Gold Rush Apple Malus domestica 'GoldRush'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- MAY-lus doh-MESS-tik-a
- Description
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'GoldRush' apple is an easy to grow late maturing apple cultivar in the Roseaceae (rose) family. It was created through a partnership between Indiana, Illinois, and New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations, using the seed from golden delicious apples pollinated by various apple cultivars. 'GoldRush' was bred to be resistant to apple scab, mildew, and have a mild resistance to fire blight.
Plant in the full sun in well drained soils in zones 5 though 8. This cultivar is grafted onto either a semi-dwarf root stock (M-7) reaching a mature height of 12 to 16 feet tall or a dwarfing root stock (M-26) reaching a mature height of 8 to 12 feet tall. This root stock is resistant to drought once established. This tree is not self fertile so will need other apples in the area for good fruit set and consider supporting mason bee populations to promote pollination.
The frees are erect with a medium to vigorous growth rate, easily developing a central leader and wide crotch angles. Flowerings appear in the spring earlier than 'Enterprise' and after 'Golden Delicious' and the fruits ripen in mid to late October 2 to 3 years after planting. Thinning fruit will produce the best quality large fruits.
'GoldRush' is a late maturing apple with a golden yellow skin color and a "rush" of great flavor, hence the name. The flesh is juicy and sweet, with high acidity, and has a long shelf life if kept refrigerated. The acid in the fruit mellows after 2 to 3 months in cold storage, but it maintains its crisp texture and bright flavor.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Codlign moths can affect fruit quality and aphids are sometimes a pest on the leaves. More resistant to diseases than other apples. Susceptible to sooty blotch and some susceptibility to cedar apple rust.
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:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Mason bees pollinate the flowers.
- Edibility:
- Fruits are highly edible used as a winter dessert apple fresh, in pies or crisps, or juiced into cider. It has good storage ability.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Ovate to round 3" in diameter green-yellow skin with some bronze to red blush at maturity and prominate lenticles. Then turns deep yellow after storage. Skin is non-waxy, flesh is medium to coarse grained, acidic, and bright but mellows after storage, resists growing with a complex spicy flavor. Seeds are black-brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Rose to magenta fading to white margins appear in April
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Doubly Serrate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Simple, alternate, ovate to oval, serrate to double serrate margins, tips acute to acuminate, base acute to rounded. Petioles have red pigmentation which is more prevalent with sun exposure.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Drought
