SCIENTIFIC NAME: Malus domestica 'Red Delicious'

COMMON NAME: Red Delicious 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 mid-season - Flowering Group 4

HARVEST TIME: Late season, ripens late September

FRUIT: Brilliant red apples with a cone-like shape and sweet, mild, neutral flavoring. The skin is thick, chewy, and durable, and the flesh is ivory-colored and fine-grained with a soft consistency. This apple's flesh quickly breaks down into a puree when cooked. Best flavoring when eaten fresh from the tree or when chilled. Apples keep well in storage.

POLLENIZATION: Not self-fertile: Needs a pollination partner of a different variety nearby.

POLLENIZATION (Trees that pollenize this one): Colonnade Golden Sentinel, CrimsonCrisp, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden/Yellow Delicious, Granny Smith, Hardy Cumberland, Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Pink Lady, Premier Honeycrisp, Red Rome, 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, CrimsonCrisp, Fuji, Gala, Ginger Gold, Golden/Yellow Delicious, Granny Smith, Hardy Cumberland, Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Jonathan, Pink Lady, Premier Honeycrisp, Red Rome, 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. 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: Good general disease resistance, very resistant to cedar apple rust, somewhat resistant to fireblight and mildew, somewhat susceptible to apple scab

USES: Eating fresh, storing, puree, sauces, apple butter

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