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Red Delicious Apple Tree

Malus 'Red Delicious'

Nature Hills Nursery
$10260
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Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: Full sun is essential for the best fruit quality. Your tree needs at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily to develop that deep red skin color and to ensure the fruit stays crisp and sweet.
  • Soil: These trees prefer deep, well drained loamy soil with a slightly acidic pH. If you have heavy clay, mix in organic compost to improve drainage, as "wet feet" or standing water can lead to root rot and poor tree health.

Watering Requirements

During the first two growing seasons, provide about one inch of water per week to help the root system expand into the surrounding soil. Once established, the Red Delicious is moderately drought tolerant, but inconsistent watering during the heat of summer can lead to smaller fruit or premature dropping. Deep, weekly soakings are better than light daily sprinkles because they encourage the roots to grow deeper into the earth.

Pruning Tips

Red Delicious apples bloom on old wood, specifically on short branches called spurs. You should prune in late winter while the tree is still dormant to open up the canopy and allow light to reach the center of the tree. Think of it like thinning out a crowded room so everyone has enough air. This prevents disease and ensures every apple gets enough sunlight to ripen properly.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer in early spring before the new growth begins to support fruit production. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer or fall. Excessive nitrogen late in the season forces the tree to produce tender new growth that will not have time to harden off before the first frost, making it vulnerable to winter damage.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4 Week of March 30th
Zone 5 Week of March 16th
Zone 6-12 Week of March 2nd


Shipping Rates

Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
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Ornamental & Delicious Fruit - Red Delicious Apple Tree

  • Beautiful Deep-Red Fruit
  • Sweet, Crisp, White Flesh
  • Mild & Sweet Flavor
  • Rosy-Pink Buds Open to White Blooms
  • Fragrant - Attracts Pollinators!
  • Attractive Rounded Shape
  • Deep Green Foliage
  • Specimen Tree or Orchard Quality
  • Most Widely Grown in the World!
  • Color Throughout the Year
  • Mid-Season Bloom
  • Late-Season Harvest
  • Long Storage Life
  • ~700-800 Chill Hours

The Red Delicious Apple (Malus 'Red Delicious') tree is a deciduous, ornamental tree that produces superior fruit. Red Delicious has deep red skin and conical shape encasing flesh that is white and crisp, with a sweet flavor.

In the spring, clusters of small white flowers with subtle pink hues will adorn its branches with their fragrant elegance. Pollinators adore these blooms as much as you will!

In the summer, dark green leaves adorn a rounded shape which turns a brilliant yellow in autumn, sprinkled with deep red fruit. It is truly a tree for all seasons!

The Red Delicious apple is the most widely grown variety in the world. It's a widely planted, popular apple tree in North America, with a variety of uses. Red Delicious was the single largest variety produced in Washington State in 2005.

Get planting your own apple trees for home-grown goodness and healthy fruit production! This will quickly become your favorite apple as well!

How to Use Red Delicious Apple Tree In The Landscape

Fantastic apples for fresh eating, fruit salads, and desserts, this healthy snack-on-the-go is lunch box-sized and travels great!

Your Red Delicious can grow to 12 feet tall with an equal spread, resulting in a relatively rounded crown and pleasing landscape appearance which can last up to 50 years.

You can grow one as an accent or shade tree for the front yard, or plant several on a side yard for a private orchard.

The fantastic blooms in spring are enough to make this a perfect front yard specimen plant! Edible landscaping and dual-purpose gardening are great for this healthy and ornamental tree!

Harvest in late September or mid-October, plus enjoy a long storage life in cold storage or refrigeration.

#ProPlantTips For Care

Requiring full sun for the most blooms and best crop, be sure to provide at least 6 hours of direct light per day!

Tolerating any type of soil that is well-drained, these trees don’t mind some acidic conditions. However, they do require consistent moisture availability and supplemental watering during drought.

A generous layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture as well as insulate the root system from heat and chill.

Prune your tree to open the canopy for sunlight and air circulation to reach the interior. This prevents disease and mildew issues. Fruit needs to be thinned for larger fruit.

The Red Delicious apple is a lovely ornamental tree that will provide you with a crop of delicious and nutritious fruit each fall. Our apple trees are always in high demand. Quantities are limited and many will sell out soon. Order now from NatureHills.com to avoid disappointment!

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