apples in late June or July, producing apples the first year.
It was bred for low chill hours (250 – 300), making it suitable for warm temperate and subtropical climates where temperatures rarely drop below freezing.
It was developed from a Golden Delicious but with mild sweetness and mild acidity.
Tropical Anna’s are a fantastic eating apple that tastes more like a Granny Smith if picked a little early or can be left to ripen longer where it tastes sweeter like a Red Delicious.
They are also often used in sauces and baking, where they will keep their shape well.
Tropical Anna’s are in Flowering Group 2 and pair well with Golden Dorsett or Ein Shemer for a pollinator partner, and it stores longer, up to two months.
Identifying Features of the Tropical Anna Apple
Tropical Anna is available in semi-dwarf or standard-sized trees.
Flowers are very early, depending on the climate, and may appear in late winter. They are pinkish-white to pink, more pink than many cultivars. They are self-sterile and require a pollinator companion.
The apples’ skin color is green to greenish-yellow, with a red flush usually covering about 50% of the surface area.
The flesh is tart to sweet, depending on when it is harvested, and juicy and crisp.
Other Common Names: Anna Apple
Origin: Bred by Abba Stein at Ein Shemer Kibbutz, Israel
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 25 ft tall, 8 – 20 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
7. Haralson Apple – Malus domestica ‘Haralson’
The Haralson Apple is a fantastic small tree that produces large crops in cold to temperate climates in USDA Zone 3 – 6.
It requires 1000 chill hours, flowers late in the season to avoid late spring frosts, and has a relatively short growing season, allowing it to produce good crops before the hard fall frosts.
The Haralson apple is a biennial producer that produces very large crops every second year with a smaller crop in between.
The delicious apples are ready to harvest in September or October and are great for eating fresh, making cider, and can be stored for several months in cold storage.
They also hold their shape well when used for baking.
The Haralson apple tree bears fruit 3 – 5 years after planting and is in Flowering Group 3 and is partially self-fertile. It will produce larger yields if paired with Gala, Honeycrisp, or Red Delicious.
Identifying Features of the Haralson Apple
The Haralson apple is available in standard or semi-dwarf sizes. They are a vigorous tree with a strong central leader and widely spreading lateral branching.
Fragrant white five-petaled blossoms appear in late spring and attract loads of pollinators.
The fruit is medium-sized, round-conical in shape on a medium-length stem, with greenish-yellow medium-tough skin that is red-striped and has conspicuous greenish lenticels on the surface.
The flesh is creamy white, firm, crisp, juicy, and has a tart flavor.
Other Common Names: N/A
Origin: Developed from an open-pollinated Marida tree crossed with Wealthy pollen and introduced by the Minnesota Horticulture Research Center in 1922
USDA Growing Zones: 3 – 6
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 ft tall, 10 – 12 ft spread
Available at: Nature Hills
8. Ghost Apple – Malus domestica ‘Ghost’
Ghost Apples are unique apples with deliciously sweet, sub-acidic white skin and white flesh that can be used for fresh eating, drying, baking, or juicing.
It was developed in central California for its low chill hours and adaptability to hot climates where temperatures routinely reach 110 F. In high heat, the apples do not get sunburned or drop from the tree like other apples. Instead, its pale skin reflects the sun but uses its energy to produce sweet, tasty apples without any tartness.
The Ghost apple is a later bloomer, so it resists late frosts, but it also produces early, where it can be harvested in July and can be eaten straight off the tree.
It’s in Flowering Group 3 – 4 and is self-sterile. It pairs well with Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, or Pink Lady.
Identifying Features of the Ghost Apple
Ghost Apples are semi-dwarf trees growing to 15 ft tall and wide.
The five-petaled flowers are lightly fragrant and white, appearing in spring. They are not self-fertile and require a pollinating partner.
Apples are medium-sized with pale yellow to nearly white skin. The flesh is also white and sweet with a sub-acid flavor and no tartness.
Other Common Names: N/A
Origin: A new variety from Zaiger Genetics in central California
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 15 ft tall, 12 – 15 ft spread
Available at: Nature Hills
9. Gravenstein Apple – Malus domestica ‘Gravenstein’
Gravenstein Apple is a widely adaptable heirloom tree that grows in cold to warm temperate climates, providing it has enough chill hours (700) to set fruit.
It’s a popular northern apple that ripens in late July and August, producing heavy yields of excellent green apples with a tart, sweet flavor that works very well in sauces, baking, and cider.
Harvest can be variable, with some fruits ripening a little later than others, which lends itself well to the home grower looking for fresh fruit with an extended picking season.
Gravenstein apples tend not to keep well, so they are only available for fresh eating in season.
It prefers full sun and grows best in areas with mild summers and some protection from wind.
The Gravenstein is a triploid variety in Flowering Group 1 and cannot pollinate other trees. It pairs well with Anna, Dorsett Golden, Ein Shemer, Yellow Transparent, and Zestar!
Identifying Features of the Gravenstein Apple
Gravenstein Apples are small and long-lived trees with large, shiny, dark green leaves.
Pale pink buds open to abundant, fragrant, pure white flowers in clusters all along the branches in early to mid-spring. It is a triploid plant requiring pollination from other trees and cannot pollinate other trees.
The large fruits are on short stems and have waxy yellow-green skin with crimson-red spots and reddish lines, or occasionally just red (usually called Red Gravenstein). The flesh is light yellow, fine-grained, firm, and juicy, with a tart but sweet flavor with hints of honey.
Other Common Names: Grassten Apple, Grav Apples
Origin: An heirloom cultivar from the 1600s in Denmark where it was called the “National Apple”
USDA Growing Zones: 2 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 18 ft tall, 12 – 15 ft spread
Available at: Nature Hills
10. Braeburn Apple – Malus domestica ‘Braeburn’
Braeburn Apples are very popular with both commercial and home growers for their vigorous growth and high yields of crisp apples with a balanced sweetness.
For growers with small gardens, they come in semi-dwarf or dwarf sizes and are fully self-fertile.
They also make a lovely dual-purpose ornamental city tree with their fragrant blossoms and tolerance of urban pollution.
Braeburn apple trees require 700 chill hours to set fruit but also tolerate climates to USDA Zone 9.
They are in Flowering Group 4 and are fully self-fertile, producing large apples that are ready for harvest by mid-October and store well for several months.
They can be eaten fresh or used in baking, sauces, and more.
While self-fertile, yields will be even larger when planted with Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Indian Magic Crabapple.
Braeburn is susceptible to all the major apple diseases and is not drought tolerant, and may require irrigation.
Identifying Features of the Braeburn Apple
Braeburn Apple trees come in dwarf and semi-dwarf sizes.
Fragrant white blossoms appear profusely along the branches in early to mid-spring. They are fully self-fertile, but yields will be higher when grown with a pollinator companion.
Apples are medium to large-sized, rounded, with yellow-green skin with red-orange vertical stripes and blush, but the color intensity will vary with growing conditions and location.
The flesh is firm, creamy white, crisp, and juicy, with a balanced flavor profile of both sweet and tart.
This apple variety has no standout leaf identification features.
Other Common Names: N/A
Origin: A chance seedling selected in 1952 by O. Moran near Motueka, New Zealand. It is a cross between ‘Lady Hamilton’ and ‘Granny Smith’
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 15 ft tall, 10 – 15 ft spread
Available at: Nature Hills
11. Crunch-A-Bunch Apple – Malus domestica ‘4-10’ PP29126
Crunch-A-Bunch Apples are early-ripening yellow apples that also store exceptionally well, up to 8 months when refrigerated, which is unusual for an early yellow apple.
The trees are small, growing to 15 ft tall and wide, produce high yields, and bloom a little later to avoid late-season frosts that can hinder production, but it still produces early mid-season.
The fruit has a tender, yellow skin blushed with pink and crisp, juicy flesh that is sweet-tart with a hint of pineapple. They have won multiple blind taste tests.
Crunch-A-Bunch apples are great for eating fresh or used in baking and cider, and of course, long-term storage for fresh apples all winter.
It has good resistance to Apple Scab and Fire Blight.
Crunch-A-Bunch apples are not self-fertile and are in Flowering Group 2 – 3, pairing well with Fuji, Cortland, Chestnut Crab, Goldrush, or Sweet Sixteen for pollination.
Identifying Features of the Crunch-A-Bunch Apple
Crunch-A-Bunch Apples are small semi-dwarf trees up to 15 ft tall and wide.
Flowers appear early to mid-spring and are not self-fertile, requiring a pollination partner.
Fruits are medium to large-sized with a classic apple shape. Lenticel dots are dark when russeted or may be hard to see against the tender golden-yellow skin blushed with pink.
Apples ripen in summer on a long, thin stem that makes harvest easy.
The flesh is light-textured, juicy, crisp, and sweet-tart with a hint of pineapple.
Other Common Names: Crunch-a-Bunch Reachable Apples
Origin: A newer cultivar selected from an open-pollinated ‘Honeycrisp’ at Lynd Fruit Farm in Pataskala, OH, USA
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 15 ft tall, 12 – 15 ft spread
Available at: Nature Hills
12. Winesap Apple – Malus pumila ‘Winesap’
The Winesap Apple is an old heirloom cultivar originating sometime in the 1700s, available in standard, semi-dwarf, and dwarf sizes.
It is quite cold-hardy, requiring 600 – 800 chill hours, but grows well in both northern and southern climates.
The fruit has a distinctive flavor that resembles spiced wine and makes an excellent cider and baking apple, but it is also delicious when eaten fresh.
Winesap apple trees produce large, reliable crops ready from September to mid-October and will stay fresh and crisp in cold storage for 6 months.
An added bonus is its unique pink flowers that resemble cherry flowers more than apples and can be used as a dual-purpose ornamental and fruit production tree.
It takes 3 – 10 years to bear fruit, depending on the tree size.
Winesap apple trees have moderate disease and rust resistance, and are in Flowering Group 4 and require a pollinator companion like Braeburn, Ghost, or Granny Smith.
Identifying Features of the Winesap Apple
Winesap Apples now come in standard, dwarf, or semi-dwarf sizes with an upright oval shape.
Flowers are often a unique bright pink-red or occasionally the more typical pinkish-white flowers seen in most apple cultivars.
The fruit is medium-sized with deep, cherry-red skin and moderately crisp, tart yellow, juicy flesh tinged with russet and red dots or veining. The flavor is tart, acidic, and uniquely wine-like.
Other Common Names: Stayman Winesap, American Wine Sop, Banana, Hendrick’s Sweet, Holland’s Red Winter, Pot Pie Apple, Red Sweet Wine Sop, Royal Red of Kentucky, Texan Red, and Winter Winesap
Origin: Exact origin is unknown, but it is thought to have come from New Jersey, USA, dating back to the colonial period
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 25 ft tall, 8 – 18 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
13. Cox’s Orange Pippin Apple – Malus pumila ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’
Images via Fast-Growing-Trees – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize
Cox’s Orange Pippin Apple is extremely popular in Great Britain and among apple aficionados worldwide.
Their apples have a rich and distinctive flavor with hints of pear, melon, orange, mango, and honey that infuse every crisp bite.
They make delicious eating apples for cider, juicing, and drying.
Cox’s Orange Pippin apples are ready to harvest from September to November. They do not store well and should be eaten or processed within a few weeks.
The trees require 800 chill hours to set fruit and perform best in cool, mild maritime climates and perform poorly in hot or dry areas.
They are prone to pests and disease; fungicides and insecticides may be necessary to keep the tree healthy.
Without pruning and thinning of fruit, the Cox’s Orange Pippin apple tree will become a biennial bearer.
They’re in Flowering Group 3 and come in partially self-fertile or self-sterile forms. Good pollinator companions include Golden Delicious, Spartan, and Winter Banana.
Identifying Features of the Cox’s Orange Pippin Apple
Cox’s Orange Pippin’ is a small tree available in semi-dwarf and standard sizes that grows vigorously straight and upright with lots of thin branching.
Pink floral buds open to pink-flushed white flowers that are mid-early bloomers and stay in bloom for a long time, sometimes varying from year to year. They come in partially self-fertile and self-sterile forms and require a pollinator partner.
Apples are small to medium in size with deep yellow skin with orange-red blush deepening to bright red mottled with carmine.
The flesh is yellow-white, fine-grained, crisp, and very juicy. It is aromatic with a sprightly subacid flavor with various hints of cherry and anise that become subtler with age, finishing with hints of pear, melon, orange, mango, and honey.
The seeds are held loosely in the apples, and they may make a rattling sound when shaken.
Other Common Names: Cox Apple
Origin: Unknown parentage first grown at Colnbrook in Buckinghamshire, England, by Richard Cox in 1825
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 20 ft tall, 12 – 15 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
14. Arkansas Black Apple – Malus domestica ‘Arkansas Black’
Arkansas Black Apples have apples that are such a dark red they look almost black.
They are fall apples harvested in November when they are hard and sour. They are meant to be stored for at least a month in order to cure before they are eaten. They last several months in cold storage.
Once cured, they become crisp, juicy, and sweet, with a flavor profile boasting hints of cinnamon and sugar. They can be eaten fresh or made into baked goods, sauces, and ciders.
Arkansas Black apple trees require 800 – 900 chill hours to set fruit and can produce fruit the first year after planting. Yields are reliably high each year.
They are triploid trees in Flowering Group 3 and cannot pollinate others, so at least two other varieties will be needed, such as Chestnut Crab, Fuji, or Wolf River, or one self-fertile like Gala or Granny Smith.
Identifying Features of the Arkansas Black Apple
Arkansas Black Apple is a semi-dwarf tree that grows up to a maximum of 15 ft tall.
Flowers are fragrant pinkish-white blossoms blooming in mid to late spring. It is a triploid variety that requires a pollinator and will not pollinate others.
Apples are small to medium-sized, round but often somewhat flattened, and have dark ruby-purple skins that turn nearly black after storage. The skin is thick and smooth, with few lenticels and a waxy sheen. Apples that receive less sun may have a green blush.
The flesh is ivory to yellow in color, fine-grained, firm, crisp, and juicy. They are hard and sour when harvested, but after a month in storage, they become rich, tart-sweet, and tangy with hints of cinnamon, honey, vanilla, almond, and coriander. Flavor varies regionally and with length of time in storage.
Only the Black Diamond Apple is a darker black than this one.
Other Common Names: Cabernet of Apples. Not to be confused with ‘Arkansas’ or ‘Arkansas Black Twig’, which are different cultivars
Origin: From Benton County, Arkansas, sometime in the mid-1800s
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 15 ft tall, 8 – 10 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
15. Pink Lady Apple – Malus domestica ‘Cripps Pink’
Pink Lady Apples are a popular sweet-tart fresh-eating apple often found in grocery stores; I buy them for my kids whenever available. They are also great for baking and canning.
Their yellow-green apples have a pretty pink blush over much of the surface.
Pink Lady apples have a low chill requirement, from 300 – 600 hours, and are heat-resistant, thriving in hotter climates. They are, however, not drought tolerant, so irrigation may be required.
They require a long growing season, blooming early and harvesting late, making them unsuitable for cool temperate climates or areas prone to early fall freezes.
Pink Lady apple trees may require more maintenance and are prone to Fireblight.
Apples are harvested in October and taste best after a few weeks in storage, where they will last for up to 3 months.
They are in Flowering Group 3 and require a pollinator companion such as Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, or Spartan.
Identifying Features of the Pink Lady Apple
Pink Lady Apples are small trees available in semi-dwarf and standard sizes with emerald green leaves.
Creamy white or pale pink blossoms emerge in mid-April and are not self-fertile, requiring a pollinator companion.
Fruits ripen in October and are somewhat ellipsoid in shape, with greenish skin underneath a distinctive pink blush that covers over 80% of the surface area.
The flesh is crisp and sweet-tart.
Other Common Names: Cripps Pink
Origin: Bred from a ‘Lady Williams’ crossed with a ‘Golden Delicious’ by John Cripps at the Western Australia Department of Agriculture
USDA Growing Zones: 6 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 15 – 20 ft tall, 8 – 10 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
16. Red Delicious Apple – Malus domestica ‘Red Delicious’
Red Delicious Apples were the most widely grown apple in the USA for decades until only recently when the Gala surpassed it.
The apples are ready to harvest mid-September to mid-October and are mildly sweet, and make excellent eating apples or for use in sauce. Their flesh does not hold its shape well, making them less popular for pies and crisps.
They store well for 3 – 6 months.
Red Delicious apple trees are highly adaptable and low-maintenance. Irrigation is required in drought-prone areas.
They require 700 – 800 chill hours to set fruit and are biennial bearers, producing a very large crop every second year. Commercial growers sometimes plant their trees a year apart to always have a high yield.
Red Delicious apple trees can take anywhere from 3 – 10 years to set fruit, depending on their size.
They’re in Flowering Group 4 and are self-sterile and pair well with Golden Delicious, Jonathan, Gala, and Ghost.
Identifying Features of the Red Delicious Apple
Red Delicious Apple trees are available in dwarf, semi-dwarf, and standard varieties.
Pink blossoms bloom mid-season into pinkish-white flowers that are self-sterile and require a pollinator companion.
Fruits are medium to large-sized conical pomes that are rounded on top and taper at the base. The skin is thick and turns a bright, rich red that darkens with maturity and has white lenticels dotting the surface.
The flesh is fine-grained, creamy white, crisp, and juicy, with a mild sweetness and hints of melon flavor.
Other Common Names: Hawkeye
Origin: A chance seedling discovered in 1872 on the Jessie Hiatt farm in Madison County, Iowa
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 7(8)
Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 25 ft tall, 8 – 18 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
17. Empire Apple – Malus domestica ‘Empire’
Empire Apples are delicious fresh-eating apples with a flavor profile that is mildly sweet with a hint of tartness and a nice crisp texture.
The apples are also great for sauces, ciders, and freezing and last well in cold storage for a few months or longer in commercial storage.
Fragrant white blossoms appear in early spring, and its rich canopy of leaves turns yellow in the fall, making it a lovely dual-purpose ornamental tree.
Empire apple trees are cold-hardy trees that don’t do well in areas with very hot summers.
They require 200 – 800 chill hours to set fruit and bear fruit 2 – 5 years after planting.
They are resistant to Fire Blight and Cedar Apple Rust.
Left unpruned, Empire apple trees produce prolific tiny apples. Regular pruning and thinning encourage larger apples.
They’re in Flowering Group 3 and are partially self-fertile, pairing well with Cox Orange Pippin, Gala, and Wealthy.
Identifying Features of the Empire Apple
Empire Apples are available in dwarf or semi-dwarf sizes.
Flowers emerge in early spring with fragrant white blossoms.
Lush green leaves turn a pleasing shade of yellow in the fall.
Apples are small to medium-sized with a slightly lopsided, round to ovate shape. The skin is somewhat thick and chewy, with a yellow-green base covered in crimson or brick-red blush, striations, and striping. It is semi-glossy, slightly waxy, with small but conspicuous white lenticels.
The flesh is white to ivory, firm, aqueous, crisp, and crunchy. The flavor is initially sweet, followed by a pleasantly tart and tangy aftertaste.
Other Common Names: N/A
Origin: A clonally propagated cultivar derived from a seed grown in 1945 by Lester C. Anderson at Cornell University from a McIntosh and Red Delicious parentage
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 15 ft tall, 10 – 15 ft spread
Available at: Nature Hills
18. Golden Delicious Apple – Malus domestica ‘Golden Delicious’
Golden Delicious Apples are popular for their crisp, sweet, and juicy golden yellow apples, which are one of the favorite fresh-eating apples worldwide.
The trees are also popular for their ease of growing. They are both cold and heat-tolerant and produce high annual yields with little effort.
Sources vary on the number of chill hours required, from 600 to 1500 hours, but they will successfully fruit in USDA Zone 4 – 9.
Golden Delicious apple trees are disease resistant, lending themselves well to organic growing.
Fruits are harvested from late September to October and can be eaten immediately or stored for 3 – 6 months, providing delicious fresh eating apples throughout the fall and winter.
Golden Delicious are among the few self-fertile apples available and make an excellent pollinator companion for other trees.
They’re in Flowering Group 4, and yields will be increased if grown with Red Delicious, Honeycrisp, or Red Jonathan.
Identifying Features of the Golden Delicious Apple
Golden Delicious Apples are available in dwarf, semi-dwarf, and standard-sized small trees.
Their fully self-fertile fragrant white flowers bloom in mid to late spring. Pollination is increased when grown with a companion tree.
Fruits are large and conical, with tender, thin pale green to golden-yellow skin that sometimes has a faint rose blush.
The flesh is white, crisp, and juicy with a sweet flavor. Grown in cooler climates, the acidity and sweetness increase compared to warmer climates.
Other Common Names: Mullins Yellow Seedling
Origin: A chance seedling on the Anderson H. Mullins farm in Clay County, West Virginia in 1890
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 8 – 25 ft tall, 8 – 18 ft spread
Available at: Fast Growing Trees & Nature Hills
19. Honeycrisp Apple – Malus pumila ‘MN#1711’
Honeycrisp Apples are another popular eating apple for their sweet, crisp flavor. They also work well for dried snacks and use in baking, where they are often paired with a tart apple for making pies and sauces.
This tree is very cold-hardy, doing well in temperatures as low as – 30F or USDA Zone 3, giving delicious options to those in colder climates where the trees are healthy and disease-resistant and can be grown organically.
Honeycrisp apple trees require 800 – 1000 chill hours to set fruit and do poorly in southern climates where they are prone to Fire Blight and fungal diseases.
Apples are harvested from August to September and can be eaten fresh off the tree.
It takes 2 – 5 years to bear fruit and is a heavy producer once established.
Honeycrisp apples are in Flowering Group 4 and are self-sterile, pairing well with Braeburn, Gala, and Red Delicious.
Identifying Features of the Honeycrisp Apple
Honeycrisp Apples are available in dwarf, semi-dwarf, or standard sizes.
Pink floral buds open to pinkish-white flowers in April. They are self-sterile and require a pollinator companion.
Apples ripen in September and are medium to large, roundish, and uniform in shape.
The skin is thin and can be easily bruised, it is semi-glossy with a yellow-green base and a red-orange mottling with pink blush and russet dots and lenticels.
The flesh is ivory to white, coarse-grained, and aqueous. They were bred for their larger cells that give them a crunchy, juice-bursting, snappy texture.
They are aromatic with a good balance of sweet and acid with subtle fruity flavors.
Other Common Names: Honey Crisp Apple, Honeycrunch Apple
Origin: Created in 1960 at the University of Minnesota through apple cross-breeding programs
USDA Growing Zones: 3 – 6* (*Some sources say to Zone 8)
Average Size at Maturity: 8 – 25 ft tall, 8 – 20 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
20. Granny Smith Apple – Malus domestica ‘Granny Smith’
Images via Fast-Growing-Trees and Nature Hills – Combined by Lyrae Willis for Tree Vitalize
Granny Smith Apples are a classic pie apple for their firm, tart flesh that maintains its shape when cooked. While sugar is completely unnecessary, sugar or other sweet apples can be added for those who like a sweeter pie.
The apples are also delicious eaten fresh, dried, or made into cider.
Granny Smith apple trees have a low chill requirement of 400 hours, making them perfect trees for southern climates.
They resist multiple apple diseases, making them suitable for organic growers. They are also highly adaptable to a wide range of soils.
Another bonus of Granny Smith apple trees is they are fully self-fertile, so you can get fruit with only one tree. However, yields will increase if you grow additional Granny Smith, Cox Orange Pippin, Empire, Gala, or Red Delicious. They’re in Flowering Group 3.
Apples are ready for harvest from October to November and can be stored for up to six months in cold storage.
Identifying Features of the Granny Smith Apple
Granny Smith Apples are available in semi-dwarf or standard tree sizes.
Pink floral buds open to pinkish-white flowers that bloom mid-season, usually around mid-May. They are fully self-fertile and can set fruit with only one tree.
The fruits are hard and firm with a light green skin when ripe that will turn yellow when they are over-ripe.
The flesh is crisp and juicy, and the flavor is tart and acidic without any sweetness.
Other Common Names: Green Apple, Sour Apple
Origin: A chance seedling discovered in Eastwood, New South Wales, Australia, in 1868 by Maria Ann Smith, aka ‘Granny Smith’ on her apple orchard
USDA Growing Zones: 5 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 25 ft tall, 8 – 18 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
21. Jonagold Apple – Malus domestica ‘Jonagold’
Jonagold Apples are a hybrid cross between the Jonathon and Golden Delicious and are popular as a heavily producing fall apple that stores well for 2 – 3 months or longer.
These apples ripen from October to November and can remain on the tree for a few weeks, extending your harvest season.
They are great eaten fresh or used in baked goods and cider for their aromatic flavor profile.
Jonagold apple trees have thin, sturdy trunks, wide branches, and showy pink blossoms tthat make them highly ornamental for home growers.
They thrive in cool to mild temperate climates and require about 800 chill hours.
Best grown in full sun, but partial afternoon shade could reduce sunburn in areas with hot summers.
Jonagold trees are susceptible to Apple Scab, Powdery Mildew, and Fire Blight.
They are triploids in Flowering Group 4 and cannot pollinate others. They pair well with Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith.
Identifying Features of the Jonagold Apple
Jonagold Apples are available in standard, semi-dwarf, or dwarf sizes. They have a thin, sturdy trunk with widely spreading branches and many leaves.
Pink floral buds open to lightly fragranced but showy pink-blushed white flowers in mid-spring. The tree is triploid with sterile pollen, so it requires a pollinating partner and cannot pollinate other trees.
Fruits are large and sweet, highly aromatic, with a thin golden yellow to greenish-yellow skin overlain with streaks of crimson.
The flesh is creamy yellow with a good texture and a balanced flavor combination of sweet and tart with hints of honey.
Other Common Names: N/A
Origin: A cross between Golden Delicious and Jonathan apples developed in the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Cornell University in 1953 and released by Roger Way in 1968
USDA Growing Zones: 5* – 8 *some sources say they can be grown in USDA Zone 3 – 8.
Average Size at Maturity: 10 – 25 ft tall, 8 – 18 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
22. Yellow Transparent Apple – Malus domestica ‘Yellow Transparent’
Yellow Transparent Apples are extremely cold-hardy apples (to USDA Zone 2 with protection) that produce high yields in late June or July just five weeks after blooming, making them a favorite in northern climates.
They require 800 – 1000 chill hours to set fruit.
Apples are pale yellow with a tender, juicy, mildly acidic flavor that make fantastic applesauce and apple butter. They also are great for freezing, drying, juicing, and cider.
Fruits are often harvested while still green to extend their short shelf-life; otherwise, they store for only a few weeks.
Yellow Transparent apple trees may become biennial producers if the abundant fruits are not thinned.
They are easy-to-grow trees with a compact, very upright form, making them suitable for smaller gardens.
They tolerate urban conditions and make great dual-purpose ornamental trees.
Yellow Transparent apples are partially self-fertile trees and are in Flowering Group 2, pairing well with McIntosh, Haralson, and Chestnut Crabapple.
Identifying Features of the Yellow Transparent Apple
Yellow Transparent Apples are compact semi-dwarf apple trees with a very upright form with ascending branches and unique yellowish bark, and lots of lush leaves.
Pink floral buds open to fragrant white or pinkish-white flowers in mid-spring.
Fruits are ready in late June or early July and have pale yellow or greenish-yellow skin that can almost appear white sometimes.
The flesh is white, coarse, and a bit crumbly due to its short development time (5 weeks), but still very juicy with a mildly acidic flavor.
Other Common Names: White Transparent, Baltic Sea Apple, Harvest Apple
Origin: A chance seedling found in the Wagner Nursery in Riga, Latvia, around 1850.
USDA Growing Zones: 2 – 7
Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 15 ft tall, 12 – 15 ft spread
Available at: Nature Hills
23. Zestar! Apple – Malus x domestica ‘Minnewashta’
Zestar! Apples are a newer cultivar developed in Minnesota and released in 1999.
These high-quality apples were bred for their delicious flavor and their early harvest (in August) but with an ability to store well. They maintain their taste and delightful crunchiness for up to two months, unlike most other early apples.
Zestar! apples flavor is sweet and tangy with a hint of brown sugar and can be eaten fresh or used in baking.
They are compact semi-dwarf trees that are resistant to Fireblight and Powdery Mildew but are susceptible to Apple Scab.
The Zestar! apple is in Flowering Group 1 and are self-sterile but pair well with Tropical Anna, Dorsett Golden, Yellow Transparent, and Ein Shemer.
Identifying Features of the Zestar! Apple
The Zestar! Apple is a compact semi-dwarf tree.
Forest green leaves turn a pleasant shade of yellow in the fall.
Pink floral buds open to pure white or pink-tinged white lightly scented flowers in early spring. They are self-sterile and require a pollination partner to set fruit.
Fruits are medium-sized and round with yellow or greenish skin with a deep red blush covering 60 – 80% of the surface area.
The flesh is crispy and light with a sweet and tangy taste with a hint of brown sugar. Flavors will intensify when stored at room temperature.
Other Common Names: Minnewashta Apple, Zestar Apple
Origin: Developed at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Horticultural Resource Center at the University of Minnesota and released commercially in 1999.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 15 ft tall, 8 – 10 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
24. Mutsu Apple – Malus domestica ‘Mutsu’
Mutsu Apples, also often called Crispin Apples, are very popular fresh-eating apples that taste delicious picked fresh off the branch.
Their sweet-tart flavor also makes them popular amongst bakers, where their unique texture and coarse-grained flesh hold up well, and their large size means that only a few apples are needed to make a pie.
Mutsu apple trees often produce fruits in the first year of planting and are ready to harvest in September.
They tend to become biennial producers.
Mutsu apple trees are also ornamental with fragrant pinkish-white spring blossoms and can be used in edible landscaping in a wide range of climates.
They are a self-sterile triploid variety in Flowering Group 3 that will not pollinate other trees. It pairs well with Gala, Jonathon, or Red Rome for pollination.
Identifying Features of the Mutsu Apple
Mutsu Apples are semi-dwarf trees that spread as wide as they grow tall.
Flowers are fragrant pinkish-white and appear in mid-spring. They are sterile triploids that cannot pollinate others and require a pollinating partner.
Fruits are large to very large, golden-green or greenish-yellow apples that can be variously round, conical, or oblong and may have unequal sides.
They are aromatic, sweet, and tangy with creamy white juicy flesh.
Other Common Names: Crispin Apple
Origin: A cross between ‘Golden Delicious’ and the ‘Indo’ apple cultivars grown in the Aomori Prefecture in Japan and introduced in 1949.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 8
Average Size at Maturity: 12 – 15 ft tall, 12 – 15 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
25. Blushing Delight Columnar Apple – Malus x ‘UEB 3727-4’
Blushing Delight Columnar Apples were developed for its strongly columnar habit, where fruits are produced on spurs that are held close to the main leader.
They are compact trees that grow to a maximum height of 11 feet tall but only 3 feet wide, small enough to fit in the smallest gardens, including an urban deck, porch, or even on a balcony in an apartment building.
The only catch to urban-growing of these versatile trees is that, like most apples, they are not self-fertile. They must be paired with a pollinator partner like Urban Apples Golden Treat Columnar Apple, Empire, Cortland, or crabapples.
You can even coordinate with a neighbor so that you can both harvest your own delicious fruits using only a minimal amount of space!
Blushing Delight Columnar apple trees are able to grow in a wide range of climates from USDA Zone 4 – 9 and show good disease resistance.
Identifying Features of the Blushing Delight Columnar Apple
The Blushing Delight Columnar Apple is a dwarf narrowly columnar tree that grows to a maximum of 11 ft tall and 3 ft wide.
It produces its flowers and fruit on spurs held close to the main central leader.
Showy clusters of white flowers appear all along the main stem in mid-spring. They are not self-fertile and require a pollination partner.
Fruits ripen in mid-September. They are medium-sized with green or yellow skin that develops a pretty red flush over part of their surface once they mature.
The flesh is sweet and juicy with a delicious classic sweet-tart apple flavor.
Other Common Names: Moonlight Apple, Blushing Delight Urban Apple, Urban Apples Blushing Delight
Origin: It was developed by the late Dr. Jaroslav Tupey in the Czech Republic.
USDA Growing Zones: 4 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 8 – 11 ft tall, 2 – 3 ft spread
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
26. Arctic Apples – Malus domestica cultivars
Arctic Apples are a registered trademark for a group of genetically engineered apples that don’t brown even when they are bruised or sliced.
Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. developed them through gene silencing processes that reduce the expression of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), delaying the onset of browning.
They were approved by the US FDA in 2015 and by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in 2017.
So far, they have developed Arctic Golden, Arctic Granny, and Arctic Fuji apples.
Proponents argue that since they do not need added ingredients to retain their color when fresh or dried, they are better for you.
Opponents opposed to genetic engineering don’t mind eating brownish dried apples or cutting apples fresh when they are ready to eat so they have no time to brown. Lemon juice can also be added to prevent browning.
Time will tell what growers and consumers feel about these new apples.
Identifying Features of the Arctic Apples
No information could be found on the trees, but the fruit and trees will likely resemble the Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Fuji Apples, simply with a silenced gene that prevents them from browning.
Other Common Names: N/A
Origin: Developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits in Summerland, BC, Canada, and approved for sale in 2015 in the USA and 2017 in Canada.
USDA Growing Zones: Depends on the cultivars.
Average Size at Maturity: Depends on the cultivars.
Apple Tree Identification (With Photos)
Identifying Apple Trees by Their Leaf Arrangement
Apple tree leaves are attached to the branches via a petiole (leaf stalk), varying from about 0.4 – 1.4” long. The leaves are deciduous, turning yellow in the fall and dropping off the tree, and returning each spring.
The leaves of apple trees are always arranged alternately on the branches, aiding leaf identification. They have leaves on long shoots with one leaf per node arranged on alternating sides of the stem.
They also have short shoots, also called spurs, off the branches that can appear like false whorls because the leaves are in dense clusters. But if you were to examine the short shoots closely, you would see they are still arranged alternately. The short shoots are also arranged one per node on alternating sides of the branch.
This can help differentiate apples from other trees with opposite leaves, with a pair of leaves per node, with one on each node side, which is never seen in apple trees.
Apple trees also have deciduous stipules at the base of their leaves. These are small leaf-like appendages seen in some plant families. Since they are deciduous, they are present early in the season but may fall off before the leaves change color in the fall.
Identifying Apple Species by Their Leaf Shapes
Apple tree leaves are either elliptic, ovate or broadly elliptic in shape.
Elliptic leaves are widest in the middle and narrow at both ends, like an ellipse. Ovate leaves are egg-shaped and widest at the mostly rounded base and narrow toward the tip.
Their leaves are typically 2 – 4” long and 1.2 – 2.6” wide, although occasionally smaller leaves are seen.
The deciduous stipules at the base of the leaves are small, less than 0.2” long, and they are lanceolate in shape. Lanceolate is like ovate but narrower, with a length-to-width ratio of 3:1 or greater.
Identifying Apple Varieties by Their Leaf Tips (Apex)
One of the characteristics of apple tree leaves is that they almost always have an acute tip. This is where the two sides are more or less straight and come together at an angle of less than 90°.
Their stipules have acuminate tips. This is where the two sides taper inwards before they come together at an often very narrow angle.
Identifying Apple Trees by Their Leaf Base
The bases of apple tree leaves are either broadly cuneate (wedge-shaped, tapering similar to acute) or rounded (having no defined edges or angles).
Apple Identification by Their Leaf Margins
Apple trees have simple (not compound) leaves that are not lobed.
They typically have margins that are obtusely serrate (having wide, sharp, forward-pointing leaves), serrate-crenate, or nearly crenate (having rounded teeth with no sharp edges).
Some apple trees have leaves that have smooth margins without any teeth at all.
Identifying Apple Trees by Their Plant Hairs (Trichomes)
Apple tree leaves, branches, and buds have characteristic hairs on their surfaces that can help to identify a tree as an apple.
Apple trees have hairs on the lower surface of their leaves, especially their new leaves, that are densely puberulent (having short, straight, soft hairs) or sometimes pubescent (like puberulent, but a little longer) or tomentose (having curled hairs that are matted against the surface).
Young leaves tend to have scurfy hairs on their upper surface, mostly in the spring, as they often become hairless once the leaves mature. Scurfy hairs are small scale-like trichomes that are often unevenly distributed and make the surface appear rough.
Their young branches are dark brown or reddish-brown and are densely tomentose, but they become hairless as they mature in the second or third years.
The leaf buds seen in the winter and early spring are dark red or purple, less than 0.4”, ovoid (egg-shaped in three dimensions), and their scale margins are densely puberulent.
Identifying Apple Trees by Their Flowers
Apple trees are part of the rose family (Rosaceae), and as such, they always have flowers with five free petals.
Their flowers are arranged in umbel-like panicles that are held close to the branches. The inflorescences are stalkless without a peduncle (inflorescence stalk).
The flowers themselves are on 0.4 – 1” long puberulous pedicels (the individual flower stalks).
Flowers are 1.2 – 1.6” wide, with a tomentose hypanthium (the floral receptacle or base that holds the petals and the ovary), five free (not joined) spreading petals that are obovate (egg-shaped but widest at the tip), and taper to a claw at the base.
The flowers are always pink while still in bud and may open to white, pinkish-white, or pink flowers, with the appearance depending on the cultivar.
There are also five free sepals (the outer whorl in a flower, also called a calyx) that are also tomentose. The sepals persist in fruit and are found at the base of the apples (see below).
Each flower has 20 stamens in the center. Stamens are the male organs of the flower and are made of a whitish filament (a stalk) and usually yellow anthers (the pollen-producing organs found at the tip of the filaments) that turn brown after pollination is complete. Sometimes cultivars have pink stamens.
Each flower also has five styles in the middle, slightly longer than the stamens, that are connate (joined) at the base only, where they are also gray-tomentose. The tops of the styles are free and have green stigmas on top of them that turn brown after pollination. Stigmas are the female receptive organ of the flower that receives the pollen, and the style directs the pollen down into the ovary, where it will fertilize the ovules to create seeds.
Even though apple flowers have both male and female organs in each flower, they are naturally self-incompatible due to biochemical signals secreted by the pollen tubes growing in the style.
When the pollen has come from the same tree or a closely related tree, the style will recognize it as incompatible, and then the style’s own biochemicals stop the incompatible pollen tube from continuing to grow and completing fertilization. See Growing Apple Trees in Your Garden below for instructions on finding compatible pollination partners.
Identifying Apple Trees by Their Fruits – Pomes
Apple trees all produce fruits that are properly known as pomes.
A pome is an accessory fruit produced by flowering plants in the subtribe Malinae of the family Rosaceae. An accessory fruit contains tissues derived from floral parts other than the ovary.
A pome consists of a central core derived from the ovary, which is made of one to many chambers (carpels from the ovary) containing seeds. Surrounding the core is the accessory tissue or flesh of the apple that we eat. The accessory tissue of a pome is derived either from the floral receptacle or hypanthium.
Apples, pears, and quince are all pome fruits that we routinely eat and the appearance of the fruit often aids in fruit tree identification.
The pomes of apple trees come in various colors, depending on the cultivar and can be useful to identify apple tree species. They can be green, yellow, or red, and they can have stripes or blushes that add additional color. The color, size, and shape of pomes are the best way to identify the different types of apple trees.
Apple pomes also typically have visible dots on their surface called lenticels. Lenticels are small pores in plant surfaces that allow for gas exchange with the atmosphere, a necessary part of photosynthesis. Their lenticels are sometimes different colors or very conspicuous, or barely visible. This can also be used to help identify the different types of apples.
At the bottom of the apple, opposite the stem, are the remains of the persistent sepals.
Identifying Apple Trees by Their Bark
Apple trees all have smooth bark when they are young. Their bark usually has visible horizontal lenticels on the surface, similar to that seen in cherry trees, but usually fewer and more irregularly distributed. Some apples retain smooth bark even when mature.
As the trees mature, their bark often becomes scaly, developing squarish, rectangular, or irregular scaly plates that lift a little at the edges.
Sometimes mature bark will develop mostly vertical shallow furrows (grooves) in their bark separated by slightly taller ridges.
Apple tree bark is usually dark gray or gray-brown when it matures, although rarely, it can take on other colors, which can help to identify the different types of apples.
Identifying Apple Trees by Their Tree Habit or Form
Apple trees are typically grafted. So their habit or form (the shape as seen from a distance) depends on how the tree is grafted onto the rootstock and how it has been pruned since planting.
Apple trees typically come in dwarf (8 – 10 ft tall), semi-dwarf (10 – 15 ft tall), and standard (15 – 25 ft tall) sizes. The sizes are mostly determined by the rootstock they are grafted onto, although standards are often grown on their own rootstock rather than propagated by grafting.
Amazing Apple Trees
Growing Apple Trees in Your Garden
Most apple trees are very easy to grow at home in your garden. They tend to be fairly adaptable, low-maintenance trees.
The main two challenges to growing apples are understanding the chill hours and ensuring they have appropriate pollinator companions.
Understanding Chill Hours for Apple Trees
Most apple trees thrive in cool to mild temperate climates with cold winters.
Apple trees all require a certain number of chill hours in order to break dormancy and bloom and set fruit the following year. If it does not get enough chill hours, the flowers may be delayed or not open at all, and sometimes it also delays leaf production, which hinders the tree’s growth.
Chill hours start accumulating when the daily temperatures remain between 32 – 45 F. Temperatures below 32 F don’t count, and any hours above 60 F need to be subtracted from the total.
Of course, the number of chill hours will vary from year to year and location to location. And the ‘actual’ number of chill hours for a specific cultivar is often variable and debated by experts in the field.
Fortunately, you can usually use the number of chill hours, in combination with your USDA Planting Zones, to determine if a tree will grow at your location.
For example, if you have a tree that says it needs 800 chill hours and is hardy in USDA Zones 4 – 8, then you are certainly safe to grow that tree if you are in USDA Zone 6. If you are in USDA Zone 8b and have shorter winters, you should choose a tree with lower chill hours.
Some trees require very high chill hours, 1200 or more, which will only be suitable for roughly USDA Zones 2 – 6, again depending on the year and location.
Newer cultivars are now available that have been bred for their ‘low chill’ requirement, with some requiring only 100 chill hours. This makes them suitable for growing in USDA Zones 8 – 10, where apple trees previously would grow poorly and often not set fruit.
What Makes Apple Trees Self-Sterile?
Most apple trees are self-sterile, incapable of self-pollination. Some sources say this is because they are dioecious, which is not at all true. Their flowers are perfect, having both male and female organs in the same flower.
However, apple flowers have a built-in self-incompatibility mechanism where biochemical signals secreted by the pollen tubes growing in the style signal their incompatibility if it came from the same tree or a closely related tree. In that case, the style’s own biochemicals it releases will stop the incompatible pollen tube from developing any further, thus preventing self-fertilization.
This is why it is important to research compatible pollinating partners. Simply choosing the same Flowering Group (see below) will not ensure pollination. If you accidentally choose a closely related tree, it may not be a good companion tree.
If the pollen came from a more distantly related tree, then the biochemicals released by the pollen tube will not trigger the style’s own biochemicals to inhibit their growth, allowing it to complete its growth resulting in the fertilization of the ovules.
This means that most apples require another apple cultivar that is not closely related in order to successfully pollinate their flowers and produce fruit.
One final note to mention on self-sterility are cultivars that are triploids, having additional chromosomes in their genomes. Triploid varieties are not self-fertile, but they are also effectively sterile, and their pollen will not pollinate the other trees. This means if you have a triploid variety, you will need a minimum of two other compatible trees or one fully self-fertile tree so that all trees will get pollinated.
Flowering Groups and Pollinator Companion Trees for Apple Trees
Even fully self-fertile varieties like Golden Delicious or Granny Smith will produce much more apples if they are planted with additional apple trees as pollinator companions.
Apple tree varieties all bloom at different times during the spring or sometimes late winter, depending on the location.
That means when you are choosing a pollinator companion for them, you must choose a tree whose bloom time will overlap your other trees’ bloom time; otherwise, successful cross-pollination cannot occur.
The different types of apples are organized into Flowering Groups based on when they bloom. Group 1 contains the earliest bloomers, while Group 7 (rare) is the latest.
Since there is an overlap in flowering times, if you have a tree in Group 3, this does not mean you only can choose from Group 3. In fact, if you want to guarantee pollination, it is best to choose a 2, 3, and 4 since trees can bloom more, less, earlier, or later from year to year.
You can use the chart below to determine which groups can be paired with each other to create successful apple orchards.
| Flowering Group | Pollinated By |
| 1 | 1 and 2 |
| 2 | 1, 2, and 3 |
| 3 | 2, 3, and 4 |
| 4 | 3, 4, and 5 |
| 5 | 4, 5, and 6 |
| 6 | 5, 6, and 7 |
| 7 | 6 and 7 |
Then, of course, you also need to take into account which trees are compatible based on how closely related they are, as well as their climatic requirements and other factors.
To simplify it for you, I created this chart below to help you pick the right pollinating partner(s) for your trees.
Soil, Water, and Light Requirements for Apple Trees
Apple trees tend to be fairly adaptable to a range of soil types from a medium clay to sandy loam, providing they are well-drained and fertile. Some cultivars will handle heavy clay or wetter soils, so be sure to research the cultivars.
Fertile soil is important for apple production. When you plant your tree, be sure to put lots of compost in the soil with it. Then apply a topdressing of compost every spring. However, do not over-fertilize, as it can weaken the tree and make it susceptible to pests and disease.
Most of the time, to get good fruit production, apple trees require full sun. Only a few cultivars will perform relatively well in partial light shade, but that usually still applies to areas with very hot summers where the excess sun can burn the apples.
Choosing the right spot for your tree will help ensure successful establishment and good production. If you pick the right spot with the right amount of sun, drainage, etc., your tree will do well. If you have a less-than-ideal spot, you must choose your cultivar carefully for one that will do well in your conditions.
How to Pick A Tree For Your Yard has more information on choosing the right tree for the right spot.
Harvesting Apples
If you plan to store your apples for long, you need to harvest them when they are mature but still firm, just before the peak of their ripeness. If your apples are already starting to soften on the tree, then they should be eaten or processed right away to prevent spoilage.
If you plan on eating your apples fresh or only storing them for 2 – 3 weeks, then you can leave them on the tree until they are fully ripe and either pick them and eat them fresh from the tree (yummy!) or store them in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
When you are ready to harvest your apples, you can pick them by hand by cupping the apple in your palm and lifting it slightly, then twisting it so the stem breaks off from the branch. Apples that can be picked with their stem intact will last longer in storage.
Inspect your apples for damage, disease, or pests before placing them into cold storage.
In cold storage, they should be inspected every few weeks to ensure none of them have started to go bad.
Apples that have fallen to the ground already should never be placed in storage. The fall to the ground will have bruised the apple and reduced its shelf-life. However, they can still be harvested and either eaten or turned into apple sauce. Either way, they should be dealt with immediately.
Pests and Diseases of Apples
Four main diseases commonly affect apples. Often, resistant cultivars can be chosen if you know that these diseases are particularly troublesome in your area.
Apple Scab is a fungal disease that causes spots on the leaves and fruits and early defoliation. This disease tends to be more prevalent in areas with cool, wet springs. If you have cool and wet springs, it might be a good idea to choose a resistant cultivar.
Cedar Apple Rust is a less serious leaf spot disease that tends to affect apples in areas where juniper trees (Juniperus spp) are found. It tends not to affect the fruits nearly as badly as Apple Scab does, but it can hinder growth and production. If you have junipers in your yard, you may want to choose a resistant cultivar.
Powdery Mildew is a very common fungal disease that appears as a powdery dust that coats the leaves and causes them to develop poorly, hindering growth and production.
The disease is made worse by poor air circulation, humid weather, and proximity to susceptible plants such as roses.
Be sure to plant your trees in full sun with good air circulation, and you generally will not have a problem. However, if you live in a very humid climate or have affected roses nearby, you may want to choose a resistant cultivar.
Fire Blight is a very serious bacterial disease that can be fatal once a tree is infected. Fortunately, it is not as common as the other diseases. If you live in an area that is prone to Fireblight, there are resistant cultivars available.
Avoid pruning in the spring; pruning only when dormant in the late fall or winter. Also, be sure not to over-fertilize. Both of those factors make trees more susceptible to Fireblight.
Interesting Facts About Apple Trees
There are about 7500 varieties of apples grown around the world.
The science of apple growing is called pomology.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the heaviest apple weighed 4 lbs 1oz (1.849 kg) and was grown and picked by Chisato Iwasaki at his apple farm in Hirosaki City, Japan, in 2005.
Most apple trees do not live more than 100 years old. The world’s oldest apple tree may be the Bramley apple tree, planted in 1809 and still living in Southwell, Nottinghamshire.
Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) was a man who went around planting apple seeds to create nurseries. Back in the late 1700s and early 1800s, that meant he could claim the land as his homestead. He then later sold the land and became wealthy, contrary to the stories and images of him as being a poor man spreading apple seeds to help other poor people.
In Chinese culture, the word for apples is pronounced as ‘ping’, which also stands for peace. This is why apples are a favorite gift to give when visiting someone in China.
Freshly cut apples and pressed apple juice turn brown due to oxidation upon contact with air. This can easily be prevented by adding a small amount of lemon or lime juice. The citric acid in the juice prevents oxidation.
A peck of apples weighs 10.5 pounds. A bushel of apples weighs about 42 pounds.
Apple seeds contain small amounts of cyanogenic glycoside, which is poisonous when it gets converted into hydrogen cyanide in the digestive tract. But our bodies can process small amounts of the poison, and you would have to consume a very large amount of crushed or chewed seeds (possibly thousands) before any adverse effects would be seen. There is no record of anyone actually being poisoned by apple seeds.
Human Uses of Apple Trees
Apples are widely grown around the world both residentially and commercially for their delicious fruit.
China produces the most apples globally, followed by Turkey and the USA.
Sometimes apples are used as dual-purpose ornamental landscape borders and specimen trees where the apples are also consumed or left for wildlife to eat.
Wildlife Values Apple Trees Provide
Abundant bees and other pollinators flock to apple trees for their delicious nectar within.
Anyone who has owned an apple tree where bears live knows how much bears love apples. They will climb the trees, often breaking them in the process, to feast on the apples.
Raccoons, deer, birds, and other animals also eat the apples.
Birds, squirrels, and other small animals use the trees for habitat and cover.
I hope that you have enjoyed learning more about apple trees. You can now use your new skills to identify the apples around you and grow them in your own yard to enjoy delicious fruit picked right off the tree. Mmmm, delicious!
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