Apple Tree Malus domestica, Rose Family ( Rosaceae ), Commonly Known As: Apple Tree. AKA: Orchard Apple Tree, Apple Tree Domestic. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. The apple is the pomaceous fruit or "pome" of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family (Rosaceae). It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of the genus Malus that are used by humans. In botany, a "pome" (named after the Latin word for fruit: pomum) is a type of fruit produced by flowering plants in the subfamily Maloideae of the family Rosaceae. A pome is an accessory fruit composed of one or more carpels surrounded by accessory tissue. The accessory tissue is interpreted by some specialists as an extension of the receptacle and is then referred to as "fruit cortex", and by others as a fused hypanthium or "torus." In layman's terms, "it is the most edible part of this fruit". Although the exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp of some of the other fruit types look very much like the skin, flesh, and core respectively of a pome, they are actually parts of the carpel. The exocarp and mesocarp of a pome may be fleshy and difficult to distinguish from one another and from the hypanthial tissue. The endocarp forms a leathery or stony case around the seed, and corresponds to what is commonly called the core. The shriveled remains of the sepals, style and stamens can sometimes be seen at the end of a pome opposite the stem, and the ovary is often called inferior in these flowers. The apple tree is thought to have originated in Western Asia, perhaps in eastern Turkey, where its wild ancestor, the Alma, is still found today. There are more than 7,500 known cultivars of apples, resulting in a large range of desired characteristics. Cultivars vary in their yield and the ultimate size of the tree, even when grown on the same rootstock. The apple tree is thought to be the earliest tree to be cultivated, and its fruits have been improved through selection over thousands of years. Alexander the Great is credited with finding dwarfed apples in Kazakhstan in Asia in 328 BCE. It is said that he brought them back to Macedonia and that they may have been the progenitors of the dwarfing root stocks. The apple forms a tree that is small and deciduous, reaching between 9.8 to 39 feet tall, with a broad, often densely wide branching crown. The crown is either spherical or ovoid. It's shoots remain pubescent for a long time. It's buds are ovoid-conical. The apple tree leaves are alternate, simple, with a serrated margin, 5-10 cm long, ovoid, with pointed peak, and a rounded or slightly heart-shaped base, crenate-serrate, pubescent. It's leafstalk is no more than 1/3 of the blade length. The corolla of the apple is it's inner set of leaflike parts lying just within the calyx and composed of petals The 5 petals of it's flower or it's corolla is considered perfect, it is white or pinkish in color, and 0.98 to 1.4 inches in diameter. It usually has red stamens that produce copious pollen, and they have a half-inferior ovary Generally speaking, the apple tree fruits usually differ in shape, size (usually more than 1 1/4 inches in diameter) (some up to 3 to 4 inches in diameter) , color, texture, time of maturity, and storage quality. It's fruits can have a sour, sour-sweet or sweet taste. The average weight of it's fruit is about 150-160 g, but sometimes reaches 600 g (Antonovka Polutorafuntovaja) and even 900 g (Aport Alexandr). The center of it's fruit contains five carpels arranged star-like, each containing one to two (rarely three) seeds. The fruit is considered a globose pome. Generally speaking apple trees produce flowers in April - June, they bear fruit in August - October, sometimes through December. Generally speaking apple trees grow and bear good fruit on loamy and sandy loam soils, as well as on sandy soils with the addition of organic fertilizations. Normally their growth and development on saline, swampy and peaty soils is not good. Their life expectancy averages about 60 - 70 years. Large-fruited varieties, as a rule, grow better in the southern USA. Apple trees are usually offered by nurseries in 3 distinct sizes. Dwarf varieties get to be 5 to 8 feet tall, semi-dwarf varieties are usually 12 to 16 feet tall, and standard varieties get between 20 and 30 feet tall. The size variations allows for apple trees to be planted in small spaces and easier harvesting. When selecting an apple tree, the climatic zone the tree is going to grow in is an important factor. When selecting an apple tree, after you consider where it will grow best, consider it's taste. Fresh fruit is simply better and tastier than the bin stored commercial apples that are sold in supermarkets. After all, it's taste is the most important thing to you! Here Are Some Of The More Popular Eating Types Of Apples: The Anna Apple Tree, Malus domestica 'Anna': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is an apple tree that produces fruit that is attractive, medium sized, bright red, and has firm, white, juicy flesh that is sweet and somewhat spicy. Anna Apple Tree, Malus domestica 'Anna', is a decorative tree that produces edible fruit early in the summer. It�s especially well-suited for warmer climates and would do well in a sunny location near your home�s windows, lining your driveway�or anywhere you�re sure to enjoy every minute of its transition from flower to fruit. There�s nothing like the smell of apple blossoms heralding the spring, and your Anna Apple tree will bring that delicate aroma to you early in the season when its branches burst forth in a profusion of petite, pink-tinted blossoms. Anna�s display will be a sight to see in your yard each spring, followed by yet another exciting vision as those flowers transition to delicious fruit. The green-tinted, yellow skin of your Anna apple sports a hearty, red blush and the flesh is a taste sensation right off your tree! In its early stages, Anna has been compared to a Grammy Smith. However, as it ripens, Anna increases in sweetness. Anna apples even store well for one to two months (depending upon the storage method), and are terrific used for such culinary delights as apple pancakes, apple pie and a large variety of other tasty treats. Anna Apple Tree will grow up to 30 feet tall with a 30 foot spread. It was developed in Israel and has a low chill requirement that allows it to be grown in warmer climates, where growing apple trees can sometimes be problematic. It will begin to fruit at an early age. It has a semi-spreading nature and is self-fertile (although having another pollinator, such as Dorsett nearby is recommended for optimal performance). Apple trees are always a welcomed sight at any home, and Anna is an exceptional choice, (especially if you live in a warmer climate). Early to flower and fruit, the Anna Apple tree won�t make you wait long before you�re enjoying the many benefits it has to offer. The Arkansas Black Spur Apple, Malus 'Arkansas Black': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high, late season apple fruit tree. It is a very late maturing variety grown primarily in the Southeast. The distinctive dark red skin encases a high quality fruit even where summer nights are warm. Use this apple for dessert and cooking. This is a great variety to add in a cider blend, providing a high acid, spicy flavor. They have an excellent storage life. They keep for many months. Arkansas Black blooms in mid-season and is a great pollinator for early blooming apple varieties, varieties blooming in the middle of the season, and varieties blooming late in the season. The Arkansas Black apple tree requires a pollinator in order to bear fruit. We suggest the following other apple trees as pollinators: Golden Delicious Apple, Granny Smith Apple and Dolgo Crabapple. Grows Best In Zones Zones: 5 - 9. The Braeburn Apple, Malus 'Braeburn': Root Stock, Dwarf Bud 9, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Dwarf 8 - 10 feet high, or a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high, with a a sweet flavor balanced with a moderate tartness that produces a unique blend. The texture is crisp and firm and juicy. The under color is yellowish green and is shaded by a broadly red-striped color pattern. Braeburn apples are an old-fashioned sweet apple with a smooth and crisp texture. It's great for snacks and salads. It is a late season apple with a long storage life. Its eating qualities make it adaptable for cooking as well as fresh use. Grows Best In Zones Zones: 4 - 10. The Fuji, Malus 'Fuji': Root Stock, , Dwarf Bud 9, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Dwarf 8 - 10 feet high, or a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high, it is just about the best eating apple ever: candy-sweet, crisp, firm-textured and juicy. There is nice color variety in this medium-sized apple, from yellow-green with red streaks to mostly red, and it is America�s first choice for fresh use in salads, or just eating out of hand. It�s also the latest-ripening southern apple and is a prolific producer, bearing 8-10 bushels of fruit from just one tree. Fuji's need full sun and well-drained soil in a climate where the winters are relatively mild. The fruit takes about 160 days to ripen, and then another 300-500 chill hours for dormancy. Fuji's are self fertile however you will achieve better quality fruit if you allow it to be pollinated by another tree. Fuji's bloom in mid to late spring and can be planted with other late-season varieties such as Gala and Granny Smith. Deer will help keep fallen fruit off the ground. This is one of our best producers in Yarnell, Arizona. Grows Best In Zones Zones: 6 - 9. Yarnell is Zone 8a. The Gala, Malus 'Gala': Root Stock, , Dwarf Bud 9, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Dwarf 8 - 10 feet high, or a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high, blends modern and old-fashioned parentage.The Gala matures to a bright overall red color, with bold red stripes over a yellow background. The fruit is firm, juicy, fine textured, with a yellow white flesh. The Gala is sweet, with a slightly tart flavor. It is a highly coveted apple by the consumer, with great bouquet, flavor and color. It is aromatic with a very sweet flavor and it has a crisp and firm texture. The Gala ripens early and stores very well (shelf life-6 months in regular storage). The Gala, a fresh fruit delight, is very much in demand for fresh salads and it's got the mild flavor that "picky eaters" prefer and a striking bright yellow-red color that attracts the eye! A very good tasting close relative of the Gala is the "Royal Gala," which is a cultigen made from a sport of the Gala apple in the 1970's. It is a pink-red dessert apple and is therefore usually eaten fresh. Royal Galas are usually harvested in early to late February in the southern hemisphere. This is also one of our best producers in Yarnell, Arizona. Grows Best In Zones Zones: 4 - 10. Yarnell is Zone 8a. The Cameo, Malus domestica "Cameo": Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: Geneva (G.) 16, M.9-NAKBT337 (M.9-337), and B.9, is a Semi-Dwarf: 12 - 14 feet high. Cameo is the fastest-growing apple variety in the country. Only introduced in 1998, super-sweet, super-crunchy Cameo has already become America�s new favorite apple. A year-round variety. By reducing the emphasis on the red color � which tends to produce a thick-skinned, mealy apple � they were able to keep the skin ultra thin, the flavor a perfect combination of sweet and tart, and the flesh extra-crunchy. It all started when Darrel Caudle planted a new apple tree in his orchard in Dryden, WA, near Wenatchee. As the tree grew, he noticed that the apples were different from all the others. Instead of the solid color he was expecting, they were striped red with a cream background. One taste of the flavorful, crunchy flesh and the tender, thin skin of this orchard interloper and he knew for absolute sure that this was a completely different apple than the others in his orchard! Little did Darrel imagine at the time that the fruit from his �chance seedling� would grow into an apple so revolutionary that he would later register it for a trademark and name it �Cameo.� Today all Cameo trees are descended from Darrel�s seedling, which is still producing fruit in his hillside orchard. This family of trees is an industry celebrity, drawing apple aficionados, growers and nurserymen from all over the world to see the very first Cameo planting that started the whole new variety that would become America�s new favorite apple. Its parentage is uncertain; it may be a cross between a Red Delicious and a Golden Delicious, since it was found near orchards of those fruits; it also appears similar to the original Delicious cultivar. It is bright red striped over creamy orange, firm and crisp with an aromatic flavor. It is rapidly becoming a favorite, and is now among the top ten most grown apples in Washington Cooking Light magazine ranked Cameo as one of the best apple varieties in its 2002 Apple Pageant! We have two Semi - Dwarf Cameo trees in our garden in Yarnell, Arizona and they never fail to produce wonderful, delicious apples! Grows Best In Zones Zones: 4 - 8. Yarnell is Zone 8a. The Golden Delicious, Malus 'Golden Delicious': Dwarf Bud 9, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Dwarf 8 - 10 feet high, or a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. Golden Delicious is one of the world�s most widely-planted apple trees because of its hugely popular fruit, and is also one of the easiest and most dependable to grow. The tree is open and spreading, easy to trim and train, and will produce heavy annual yields if properly thinned. It blooms mid-late season, ripens in early September, then needs 600 to 700 chill hours. The apple�s firm white flesh retains its shape when baked/cooked, but it�s also a favorite fresh-eating apple because it�s so sweet and crisp. The skin is very thin, meaning you can often skip peeling chores altogether. Plant the tree in average well-drained soil, out of frost pockets, in full sun. This is a self-fruitful tree however the best fruit is produced with a pollinator. The best choices: a Crabapple or a Red Delicious; in turn, Golden Delicious is an excellent pollinator for other apple trees. Grows Best In Zones Zones: 5 - 10. The Granny Smith, Malus 'Granny Smith': Root Stock, Dwarf Bud 9, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Dwarf 8 - 10 feet high, or a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. The Granny Smith apples have been cultivated for at least 140 years. If you crave and enjoy a juicy burst of tartness, this apple is for you. This glorious tree has handsome supermarket-size (up to 3" diameter) apples. Granny Smith is known for keeping its zesty flavor even when it is used for cooking or saut�ed. Granny Smith apples ripen and are ready for picking in late October or early November. Grows Best In Zones: 6 - 9. The Gravenstein Apple or Red Gravenstein, Malus 'gravenstein': Root Stock, Dwarf Bud 9, is a Dwarf 8 - 10 feet high. It is firm, snappy, light green with red stripes and a wonderful distinctive flavor. Gravenstein Apple (Red Gravenstein) is an improved strain of the old favorite cooking apple with darker red stripes. It has an excellent quality and famous for sauces, baking and fresh use. Pick your apples frequently because they have uneven ripening. This can be somewhat controlled by heavy pruning. The Red Gravenstein is a hardy variety and can withstand difficult conditions. It requires pollination from another variety: Empire, Fuji, Gala, or Red Delicious. Grows Best In Zones Zones: 2 - 9. The Haralson Apple, Malus 'Haralson': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. It is a hardy substitute for Golden Delicious developed especially for cold northern areas. It has the Golden Delicious flavor, but the Haralson hardiness. It has medium to large golden to greenish fruit with a very smooth finish and reddish bronze blush. The Haralson has a round-conic shape. It has a red color and large, moderately conspicuous dots. Haralson apples are crisp and juicy, having a tart flavor. They are good for eating, cooking, and are an excellent choice for pies. The skin is medium-tough, and the stem is medium. Its flavor is sweeter and more bland than Golden Delicious. High quality and superior storage qualities since it can be stored into March. It often bears fruit the first year after planting. Plant about a month after the first killing frost in the fall or about a month before the last killing frost in the spring. Select a planting site that has good air, drainage, full sunlight and deep, well drained soil. Grows Best In Zones Zones: 2 - 7. The Honeycrisp Apple, Malus 'Honeycrisp': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. Honeycrisp fruit is characterized by an exceptionally crisp and juicy texture. Its flesh is cream colored and coarse. The flavor is sub-acid and ranges from mild and well-balanced to strongly aromatic, depending on the degree of maturity. Great eating apple with its subacid flavor. Develops its full aromatic flavor if left on the tree until mid October. The Honeycrisp apple is a high quality apple which keeps well for 5-6 months in common storage. The tree is one of the most vigorous and hardy of apple trees, showing little damage at -40 degrees. Needs to be thinned heavily. Suggested pollinators are Gala, Granny Smith, Empire, McIntosh and Red Delicious. Not pollinated by Gravenstein. Grows Best In Zones: 3 - 8. The Jonagold Apple, Malus 'jonagold': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. The Jonagold apple is yellow with red-orange blush. Jonagold Apple has a superb flavor - a connoisseurs' choice because it has excellent cooking properties. Fresh it is firm, cracking, juicy, slightly tart flesh with rich, full flavor. It is a cross of Jonathan and Golden Delicious. The tree is handsome, sturdy, vigorous and spreading; annually productive. The apples ripen from mid-September to late October, depending on the location. This apple needs 700-800 hours of chilling. It will store in refrigerator for three months. Pollinated by Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith or Red Delicious, but not Golden Delicious. Grows Best In Zones: 5 - 8. The Liberty Apple, Malus 'Liberty' is a Semi-Dwarf: 14 - 18 feet high. The Liberty Apple is a deep dark red color over 90 per cent of the surface. The red is striped rather than blushed. The shape of the fruit is oblate to oblate conic, and the size averages 2 3/4 to 3 inches, although it may be smaller on heavily cropping trees. There are numerous light colored small sunken dots on the surface of the fruit. The flesh is yellowish in color, and the apple is juicy, crisp, and fine. The flavor is subacid and good. 'Liberty' is considered to be primarily a dessert apple. It makes an excellent applesauce if the skin is left on. Liberty Apple is a new disease resistant apple, and the name 'Liberty' denotes the freedom from disease. Since it is not resistant to insects, spraying or other means of insect control must still be used. Plant about a month after the first killing frost in the fall or about a month before the last killing frost in the spring. Select a planting site that has good air, drainage, full sunlight and deep, well drained soil. Grows Best In Zones: 4 - 7. The McIntosh Apple, Malus 'McIntosh': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. The McIntosh apple is a early and heavy producer. The flesh is white, soft and fine-textured. The flavor is distinctively sweet and aromatic. The McIntosh has a rather tough skin that has mixed red and green coloring. It's a favorite apple for eating out of hand but also is widely used in salads, sauces, pies. It is a mainstay in fresh cider and an all-time favorite for fresh eating and salads. It has a large fruit and is used in juice, pies, and eating raw. The McIntosh is partly self-fruitful, or suggested pollinators are Red Delicious, Gala, or any other apple tree. Grows Best In Zones: 4 - 7. The Mollies Delicious Apple, Malus 'Mollies Delicious': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. It is rated one of the best Red Delicious type apples on the market. Mollies Delicious apples are good for fresh eating, pies, and sauces. The fruit is sweet, flavorful and very aromatic. This apple matures in mid-season and is very productive, vigorous tree. Suggested pollinators are Fuji, Granny Smith and Beverly Hills. Grows Best In Zones: 5 - 8. The Mutsu Apple, Malus 'gravenstein': Root Stock, Dwarf Bud 9, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Dwarf 8 - 10 feet high, or a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. It is moderately sweet flavor with firm, juicy and cramy white flesh. Its skin color is a yellowish green with an orange blush. The Mutsu apple is also known as Crispin. This apple is vigorous, fairly early, and the fruit is large and oblong shaped. It is excellent for fresh eating, sauces, pies, and baking. This apple stores and keeps well. Grows Best In Zones: 4 - 8. The Northern Spy Apple or Red Spy, Nortern Red Spy Apple, Malus 'northern spy': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-7, is a Semi-Dwarf 12 - 20 feet high. It is large, round, often flattened; the skin is greenish yellow with striped pinkish red with a delicate bloom, and occasional russet patches. This apple is rather firm, aromatic and has a subacid flavor. It is an excellent all purpose apple, but is not good for drying or making apple cider. It is very tender, finely grained, crisp, juicy, tart and late maturing. Northern Spy is remarkably fresh after a long storage period. Northern Spy is a very large, upright, vigorous grower, and productive. It tends to bear biennially. It blooms late in the season and takes about 12 years to bear fruit. Ripens in late October. Needs a pollinator such as Golden Delicious. Grows Best In Zones: 4 - 7. The Pink Lady� (Cripps Pink Variety) Apple, Malus 'Pink Lady': Root Stock, Dwarf Bud 9, Semi-Dwarf: M-7, is a Dwarf 8 - 10 feet high, or a Semi-Dwarf: 12 - 20 feet high. This late-ripener is native to Western Australia, a cross between a Golden Delicious and Lady William. An apple tree especially for hot climates! It is large, crisp, and sweet-tart, with a pretty pink blush, over its golden-yellow peel. Many people think the taste is similar to � but better than � a Granny Smith. It�s good for eating, baking and canning. Pink Lady� does not russet, and is resistant to apple scab. A added bonus: it won�t turn brown after slicing. Locate your apple trees on a site with full to part sun, and moist, average soil with good drainage. It doesn�t need a pollinator, but it does need a long season to ripen; harvest is from late September through early October. Grows Best In Zones: 6 - 9. The Pink Pearl Apple, Malus domestica 'Pink Pearl': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. Pink Pearl is an apple that is generally medium sized, with a conical shape. Pink Pearl has a translucent, yellow-green skin, and a crisp, juicy flesh with tart to sweet-tart taste. This apple has a secret: inside, it is positively vampy, with startling bright pink, sweet-tart flesh. Even the blooms are bright pink! The fruit is crisp and tastes of raspberries and lemon custard. It is a wonderful table apple and makes a beautiful pink applesauce. Pink Pearl apples ripen in late August to mid-September. Suggested pollinators are any other apple tree or crabapple tree. Grows Best In Zones: 4 - 8. The Red Delicious Apple, Malus 'Red Delicious': Root Stock, Dwarf Bud 9, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Dwarf 8 - 10 feet high, or a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. The Red Delicious apple is America�s favorite snacking apple.The Red Delicious is also the most widely grown variety of apple in the world! Red Delicious apples look great for a long time so they are the favored choice for holiday centerpieces and wreaths. The fruit keeps fresh very well and can be found year around in stores. Red Delicious apples have firm, white or cream white flesh that is juicy, aromatic, sweet tasting. The heart shaped fruit is bright red and sometimes exhibits some red striping. It is crunchy with a mildly sweet flavor. They are best eaten raw because of their thick skin. The Red Delicious is widely used in salads. Suggested pollinators are Granny Smith, Liberty, Golden Delicious, Fuji and Gala. Grows Best In Zones: 4 - 7. The Red Jonathan Apple, Malus x domestica: Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. The Red Delicious apple is America�s favorite snacking apple.The Red Delicious is also the most widely grown variety of apple in the world! Red Jonathan is a round to flat, conical, medium shaped apple. Its skin is bright red with a stripe over 50�75% of its surface. Red Jonathan has a crisp flesh, that is sweet and juicy with a tang. Refrigerated storage time: 120 days. Grows Best In Zones: 4 - 8. The Spartan Apple, Malus x 'spartan': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 25 feet high. The Spartan Apple is highly aromatic, crisp, juicy, fine flavored, and early maturing. It is a McIntosh-type dessert apple, but firmer. It also is a better keeper and tends to ship better. The apple has pure white flesh and is medium sized with beautiful dark red skin. It does harvest early like the Red Delicious. It keeps several months and has a lesser tendency to premature drop like the McIntosh. The estimated chilling time is 800-1000 hours. It is resistant to scab, mildew and fireblight. Spartan is a heavy bearing tree, winter hardy and precocious. It is self-fruitful, but a larger crop is produced if cross-pollinated by Lodi, Wealthy, or Liberty. Grows Best In Zones: 4 - 8. The Spitzenburg Apple, Malus 'spitzenberg': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 25 feet high. The Spitzenburg Apple (Esopus) was one of the favorites of Thomas Jefferson. It is thought of as a dessert apple for connoisseurs. The Spitzenburg Apple has firm, crisp, fine grained, with a rich, aromatic, renowned flavor. Its size is medium to large, with round-conical, orangish fruit with tough skin. The flesh is tinged yellow, firm, aromatic, and complex in flavor; a perfect balance between sharp and sweet. Spitzenburg ripens in October and hangs on until November. This apple improves with storage and is best at Christmas time. The tree has a slender growth habit with long willowy limbs. A pollinator is required by mid-season blooming apples (not pollinated by Gravenstein), and it is hardy in Zones 4-8. Uses: as fresh eating or as a dessert, cooking (puree, applesauce, apple butter), and baking. Grows Best In Zones: 4 - 8. The Winesap Apple, Malus 'Winesap': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. The Winesap apple is an old apple variety. It is still one of the leading strains being grown in the US. Winesap apples are good for eating, juice, and baking. Juicy and tart, the Winesap apple has a crisp, yellowish flesh covered with a deep red skin. This all-purpose apple has good keeping qualities. The fruit is good sized. The flesh is tinged with yellow and sometimes red veins run through it. It is a firm, rather coarse, moderately crisp apple with a sprightly, medium acid taste. It is resistant to russeting. This is a pollen sterile tree and requires a pollinator. Suggested pollinators are Red or Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala and Liberty. Grows Best In Zones: 5 - 8. The Wolf River Apple, Malus 'Wolf River': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. The Wolf River apple is an old apple variety. is best known for its large size, which can grow up to 5" diameter fruit. This is one enormous apple! The fruit is so large that some have said that just one apple can make a pie! These huge fruits have been prized for years for baking, applesauce, and apple butter. Weighing up to 1 pound each, the apple is pale yellow to green with carmine-red blushes and stripes. It is thick-skinned, tart, and aromatic. The Wolf River apple is scab and mildew resistant and very winter hardy. An old variety, it is long lived and ripens mid-September to early October in Zone 5. Wolf River is a midseason apple grown best in northern climates. Plant about a month after the first killing frost in the fall or about a month before the last killing frost in the spring. Select a planting site that has good air, drainage, full sunlight and deep, well drained soil. Grows Best In Zones: 3 - 9. The Yellow Newton Pippin Apple, Malus domestica 'Yellow Newton Pippin': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. The Yellow Newton Pippin Apple is more flavorful and holds its shape better than any other pie apple. Green with yellow highlights, this snappy, tart treat is an excellent eating apple. This all purpose apple is sweeter than Granny Smith, and it is unparalleled for cooking and baking. If you like apple pie, this is the apple for you! This vigorous tree is generally late blooming, and it needs full sun, well-drained soil, and moderate fertility. It is best to thin fruit to maximize quality and size. Yellow Newton stores well and is self fertile. For peak flavor and acid/sugar balance, wait until harvest when cheeks are yellowish-green. Grows Best In Zones: 5 - 8. The Yellow Transparent Apple, Malus 'Yellow Transparent': Root Stock, Semi-Dwarf: M-111, is a Semi-Dwarf: 15 - 20 feet high. The Yellow Transparent Apple has a skin that is clear yellow, and the flesh is white. The fruit is tender, juicy, and mildly acid, making it a favorite for homemade applesauce and cooking. The Yellow Transparent tree is very upright, precocious, and productive, so therefore, is a very heavy producer. It is an early yellow apple, ripening the first week in JulyPick before maturity for better storage life. Harvest time is mid-June to July. Careful early training, annual pruning and shaping are required to insure a healthy and productive tree. It is scab resistant. Plant about a month after the first killing frost in the fall or about a month before the last killing frost in the spring. Select a planting site that has good air, drainage, full sunlight and deep, well drained soil. Grows Best In Zones: 2 - 7. Here are some links to the Nature Hills Nursery; where you can order some of their very high quality Apple Trees. If you click, there is no obligation to buy! You will leave delange.org. NOTE: These are High Quality Speciality Trees. They are not usually found at the typical Big Box Stores! Apple Tree - Red Delicious - $139.90 Ornamental Tree with Delicious Fruit The Red Delicious Apple tree is a deciduous, ornamental tree that produces superior fruit. You can grow one as an accent or shade tree for the front yard, or plant several on a side yard for a private orchard. The Red Delicious apple is the most widely grown variety in the world. It�s a popular apple with a variety of uses. Red Delicious was the single largest variety produced in Washington State in 2005. Red Delicious has deep red skin and conical shape encasing flesh that is white and crisp, with a sweet flavor. Your Red Delicious can grow to 12 feet tall with an equal spread, resulting in relatively rounded crown and pleasing landscape appearance which can last up to 50 years. In the spring, clusters of small white flowers with subtle pink hues will adorn its branches with their fragrant elegance. In the summer, dark green leaves adorn a rounded shape which turns a brilliant yellow in autumn, sprinkled with deep red fruit. It is truely a tree for all seasons. The Red Delicious apple is a lovely ornamental tree that will provide you with a crop of delicious and nutritious fruit each fall. Our apple trees are always in high demand. Quantities are limited and many will sell out soon. Order now to avoid disappointment! * Deep Red Fruit * Sweet, Crisp, White Flesh* Color Throughout the Year * Suggested pollinators are Granny Smith, Liberty, Golden Delicious, Fuji and Gala. Apple Tree - Gala - $129.90 The Perfect Blend of Modern and Old Fashioned The Gala Apple Tree (Malus �Gala�) produces a delicious snacking apple that is quickly becoming a favorite in grocery stores. It�s an attractive flowering tree with irresistible fruit. You will be delighted when your Gala bursts to life in spring. The beautiful pink buds will open to reveal snowy white flowers, a sure sign that your tree is well on its way to producing fruit. Throughout the summer the Gala apples mature to a bright overall red color, with bold red stripes over a yellow-green background. The fruit is firm, juicy and sweet with a slight tart flavor. The Gala Apple Trees fruit young and ripen early. You can start harvesting your apples as early as August, and continue through the fall. Soon your tree should start producing bushels of apples, plenty to share with family and friends. Although the Gala apple is popular for their large, crisp fruit, they also resist bruising and can be stored up to six months. This means you could be eating fresh, home-grown apples as late as February and March. What a treat for you and your family. For larger harvests we recommend planting your Gala Apple Tree with a pollinator. Good choices for cross pollination would be our Braeburn, McIntosh and Pink Lady apple trees. The Gala Apple Tree is an easy to grow, adaptable tree that matures quickly. The apples are highly coveted for pies and sauces, and the tree itself would be an attractive addition to any yard. * Yellow Green Apple with Red Stripes* Extended Ripening* Stores Up To 6 Months Apple Tree - Granny Smith - $89.90 A Tart Favorite Among Apple-Lovers Granny Smith Apple tree is a fruit tree that produces high-quality, tart apples on a reliable tree. Plant one in a sunny location and watch your harvest grow! One of the best known apple varieties for both cooking and snacking, Granny Smith enjoys a long history of being an apple with exceptional qualities. Its lovely, green skin (occasionally with a subtle, pink blush), presents a vibrant sight amid the branches in October. The juicy, white flesh is likewise energizing, with a crisp, tart flavor that�s perfect for award-winning pies, culinary dishes�or just right off the tree. Granny Smith apple�s high acid content means that they won�t go brown as quickly once cut, so they�re especially valued for fruit trays and salads. Granny Smith apples are also chocked full of vitamins and antioxidants, but not calories, so they�re a great way to encourage good health. Your Granny Smith will reach up to 14 feet in height. It tends to be a strong-limbed tree, able to manage its harvest without the need for additional supports. It can be long-lived under optimal conditions and is quite heat tolerant. Even the apples are durable, lasting up to six months with refrigeration. If you love a tart apple, or just enjoy one with good storage and a variety of culinary uses, Granny Smith is the perfect apple for you. * Delicious tart apples * Long lived tree * Heat tolerant * Stores up to 6 months Apple Tree - Arkansas Black - $139.90 Outstanding Color and Flavor Arkansas Black Apple Tree is a late-maturing apple tree. One would be an outstanding addition to your yard in any sunny location where you can view it from one of your home�s windows�as you won�t want to miss a moment of your tempting harvest�s development. Your Arkansas Black Apple tree is not only a lovely and hardy tree, but it also produces a substantial harvest of succulent, sweet apples. The decorative effect of the dark red apples against the vibrant green of the foliage is not to be missed! Each round, medium-sized apple is such a deep red as to appear almost black, especially when stored. The firm skin shines purple-red in the sunlight and tends to persist on the tree into the fall, making it a favorite of wildlife. As an eating apple, few can compare to the Arkansas Black. Exquisite directly from the tree, or used in a variety of dishes, the crisp, white/yellow flesh is superb. With a sweet/tart flavor in a firm yet juicy texture, your Arkansas Black Apple is a treat for the senses. Especially prized for its aromatic nature, it also lends itself well to ciders and applesauce. Arkansas Black has an excellent storage life, affording you many months of enjoyment. A semi-dwarf tree, your Arkansas Black will grow to about 20 feet in height. It�s quite hardy and vigorous, with particular resistance to Cedar Apple Rust. It has very good heat and humidity tolerance and is even somewhat drought tolerant once established. Arkansas Black is adaptable to a variety of soil types and has very good overall disease resistance. Although self-fertile, the Arkansas Black does best with a pollinator in order to bear fruit. Golden Delicious Apple, Granny Smith Apple and Dolgo Crabapple would be good choices as companion trees. Whether planting just one or an entire orchard, you�re sure to enjoy the Arkansas Black Apple. * High quality eating and cooking apple * Good storage * Decorative fruit * Spicy Flavor with High Acid * Wildlife interest Apple Tree - Braeburn - $129.90 Ornamental Tree with Delicious Fruit The Braeburn Apple Tree is an ornamental tree that produces delicious fruit. Plant one for its decorative features in the front yard or several in a back or side yard to ensure a larger harvest. Braeburn apples are crisp and juicy. You�ll enjoy their sweet flavor combined with a tart edginess that really brings out the one-of-a-kind tang that Braeburn exudes. They are medium to large, round apples that are yellow-green with red striping. They keep their quality for months in cold storage, so you can easily manage your harvest for future use. Your Braeburn Apple tree can grow up to 15 feet tall with an equal spread. Its ornamental features are only second to the outstanding fruit production. White flowers appear in spring, followed by large apples mid-October. The production of both the fruit and flowers is prolific, providing an abundance of both bounty and beauty. The flowers will attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. We take pride in delivering the highest quality plants with healthy roots and full, well-established stems and foliage. Our fruit trees are always in high demand. Quantities are limited. Order now to avoid disappointment. * Delicious Yellow Green Striped Fruit * Ripens in Mid October * Stores Well for Months Pink Lady Apple Tree (Cripps Pink Variety) - $199.90 Beauty, Fragrance and Superior Taste Pink Lady Apple trees, Malus domestica 'Pink Lady', have a distinctive fuchsia blush that dominates the yellow background of this superbly-beautiful apple. Clothed in this magnificent coloring, Pink Lady invariably creates a head-turning affect when it�s ripe for harvest. These medium/large apples are firm and aromatic, with what some say is a fragrance of pear or cider. When you approach the tree you�ll be astonished by their beauty, but that�s nothing compared to what you�ll experience when you actually reach out and pick one. Biting into the yellow-tinted, white flesh will create a flavor explosion. Crisp and juicy, Pink Lady�s flavor is that of an apple, but with a distinctive taste of melon and just a hint of citrus. A subtle dash of tartness gives it just enough zing to tantalize your taste buds and make you yearn for the next bite. One of the best features of your Pink Lady Apple tree is that although delicious right off the tree, it actually improves in flavor after about four weeks in storage (and its storage life is very long). Pink Lady Apple trees will grow up to 30 feet in height with a 15-foot spread. Its adorable pink-accented, white flowers in spring are fragrant, long-lasting, and certain to draw pollinators to your yard. The fruit ripens in October/November, extending your joy of harvest time when other fruits have completed their season. With so many varieties of apple on the market today, it can be difficult to know which ones to grow. Pink Lady Apple trees offers not only superior flavor, but great storage so you can enjoy your delectable fruit for longer. Add in the fragrance and beauty of this variety, and you can see why Pink Lady is a good choice in an apple tree for your home. * Delicious fruit * Fragrant spring flowers * Doesn't brown when slicing * Stores well * Long growing season * Adaptable to a variety of soils * Heat tolerant * Wildlife interest Apple Tree - Red Jonathan - $109.90 One of Our Most Popular Apples Red Jonathon Apple is a deciduous tree producing one of the most sought-after heritage apples. Plant several in a side yard for your own miniature orchard of healthy fruit. One of the great things about apple trees is that they�re not only easy to grow and produce delicious fruit, but they�re also quite decorative...and Red Jonathon is no exception. Nothing can quite compare with the sight of an apple tree in your own back yard, laden with round, red apples amid the vibrant green foliage. It�s a uniquely beautiful sight! Imagine picking an apple right from your own tree, still hot from the sun�s rays and exposed only to the fertilizers or sprays that you chose to provide it with. There�s simply not a healthier, fresher way to provide delicious fruit for your kitchen table. Your Red Jonathon Apple Tree produces medium-sized, bright red apples that are juicy and sweet with a slight zing to the flavor. They�re tasty right off the tree and great for pies, cider and other culinary delights. The apples even store well so you can easily enjoy these apples long after they�re picked. Red Jonathon apples rippen in mid season, generally ready for harvest August / September (depending on where you are located. Planting Red Jonathon with early or late ripening varieties can extend your harvest. The Red Jonathon Apple Tree is a vigorous tree and suitable for almost all of the climate zones in the United States. It�s self-fertilizing but would benefit from pollination (ie. Granny Smith, Golden Delicious or Red Delicious). An investment in a Red Jonathon Apple Tree today is a way to cultivate beauty, health and a delicious harvest for years to come. * Delicious, prolific harvest * Ornamental features * Long storage life Planting Apple Trees In Arizona: Decide on the site for your tree/s some months in advance of planting. NOTE: Almost of the apple trees sold are grafted. Therefore there will be a bud union on every tree. The bud union is the location where the scion meets the rootstock. The bud union should not be buried in the ground when planting. ALWAYS keep the bud union about 2 inches above the ground when planting. 1. Decide on which tree to plant. Fruit trees that thrive in Arizona include the apple, cherry, apricot, fig, nectarine, peach, pear, Asian pear, persimmon, Asian plum and Japanese plum. Although there are general guidelines that apply to any fruit tree growing in Arizona, you should also learn the specific requirements of the tree you plant. 2. Choose a nursery tree. The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences recommends you buy a year-old tree with a trunk that's � to � inches in diameter. Select a fruit tree without broken branches or other signs of injury. If you can, check the roots while still in the nursery or soon after you take the tree home. Save the receipt in case you have to exchange it. Roots with soft spots, bugs, mildew and other irregularities are diseased and can't support a tree's development. In the arid Arizona climate, roots should also be irrigated frequently. At the nursery, touch the soil to verify it's moist. If the tree is bare-root, check that the root ball is in a moist medium. 3. Find a sunny planting site with well-drained soil. Test drainage by digging a hole as deep and wide as the tree's root ball. Then, put 5 gallons of water in it. One hour later, fill the hole with water again. If the soil has absorbed the 10 gallons of water within 24 hours, your soil drains well. Let most of the moisture evaporate before you plant your fruit tree. 4. Schedule the planting. In Arizona, plant bare-root fruit trees in February or March. Transplant container trees in September or October. Most fruit trees for sale have bare roots. Keep store-bought trees in the shade and their soil moist until you're ready to plant them. 5, Enlarge the planting hole you made in Step 3 to five times the width of the root ball, but keep it at the same depth. On the bottom, pile soil in the center to form a small mound in the hole. 6. Loosen and cut broken or discolored roots. Trim longer roots to the same size as the others. 7. Put the tree in the hole with the center of the root ball on the mound. Spread the roots down and around it. Backfill the hole with the topsoil you dug out. 8. Water the soil thoroughly and add a 4-inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree. Continue to water every two days during the growing season, giving your tree about 5 gallons of water a week. The University of Arizona Extension Service also recommends you paint the tree trunk with white latex paint to protect it from sunburn. 9. Prune your fruit tree right after you plant it. Cut the top 1/3 and train it into the shape best for the type of tree you have. For example, use the central leader method for apples and pears, and open center if you have peaches and nectarines. Your nursery or extension office offers advice on the right training method for your fruit tree. 10. Fertilize the soil when new growth begins after planting and in the beginning of every growing season, February to March in Arizona. The type and amount of fertilizer depends on the tree you have, but all fruit trees need nitrogen. In addition, spray a formula of chelated zinc and iron on the leaves. 11. Control pests and treat disease. In Arizona, the codling moth and peach tree borers are among about a dozen common insects that attack fruit trees. Diseases include fireblight, brown and crown rot, and powdery mildew. If something is affecting your tree's appearance and development, get help from your local extension office in identifying the problem and treating it. 12. Thin the fruit to keep branches from breaking under heavy weight and to improve fruit quality. Depending on the tree, you'll either prune the flowers as they bloom or the fruit as they mature, spacing them about 6 inches apart. Pruning Apple Trees: Proper training and pruning of fruit trees is essential to the development of a strong tree framework that will support fruit production. Properly shaped trees will yield high-quality fruit much sooner and will live significantly longer. Regular pruning and training will also maximize light penetration to the developing flower buds and fruit. Additionally, a well-shaped tree canopy permits adequate air movement through the tree, which promotes rapid drying to minimize pest problems. Central Leader Trees: A central leader tree has one main, upright trunk, called the "leader". Branching should begin on the leader 24 to 36 inches above the soil surface to allow work under the tree. The first year, 3 to 4 branches, collectively called a "scaffold whorl", are selected. The selected branches should be spaced uniformly around the trunk, not directly across from or above one another. The major lateral branches are commonly referred to as scaffold branches on which the central leader tree is "built". Above the first scaffold whorl should be an area of 18 to 24 inches, called a "light slot", without any branches to allow light to reach all lower leaves and fruit. This light slot is followed by another whorl of scaffolds. Maintain alternating scaffold whorls and light slots up the leader to the desired maximum tree height. The shape of a properly trained central leader tree is like that of a Christmas tree (except with slots for light). Newly Planted Trees: After early winter planting, wait until just before the buds start to grow in the spring to "head", or cut, the unbranched central leader to 36 inches above the soil surface to encourage new lateral branching. When new growth is 3 to 4 inches long, identify the most upright shoot that will continue to be the central leader. Leave it and remove all new shoots growing 3 to 4 inches immediately below this new terminal to prevent competition. This will also encourage lateral growth in the area 6 to 14 inches below the cut tip of the young tree. Branches that form 6 to 14 inches below the cut tip of the tree are less vigorous, less upright, and easier to train as productive scaffold limbs. When the lateral branches, or scaffold branches, are 3 to 6 inches long, they should be spread to a wider crotch angle that will provide a stronger framework for fruit production. Toothpicks or clothespins can be used to prop the young branches out to a 50 to 60 degree angle. This angle will slow vegetative growth, promote lateral branches, and allow the tree to initiate flowers and produce fruit sooner. Scaffold Training: Improperly trained fruit trees have very upright branch angles, which result in excessive vigor and serious limb breakage under a heavy fruit load. Larger branches can be spread out using short wooden boards with a notch cut in each end for the branch to fit into. Hanging weights on the branch or tying it down with string wrapped loosely around the limb are other methods for spreading the branches. All upright growth from scaffold branches should be either pulled down to a horizontal position or removed when it is 3 to 4 inches long. Dormant Pruning vs. Summer Pruning: Pruning the tree during the winter, while it is dormant, will invigorate the tree and cause it to grow and branch more the following season. To promote scaffold branch development, cut the central leader 20 to 28 inches above the highest usable scaffold whorl during the dormant season. It is best to do dormant pruning in late winter or early spring, after the risk of severe freeze is over. Be sure to remove any dead or diseased wood and dried apples at this time as well. After the tree resumes growth in the spring, continue to train the scaffold branches of the tree as you did the previous growing season. Select a new upright shoot to continue the central leader, and remove all new shoots 4 inches below it. Also select the branches to form another whorl of 4 to 5 scaffold branches. Prop all lateral branches out to a 50 to 60 degree angle. Summer pruning will devigorate the tree and cause it to grow less in that growing season. Remove all undesirable branches directly across from one another on the central leader when they are 3 to 4 inches long. Also, select lateral branches that are spaced uniformly around the leader to prevent crowding as the limbs grow in diameter. Once the tree has filled its allotted space, lateral branches will need to be cut back to their desired length during the summer to devigorate the tree and prevent further growth, not during the dormant season. Ask your County Extension Center for information on the best way to prune your apple tree. Fruit Thinning: At first thought, it seems strange to thin out what appear to be perfectly good fruit. But, keep on reading. Apple trees often set a heavier crop of fruit than the limbs can withstand. To ensure good fruit size, return bloom for the following year, and to prevent tree breakage, it is necessary to thin the fruit. Every apple blossom results in a bloom cluster of 5 to 6 blossoms. Apples should be thinned when they are about the size of a dime in diameter. It is recommended to thin fruit, after the natural June fruit drop; which happens during May in most of Arizona. We have done it either before or after the fruit drop, with success, either way. When "thinning," cut & throw away, the poor quality looking fruit buds. Save the best ones. Cut off enough fruit so that the remaining apples are spaced 4 to 6 inches apart, and leave only one fruit per cluster. It may seem like very few fruit remain, but you will harvest higher-quality fruit, potentially reduce insect and disease problems, and increase the chances for a full crop the next season. Some commercial growers even say they see an increased amount of fruit by weight, in the long haul! They all claim to have better quality fruit to sell. We would have to agree that the fruit quality is better and we seem to get a good amount of fruit, by weight. We have shown an example, as to how to thin apples in our pictures above, with both a before & after photo. NOTE: WE LEARNED THIS THE HARD WAY! We started thinning fruit, after having not done so during our first year. During that year we had massive amounts of fruit, but of poor quality and in addition, several tree limbs broke off of our trees. The tree damage, forced us to replace three of the trees! Harvesting Apples: One of our favotite web sites, Dave's Garden gives us some good advice about harvesting apples! The first thing you need to know is when the apples are ripe. Not all varieties ripen at the same time. So it's important to know what varieties you are growing and what they are supposed to look like when ripe. Usually they are ripe when the apples turn red, but some varieties are green when ripe, so that method doesn't always work. Look at your apple trees on a regular basis to check on their progress. Look for a change in color. When changing color, every day or so, pick one and eat it. Near-ripe apples are edible, if tart, and their seeds are white in color. When the seeds begin to turn dark, they are almost ready. When the seeds are completely dark, it's time to start picking. Another way to tell if the apples are ripe is when they start dropping from the tree. An apple tree will drop unsound or damaged fruit before the crop is ready, but if there is sound fruit on the ground, it's probably ripe. It might be over-ripe, so rely on the color of the seeds. Apples picked earliest are likely to be the better keepers; the riper the apple when it's picked, the more likely it is to be soft or mealy, the quicker it is to go bad in storage. Finally, you will know that an apple is ripe and ready to pick; when you can lift it off the tree without pulling hard or twisting. To understand how to pick an apple, it helps to know how it grows. The apple blossoms of spring are formed in the previous year on spurs, short stubs that grow from the branches or twigs. Each blossom may become an apple; one or more apples will grow from a single spur. Where the stem of the apple joins the spur is called the abscission layer. The cells at this point are programmed to die as the fruit becomes ripe, until the stem releases entirely from the spur and the apple falls to the ground. The ideal time to pick an apple is when it is almost ready to let go by itself. You should lift the apple gently. It should release easily and come away in your hand. If it resists, it's not ready! Move on to the next apple. Not all apples on the same tree are ripe at exactly the same time. NOTE: Forcibly pulling or twisting the apple is likely to tear off the spur, where the next year's buds are already beginning to form. Spurs are easily broken off; if too many are destroyed, there may not be enough apples next year. Do not pull the apple off its stem! This leaves a wound in the fruit where fruit rot can develop during storage. Sometimes there are two apples joined together on the same spur. In this case, you should pick them both at once, lifting them off the spur together. When you have picked your apples, be sure to treat them gently. Don't drop them into the bucket or sack. Ripe apples bruise easily, and bruised apples may rot. Apple Tree Pests: Various pest organisms, primarily arthropods (insects and mites), diseases, weeds, and mammals are associated with apple production in Arizona and cause significant economic losses to commercial fruit growers. The focus of this guide is on arthropod pests and diseases of apple. Insect pests found in apple orchards can be classified into two groups depending upon which plant part is attacked. Direct pests are those insects that feed on apple fruits, while indirect pests are those that attack leaves, trunk, and other parts of the tree. Examples of direct pests of apple in Arizona are apple maggot, plum curculio, codling moth, and other internal fruit feeders. Pests like spotted tentiform leafminer, aphids, and mites may affect yield if present in large numbers, but they are indirect pests since they do not directly injure fruits. Insect pests can also be classified in terms of the seriousness of their infestation and effect on orchard economics. Major pests are those that have the potential to cause major economic losses to the grower. Usually, most direct pests that feed on fruit are also considered major pests. Apple maggot, plum curculio, and codling moth constitute the "big three" pests of apple in Arizona. Indirect pests usually do not feed on the fruit, and although their activities may limit fruit yield they are considered minor pests. A third category of pest insects is the quarantine pests. Quarantine pests are insects not known to be established in a given area. Not all insects and mites in apple orchards are harmful. Many arthropods, such as lady beetles, predaceous bugs, spiders, and predator mites benefit the grower by feeding on pest insects and mites. Bees also fall into this category of beneficial arthropods by aiding apple pollination. Many diseases of apple are not restricted to one part of the tree. For example, apple scab attacks the fruit, leaves, and flowers. Powdery mildew can also infect many parts of the tree. Fire blight is a tree disease infecting leaves, shoots, limbs, and trunk, but it can infect fruit and root stock. The fungal disease complex known as sooty blotch and flyspeck is, however, restricted to the fruit. Here is a link to our page of fruit tree pests in Arizona; where you read descriptions and see pictures of the common fruit tree pests of Arizona. You also can learn about how to kill or control the Pests. Common Fruit Tree Pests Of Arizona. Beneficial Insects: Not all insects found in an apple orchard are pests. Many organisms benefit the grower by eating or parasitizing pests in the orchard. These organisms are known as beneficials, natural enemies, or biological control agents. They may be native or introduced from other areas. Beneficial natural enemies (insects and mites) that may occur in an apple orchard could be classified as predators or parasitoids. Predators are those that attack, kill, and feed directly on a pest (prey). Examples of common orchard predators are ladybeetles, flies, lacewings, wasps, bugs, ants, spiders, and predator mites. Parasitoids are insects that lay eggs on or in a pest (host). The developing larva lives and feeds on the host, parasitizing and eventually killing it. Examples include parasitic wasps such as the egg parasite, Trichogramma sp. Bees are a different class of beneficial insects in the orchard in that they benefit the grower by aiding pollination. It is important that growers are able to recognize, identify, and conserve beneficials in their orchard. Conservation of beneficial organisms is a basic tenet of an ecologically sound pest management strategy. Conservation or enhancement of beneficials can be achieved through judicious use of pesticides such as spraying only when and where needed, accurate timing of sprays, and selecting pesticides that are least toxic to beneficials. For Example: Many growers now place colonies of the Blue Orchard Mason bees in their orchards to pollinate their crops for maximum production. Quick Notes: Type: Fruit. Technically, a Globose Pome. Height: About 20 - 25 feet. Spread: About 15 - 20 feet wide. Flowers: White with a pink tinge that gradually fades, five petaled, and 2.5 to 3.5 centimetres (0.98 to 1.4 in) in diameter. Blooming Time: Spring. Fruit: A Globose Pome 5 to 9 centimetres (2.0 to 3.5 in) in diameter. The center of the fruit contains five carpels arranged in a five-point star, each carpel containing one to three seeds, called pips. Leaves: Blue-green to green in color, aalternately arranged simple ovals 5 to 12 cm long and 3�6 centimetres (1.2�2.4 in) broad on a 2 to 5 centimetres (0.79 to 2.0 in) petiole with an acute tip, serrated margin and a slightly downy underside. Hardiness: USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 �C (-40 �F) USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 �C (-35 �F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 �C (-30 �F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 �C (-25 �F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 �C (-20 �F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 �C (-15 �F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 �C (-10 �F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 �C (-5 �F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 �C (0 �F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 �C (5 �F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) Elevation: 0 - 9,500 feet. Light: Full Sun. Soil pH requirements: 6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) Habitat: Mulched areas. Well-drained soil. Native: Western Asia, where its wild ancestor, the Alma, is still found today. Miscellaneous: Photos Taken July 02, 2011 In Yarnell, Arizona. Hardy Temp: 15 - 34�F.