Apple
Malus domestica
A deciduous tree featuring alternate, simple, oval to elliptic leaves with finely serrated margins and a pointed tip. The foliage is medium to dark green with prominent pinnate venation.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Water
- Requires moderate watering. Provide deep watering weekly during dry spells. Ensure good drainage to prevent root issues, and avoid overhead watering to keep foliage dry.
- Growth
- Deciduous perennial tree with an upright, rounded, or spreading canopy. Mature height typically ranges from 10 to 30 feet depending on rootstock, with a similar spread. Growth rate is moderate.
Care instructions
Provide full sun with at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Water deeply and regularly, allowing the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Plant in well-draining, fertile loam with regular applications of balanced fertilizer in early spring.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Watering
Requires moderate watering. Provide deep watering weekly during dry spells. Ensure good drainage to prevent root issues, and avoid overhead watering to keep foliage dry.
Soil
Prefers loamy, fertile, well-draining soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9, depending on the specific cultivar.
Growth habit
Deciduous perennial tree with an upright, rounded, or spreading canopy. Mature height typically ranges from 10 to 30 feet depending on rootstock, with a similar spread. Growth rate is moderate.
Bloom season
Spring. Produces showy, fragrant flowers with five petals ranging from white to pink.
Propagation
Typically propagated through grafting or budding onto specialized rootstocks in late winter or early spring. Can also be grown from seed, though cultivars will not come true to type.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to fungal pathogens such as apple scab and powdery mildew, as well as insect pests including aphids and codling moth. Prevent through proper pruning for air circulation, orchard hygiene, and appropriate seasonal treatments.
Similar species
Crabapple (Malus species), which typically features smaller overall tree stature, smaller fruits, and often more profuse floral displays.