Lady Apple

The heirloom Lady Apple Tree (Malus domestica 'Lady') has delighted people with its sweet, crisp, pure-white flesh since it was cultivated in Rome! An old French cultivar that is heavy bearing and produces glossy yellow blushed red fruit, perfect for eating and cooking!

Also known as Christmas Apples, these lovely symbols of wealth and royalty are ideal stocking stuffers, aromatic and flavorful, these are great gifts for friends and family! The trees too are just as lovely to have among the landscape, filling out in lush textured foliage and exploding into the spring season with a flourish of white fragrant blossoms that will be aflutter with pollinators!

Mid-sized trees grow moderately and produce fruit within 3-5 years of age. A late-season harvest, orchards and gardeners throughout growing zones 4-8 will enjoy eating these fresh on salads or with cheese boards, juicing and making cider or baking and cooking with these juicy, finely-grained gems of goodness!

Planting and Application:

Lady Apples can be heavy bearing and their heavy-laden branches often used for wreaths and decorations in the fall and winter. The smaller apples form in clusters on a smaller sized tree that easily tucks into existing orchards or small gardens with ease. A picturesque specimen tree as well, either way, these lovely trees and their fruit will become instant conversation pieces!

A wonderful gift tree and addition to edible landscapes where a dual-purpose tree that keeps on giving is needed! Keep pruned smaller yet to tuck into small side yards or even keep in postage-stamp gardens! Try your hand at making something truly unique by training your tree as an Espalier showpiece!

• Fragrant White Spring Flowers for Pollinators
• Lush Foliage & Heavy Biennial Fruiting
• Shiny Yellow Skin With Predominant Red Blush
• Sweet, Aromatic & Juicy - Smooth White Flesh
• 500-600 Chill Hours

#ProPlantTips for Care:

All fruit trees need at least 6 hours of full sun a day to produce the most blooms and therefore fruit. Situate your tree in an area protected from drying northern winds and frost pockets where it will still get good air circulation. Enrich and mulch the soil well to maintain consistent average moisture access.

• Full Sun
• Requires Pollinator Partner
• Well-Drained Enriched Organic Soil
• Average Moisture Access

You can see why the Lady Apple Tree has been a long-time favorite for generations! Order one today from the fruit tree experts at Nature Hills Nursery so your family and friends can also enjoy these heirloom apples today!

Lady Apple Tree Frequently Asked Questions

When to Plant Lady Apple Trees

Planting Bareroot trees as soon as you can dig a hole in spring and until hot weather, the earlier the better. Plant container Apple trees throughout the growing season with complete success - that is the benefit of container plants - to extend the planting season. Your County Agricultural Extension Office is a great resource for first and last frost dates in your area.

How to Plant Lady Apple Trees

Dig a large hole only as deep as needed to accommodate the bareroot or container root ball, and twice as wide. Add Nature Hills Root Booster to speed root establishment. Remove the pot or bag and situate it into the hole so the top of the soil (soil line if bareroot), is level with the new location's soil being careful not to plant too deep. Water in again very well and backfill with the same soil you dug up, tamping down gently to ensure there are no air pockets.

Top off with a 3-4 inch thick layer of Arborist mulch. Consider staking your tree to keep its trunk growing straight for the first year to ensure it stands tall against strong winds and drifting snow.

When to Prune Lady Apple Trees

Trim off any broken branches from delivery as soon as you take them out of the box. Prune and trim apple trees while dormant, in late winter or early spring, before you see new growth.

How to Prune Lady Apple Trees

Dormant prune to:

• Remove any double leaders or narrow crotch angles
• Eliminate any crossing branches
• Thin interior branching and leave the fruiting spurs and strong branches in place opening up the canopy
• Branching at least 24-36 inches above the ground

Prune Apple trees in the summer to:

• Control size and shape by reducing the length of longer new growth on vigorous trees
• Remove water sprouts on the main trunk or older branches in the crown
• Remove suckers at the base of the trunk
• Thin fruit during heavy years on established trees

How to Care for Lady Apple Trees

Growing an apple tree is easy when proper soil, good drainage, attention to moisture, and regular fertility are maintained. Once you've chosen an apple tree that works for your climate, in the size you need for your landscape, and its pollinator (if needed), then you've accomplished half the battle!

• Apple trees do best in full sun and well-drained soil
• Water your apple trees when it gets dry - especially during the fruit production stage, and drought periods to keep it stress-free
• Use arborists' wood chips to mulch over the roots of your apples and have your soil tested to see what your soil may be lacking before adding fertilizers
• Maintenance pruning and shaping

Apple trees will tolerate a wide range of soils, so long as water and nutrients are not limited and the pH level is adequate.

How to Fertilize Lady Apple Trees

For the first year, water alone is most important. It is always best to get a soil test to see what your soil is lacking before adding more fertilizers. Once established, a fertilizer routine may be beneficial. We do offer some excellent slow-release organic options, applied according to the package directions.

Fruit trees need more phosphate and it's possible to apply too much nitrogen which affects the soil's pH. Test soil acidity or alkalinity using a pH Tester.

Fertilize in spring when you first see new growth emerging.

• Don't overdo it
• Phosphates are your friends
• Pay attention to pH in areas with extremely high or low soil pH
• Follow the directions

Lady Apple Tree Pollinating Info

Lady is not self-fruiting and needs a pollinating partner. Pair with one of these varieties:

• Cox Orange Pippin Apple Tree
• Fuji Apple Tree
• Gala Apple Tree
• Empire Apple Tree
• Dolgo Crabapple Tree
• McIntosh Apple Tree
• Pixie Crunch Apple Tree
• Honeycrisp Apple Tree
• Granny Smith Apple Tree

Harvest Times for Lady Apple Trees

Lady’s are typically ready to harvest in October.

Early-Season? Mid-Season? Late-Season? The terminology can be confusing for new apple tree growers. Weather, climate and your tree determine when it's ripe.

For Apples:

• Early-season is usually June-July
• Mid-season can be August-September
• Late-season can be from late September-November

The growing season consists of spring, summer, and fall, and varies with climate and weather. Areas with longer growing seasons in the warmer hardiness zones can greatly affect the harvest times for each particular apple variety grown in your area.