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Malus domestica 'Golden Delicious'

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
MAY-lus doh-MESS-tik-a
Description

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.   

More information on Malus domestica.

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Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#native fruit tree#food source fall
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#full sun tolerant#native fruit tree#food source fall
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Hairs Present:
    No
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Meadow
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Design Feature:
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies