The common apple is a deciduous tree with edible fruit in the rose family (Rosaceae). It is native to Central Asia and Afghanistan, but is now grown worldwide for its crisp, crunchy fruit that can be eaten raw or cooked in a variety of dishes. Cider is another valuable product from the fruits. Many cultivars exist with differences in color, flavor and recommended food use. Apples are generally easy to grow and tolerate a variety of soils. Grow in full sun to partial shade. They will need a regular spraying program to prevent disease and pest damage. Although they grow up to 30 feet tall and wide from seed, many apple trees you can buy are grafted with dwarfing rootstocks, so they maintain a much smaller size. Cultivars have different chilling hour requirements, so be sure to choose the right one for your area. Most apple cultivars produce better if another, co-blossoming variety or species is planted nearby to serve as a pollen donor (pollinizer). Plant this tree in an edible garden or as a flowering specimen in a lawn or meadow. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: A wide range of pests and diseases can affect this tree. Three of the more common diseases or pests are mildew, aphids, and apple scab. Other diseases are fire blight and black spot. Other pests are codling moths and apple maggots. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common apple and crab apple diseases and other plant problems. VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Malus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
24-60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Crenate; Entire; Serrate; Undulate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Very variable leaf shape and size. Underside has raised veins and may or may not be pubescent.
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Cup; Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The 1 to 1 1⁄2 in. flowers are white with a pink tinge that gradually fades, five-petaled, with an inflorescence consisting of a cyme with 4–6 flowers. The central flower is called the "king bloom", opens first and can develop a larger fruit.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, > 3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Large, round, firm fruits that often have a waxy coating. Some varieties ripen late summer and some in the fall.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Looks similar to prunus species, grey and smooth with raised lenticels.
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
The tree has long shoots and short shoots (spurs). Flowers are borne on the latter.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central Asia to Afghanistan
Distribution
Worldwide
Attracts
Pollinators; Small Mammals
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Pome
Edibility
Fruits can be eaten raw and cooked in a variety of dishes.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn; Meadow
Landscape theme
Edible Garden
Design feature
Flowering Tree
Garden tags
#edible garden #flowering tree #edible fruits #pomes #fruit tree #white flowers #disease problems #fruits fall #ebh-fn #vhfn-f #vhfn #early childhood #frequent disease problems #high maintenance #frequent insect problems #child #children #preschool #early care #easy edibles #edible #th-taste #th-wildlife
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Predatory Mites on Apple; Apple Powdery Mildew; White Apple Leafhopper; Tufted Apple Bud Moth; Apple Maggot
Disease problems
Cedar Apple Rust; Disease and Insect Management in the Home Orchard