Common Name: standard apple
Type: Fruit
Family: Rosaceae
Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 18.00 to 25.00 feet
Spread: 18.00 to 25.00 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Description: White
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: High
Suggested Use: Flowering Tree
Flower: Showy, Fragrant
Attracts: Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Fruit: Showy, Edible
Tolerate: Air Pollution
Culture
Best grown in deep, loamy, moderately fertile, slightly acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates average garden soils, but unamended heavy clay soils which waterlog easily and drain poorly should be avoided. Generally, the more dwarfing the rootstock, the greater the need for soil fertility. Needs full sun for maximum flower and fruit production. More than one variety must be planted in order to facilitate best pollination and subsequent fruit production. For basic cultural information on the growing of apples, see Home Fruit Production, Apples (University of Missouri Extension publication G6021), which is available for inspection or purchase at the Kemper Center Information Desk.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Malus is a genus of about 35 species of deciduous trees and shrubs from Europe, Asia and North America. Some eating apples are hybrids but others are attributed to M. domestica or M. pumila.
Edible apple cultivars do not grow particularly well on their own roots. As a result, apple varieties sold in commerce today have all been grafted onto rootstocks which, inter alia, control the size of the tree. Rootstocks are generally classified as follows (tree height in parenthesis): dwarf (8-10'), semi-dwarf (12-15') and standard (18-25' or more). All trees bear full-size fruit, however. Most trees sold today for the home apple grower are grafted onto dwarfing rootstocks (dwarf or semi-dwarf), resulting in trees which, in comparison to standard trees, are (1) easier to manage (spray, prune and harvest) and (2) produce fruit at an earlier age.
Genus name from Latin is an ancient name for apple.
STARK GOLDEN DELICIOUS is a popular apple cultivar which may be purchased on a number of different rootstocks. The tree growing at the Kemper Center has a standard rootstock and typically grows 18-25' tall. This cultivar features white blossoms which appear in spring and are followed by large, sweet, golden yellow apples which ripen in mid-September (USDA Zone 5).
Problems
STARK GOLDEN DELICIOUS is susceptible to apple scab, fire blight and powdery mildew, and very susceptible to cedar apple rust. Potential insect pests include aphids, maggots, codling moth, plum curculio and spider mites. Good cultural practices are always essential and some chemical spraying may become necessary in order to control pests.
Uses
STARK GOLDEN DELICIOUS is pruned and grown primarily with a view toward producing quality fruit, and its ornamental features are usually considered secondary. It should be grouped in a sunny location with other apple varieties. Spring apple blossoms and fall fruit add color and interest to the landscape.