This modern apple tree was bred for disease resistance as part of a joint breeding program of the Indiana, Illinois, and New Jersey Experiment Stations. Released in 1993, it was the tenth apple variety developed by that collaboration. GoldRush apples ripen late in fall and store incredibly well, making them the ideal apple to tide you over until spring. The fruit has a tart flavor when eaten fresh from the tree, but mellows and sweetens in storage, turning from yellow-green to the classic Golden Delicious yellow. A relatively low maintenance apple tree whose fruit are equally tasty raw or cooked, GoldRush is a great choice for an all-purpose apple tree.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Malus domestica 'GoldRush'

COMMON NAME: GoldRush Apple, Co-op38 Apple

GARDEN SIZE: Depends on root stock - Dwarf 8-10 ft. tall and wide, Semi-Dwarf 12-15 ft. tall and wide, Standard/Full 15-20’ tall and wide, Espalier varies with culture

USDA ZONE: 5-8

EXPOSURE: Full Sun

WATER & SOIL: Loamy & well drained soil

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; Green

BLOOM TIME: Late-midseason - Flowering Group 4

HARVEST TIME: Late season, ripens late-October to mid-November

FRUIT: Yellow-green apples, sometimes with a red-orange blush where the sun hits, speckled with brown lenticels. When newly harvested, the flesh has a crisp, juicy texture and sweet-tart flavor, said to be similar to Golden Delicious apples, but with a bit more acidity. GoldRush apples store remarkably well, and even improve with storage: their skin brightens over time to golden yellow and the flavor becomes sweeter and more balanced. GoldRush apples are suited to both raw and cooked applications.

POLLENIZATION: Not self-fertile: Needs a compatible pollination partner of a different variety nearby. Not compatible with Golden Delicious because the two varieties are closely related.

POLLENIZATION (Trees that pollenize this one): Babe, Ballerina 'Bolero', Colonnade, Ballerina 'Flamenco' Colonnade, Ballerina 'Polka' Colonnade, Candy Crisp, Colonnade Golden Sentinel, Cortland, CrimsonCrisp, Dixie Red Delight, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Gibson Golden, Ginger Gold, Granny Smith, Hardy Cumberland, Honeycrisp, Jonathan, King David, Mollie's Delicious, Mutsu / Crispen, Northern Spy, Pink Lady, Pixie Crunch, Premier Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Red Rome / Rome Beauty, Royal Red Honeycrisp, Sweet Sixteen, Urban Apple 'Blushing Delight', Urban Apple 'Golden Treat', Urban Apple 'Tangy Green', Urban Apple 'Tasty Red', Winter Banana, Wolf River

POLLENIZATION (Trees that are pollenized by this one): Arkansas Black, Babe, Ballerina 'Bolero' Colonnade, Ballerina 'Flamenco' Colonnade, Ballerina 'Polka', Colonnade, Candy Crisp, Colonnade Golden Sentinel, Cortland, CrimsonCrisp, Dixie Red Delight, Freedom, Fuji, Gala, Gibson Golden, Ginger Gold, Granny Smith, Hardy Cumberland, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Jonathan, King David, Mollie's Delicious, Mutsu / Crispen, Northern Spy, Pink Lady, Pixie Crunch, Premier Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Red Rome / Rome Beauty, Royal Red, Honeycrisp, Stayman Winesap, Sweet Sixteen, Urban Apple 'Blushing Delight', Urban Apple 'Golden Treat', Urban Apple 'Tangy Green', Urban Apple 'Tasty Red', Winesap, Winter Banana, Wolf River

CARE: Prune while the tree is dormant. Remove water sprouts in June or July. Options for controlling pests, bacterial infections, and fungal disease include dormant oils applied early in the season before blooming, scented insect traps, and copper-based fungicides. DO NOT apply insecticides during blooming. This risks harming bees, which are crucial for pollination and fruit production. If necessary, fireblight can be treated with a streptomycin antibiotic spray during blooming. Apple trees need about an inch of water every 7-10 days, though young trees need a little more during their first growing season as they establish roots. If not enough rain has fallen, give the tree extra water by running a hose at a trickle around the base of the tree until the ground is fully soaked (but not for so long that there is standing water). Waterlogged roots can harm apple trees, so don't overdo it!

DISEASE RESISTANCE: Very resistant to scab and powdery mildew; somewhat resistant to fireblight; somewhat susceptible to cedar apple rust.

USES: Eating fresh, juicing, cider, baking, applesauce

TOXICITY: Stems, leaves, and seeds contain cyanide and are therefore toxic to dogs, cats, horses, and humans. The fruit is non-toxic.