Malus domestica 'Golden Delicious'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- MAY-lus doh-MESS-tik-a
- Description
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The Golden Delicious apple tree is a heavily producing cultivar, bearing from the trunk out which means you need to thin the fruit to avoid biennial bearing and fruit drop. Although this apple tree is classed as self-pollinating, having a nearby pollinator can increase fruit production. Pollinating trees include Red Delicious, Honeycrisp, or Empire.
The size of the tree depends on whether you select a a dwarf, 8 to 10 feet, or a semi-dwarf, 12 to 15 feet, variety. This cultivar is heat-tolerant and cold-hardy.
The Golden Delicious apple ripens in mid-September in North Carolina. The taste is sweet and crisp and is often used for baking as well as fresh eating. It is a popular home orchard cultivar.
Soil type needed is average to loamy but it responds to enriched soil with better production. Apple trees do best with a slightly acidic soil pH in the range of 5.0 to 6.8.
Fruit production will respond best to full sun and air movement around the tree and through its branches. It is not recommended to place the tree near taller trees or structures that would shade it for a few hours each day. In summary, air movement, sunlight, and good soil and drainage all lead to a healthy, productive tree.
This tree is prone to apple scab. It may also be susceptible to powdery mildew, apple canker, or honey (root) fungus.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common apple and crab apple diseases and other plant problems.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Malus
- Species:
- domestica
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- United States, W. Virginia
- Wildlife Value:
- pollinator in spring
- Edibility:
- The fruit is large and yellow-green skinned. Crisp, juicy and sweet. It is good for eating, baking, making sauce, salads and apple butter. It usually ripens in late September.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is large and starts out as pale green, becoming a gold-green when ripe. The apple is crisp, juicy and sweet, usually ripening in late September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers bloom in clusters in spring. The buds are pink, opening to white flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
