A dense, tart apple with bright green skin whose acidic flavor makes it a top choice for baking. This tree is self-fertile and produces fruit in isolation, but its quality as a pollenizer of other apple trees makes it a great addition to any orchard.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Malus domestica 'Granny Smith'

COMMON NAME: Granny Smith 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: Midseason - Flowering Group 3

HARVEST TIME: Late, ripens mid-November

FRUIT: Bright green apples covered in tiny white lenticels. The fruit is dense, crisp, and above all, tart, but sweetens in storage. Granny Smith apples have a long shelf-life.

USES: Eating fresh, cooking, salads, storing

POLLENIZATION: Self-fertile - Doesn't need a pollenization partner to produce fruit, but fruiting may be improved if there is a compatible partner of a different variety nearby. Granny Smith is also a good pollenizer of other apple trees.

POLLENIZATION (Trees that pollenize this one): Colonnade Golden Sentinel, Colonnade Scarlet Sentinel, CrimsonCrisp, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Russet Golden/Yellow Delicious, Granny Smith, Hardy Cumberland, Honeycrisp, Jonathan, McIntosh, Pink Lady, Premier Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Royal Red Honeycrisp, Sweet Sixteen, Urban Apple 'Blushing Delight', Urban Apple 'Golden Treat', Urban Apple 'Tangy Green', Wolf River

POLLENIZATION (Trees that are pollenized by this one): Arkansas Black, Colonnade Golden Sentinel, Colonnade Scarlet Sentinel, CrimsonCrisp, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden Russet, Golden/Yellow Delicious, Granny Smith, Hardy Cumberland, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Jonathan, Liberty, McIntosh, Pink Lady, Premier Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Royal Red Honeycrisp, Stayman Winesap, Sweet Sixteen, Urban Apple 'Blushing Delight', Urban Apple 'Golden Treat', Urban Apple 'Tangy Green', Winesap, Wolf River

CARE: Prune while the tree is dormant. Remove water sprouts in June or July. Thin excess fruitlets to prevent over-cropping or the tree may lapse into biennial bearing. 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: Resistant to rust, moderately susceptible to scab, very susceptible to fireblight and powdery mildew

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