Malus domestica
- Phonetic Spelling
- MAY-lus doh-MESS-tik-a
- Description
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The common apple is native to Central Asia and Afghanistan, now grown worldwide for its crisp, crunchy fruit. Many cultivars exist with differences in color, flavor, and recommended food use. While they grow tall from seed, many apple trees you can buy are grafted with dwarfing rootstocks so they maintain a much smaller size. Varieties have different chilling hour requirements so be sure to choose the right one for your area.
Most apple varieties produce better if another variety is planted nearby. They are generally easy to grow and tolerate a variety of soils. Grow in full sun to partial shade. They will need a regulate spraying program to prevent disease and pest damage.
Problems, Pests and Diseases: A wide range of pests and diseases can affect this tree. Three of the more common diseases or pests are mildew, aphids, and apple scab. Other diseases are fire blight and black spot. Other pests are coding moths and apple maggots.
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 "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Vegetable Garden- Raised Beds
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Empire'
semi-Dwarf cultivar, a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious apple 'Fuji'
Dwarf at 8 to 10 feet or semi-dwarf at 12 to 15 feet; cross between Red Delicious and old Virginia Ralls Genet 'Gala'
Dwarf at 8 to 10 feet or semi-dwarf at 12 to 15 feet with a mild, sweet, and sometimes slightly tart flavor 'Ginger Gold'
Semi-dwarf, 12 to 15 feet; early ripening (mid-July in North Carolina) 'Golden Delicious'
Heavily producing; apples ripen in September in North Carolina 'Jonagold'
Fruit is crimson red stippled with yellow-gold; ripens mid-Sept through October 'Mutsu'
Late season producer 'Red Delicious'
Most widely planted apple tree in North America 'Rome'
A cooking or baking apple; late ripening apple 'Stayman'
Can consistently bear apples if no conditions like freezing or late frosts happen - 'Empire', 'Fuji', 'Gala', 'Ginger Gold', 'Golden Delicious', 'Jonagold', 'Mutsu', 'Red Delicious', 'Rome', 'Stayman'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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'Empire'
semi-Dwarf cultivar, a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious apple 'Fuji'
Dwarf at 8 to 10 feet or semi-dwarf at 12 to 15 feet; cross between Red Delicious and old Virginia Ralls Genet 'Gala'
Dwarf at 8 to 10 feet or semi-dwarf at 12 to 15 feet with a mild, sweet, and sometimes slightly tart flavor 'Ginger Gold'
Semi-dwarf, 12 to 15 feet; early ripening (mid-July in North Carolina) 'Golden Delicious'
Heavily producing; apples ripen in September in North Carolina 'Jonagold'
Fruit is crimson red stippled with yellow-gold; ripens mid-Sept through October 'Mutsu'
Late season producer 'Red Delicious'
Most widely planted apple tree in North America 'Rome'
A cooking or baking apple; late ripening apple 'Stayman'
Can consistently bear apples if no conditions like freezing or late frosts happen - 'Empire', 'Fuji', 'Gala', 'Ginger Gold', 'Golden Delicious', 'Jonagold', 'Mutsu', 'Red Delicious', 'Rome', 'Stayman'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Malus
- Species:
- Domestica
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Grafting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central Asia to Afghanistan
- Distribution:
- Worldwide
- Edibility:
- Fruits can be eaten raw and cooked in a variety of dishes.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- 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
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Pome
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Large, round, firm fruits that often have a waxy coating. Some varieties ripen late summer and some in the fall.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The 1 to 1 1⁄2 in. flowers are white with a pink tinge that gradually fades, five-petaled, with an inflorescence consisting of a cyme with 4–6 flowers. The central flower is called the "king bloom", opens first and can develop a larger fruit.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Entire
- Serrate
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Very variable leaf shape and size. Underside has raised veins and may or may not be pubescent.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Lenticels
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Looks similar to prunus species, grey and smooth with raised lenticels.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Small dwarf shoots line the stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
