Yellow Delicious Apple Tree

Name: Yellow Delicious Apple Tree
Brand: Nature Hills Nursery
SKU: 22635
Price: 69.43 USD
Availability: InStock

Malus domestica 'Yellow Delicious'

Nature Hills Nursery

$69⁴³

Shipping calculated at checkout.

In Stock

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Plant Size

#2 Container 3-4 Feet Semi Dwarf

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Full sun is essential for a healthy harvest, meaning at least 6 to 8 hours of direct light daily. More sun results in higher sugar content in the apples and helps the tree resist fungal diseases by drying dew off the leaves quickly.
Soil: These trees prefer deep, well drained loamy soil with a slightly acidic pH. If you have heavy clay, plant your tree in a wide, shallow mound to keep the roots above the "bathtub effect" where water sits and causes rot.

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 Yellow Delicious is moderately drought tolerant, but inconsistent moisture during fruit development can cause the apples to drop early or become shriveled. A deep soaking every 10 days during the heat of summer ensures the fruit stays crisp and juicy.

Pruning Tips

Yellow Delicious apples fruit on "spurs" located on older wood, so avoid heavy shearing that removes the interior fruiting branches. Perform your major structural pruning in late winter while the tree is dormant to open up the canopy for better airflow and light penetration. Thinning out the center of the tree acts like opening a window, allowing sunlight to reach the interior fruit so it ripens evenly rather than staying green and sour.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer in early spring before the flower buds open to support the heavy energy demand of blooming. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers after midsummer because this encourages soft, leafy growth that won't harden off before winter, making the tree vulnerable to freeze damage. Think of late-season nitrogen like a shot of caffeine right before bed; it keeps the tree awake when it should be preparing for rest.

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 7-10 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
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Useful, Great-Tasting Yellow Delicious Apple Tree

Classic Apple is Great for Backyard Orchards
Late Season
Crisp Texture
Sweet and Juicy
Kid-Approved
Wonderful Fresh Eating, Baking and Cooking Apple
Keeps Well in Storage
Excellent Pollinizer Tree for Other Apple Varieties
Self-Pollinating, But Much Larger Harvests With Partner Trees
Vigorous
Widely Adaptable
Displays Disease Resistance

People all across the country want to grow their own apples for the outstanding flavor of tree-ripe fruit. It's a great feeling to be prepared; and really nice to know exactly what was sprayed on your crop, as well.

Add a Yellow Delicious Apple Tree (Malus x 'Yellow Delicious') to your landscape this season. It's self-pollinating, so you really only need one to enjoy a crop of versatile golden, pink-blushed good eating apples.

But if you add an early Apple tree variety, and a mid-season Apple tree variety, you'll have much larger crops from each tree. Enjoy a month of super-fresh apples from your very own orchard!

This hardy tree bears fruit in landscapes across the country. Cold-hardy, heat tolerant, and disease-resistant, this kid-friendly planted tree is an excellent choice.

A close relative of Golden Delicious Apple, his late season favorite is an excellent pollinizer for other trees. Your whole family will appreciate the sweet, crisp, juicy flesh as a snack straight from the tree.

Prep them for homemade applesauce, made just the way you like it best. Peel and slice with a few other varieties for outstanding pies, cobblers and tarts.

Why suffer through a bland, store-bought apple? Grow your own and enjoy the "real deal"...after all, nothing tastes quite so satisfying as fruit from your very own fruit picked at the peak of ripeness.

Order Yellow Delicious Apple today, and get started this season.

How to Use Yellow Delicious Apple Tree in the Landscape

Add fruiting trees to your Victory Garden as a productive (and beautiful) backdrop. This tree develops showy, golden orbs that are a lot of fun to watch.

They'll look great from the beautiful white flowers in early spring, to finished! Plant them in a high-traffic area to enjoy the show. You'll have pride developing an effective Edible Landscape that feeds yourself, family and friends.

If you only have room for one tree, allow the self-pollinating tree to grow to its full size and spread. Or, take the plunge with a high-density planting of 3 or 4 varieties grown in a single hole! Consider all these trees as a single tree with 4 trunks.

Manage the high-density planting with annual pruning for size control each summer. Don't let any one of the varieties "take over" the planting. Prune to keep them all in balance.

Yellow Delicious is one of the world's best pollinators for other varieties. Add an early and mid-season variety for a successive harvest of great-tasting fruit.

#ProPlantTips for Care

Apple trees require full sun, or at least six hours of direct sunlight for fruiting. Give Apple trees good air circulation, and well-drained soil.

Improve drainage by mounding up dirt in a heap that is 18 inches high and 3 feet wide. Plant directly in that mound, or add an attractive landscape border for a raised bed.

Conduct regular watering on a schedule. New trees need more attention, as do fruiting trees during drought conditions.

Apply a three-inch layer of mulch over the root system to cut down on surface evaporation. Please pull mulch back at least five inches from the trunk. You'll save money on water with regular application of wood mulch.

Correct shape by pruning in late winter while your tree is dormant. Remove crossing branches to open up the canopy before new growth appears. The goal is to increase sunlight and air circulation through the tree's branches and leaves.

Enjoy the sweet, crunchy fruit produced by your Yellow Delicious Apple tree. Just place your order soon, as we will sell out of this classic variety.

Botanical Name

Malus domestica 'Yellow Delicious'
Class
- Magnoliopsida
Species

domestica
Cultivar

Yellow Delicious
Growing Zones

5-8
Height

12-25 ft
Width

10-18 ft
Sunlight
- Full sun
Growth Rate

Moderate
Flower Color
- White
Leaf Color
- Green
- Yellow
Native

Yes
Fragrant

Yes
Bloom Period

Late Spring
Does Not Ship To

AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, OR, PR, WA

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Growing Zones 5-8

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yellow Delicious Apple Tree self-pollinating or does it need another variety for pollination?

The Yellow Delicious Apple Tree is self-pollinating and will produce fruit on its own. However, you'll get much larger harvests when planted with early and mid-season apple varieties as pollinizer partners. Plant at least one additional apple variety nearby to maximize your crop yields.

How much sun exposure does the Yellow Delicious Apple Tree require?

Yellow Delicious Apple Trees need full sun, requiring 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal fruit production. This sun exposure ensures proper flowering, fruit development, and the sweet flavor this variety is known for. Plant in your sunniest location for best results, available at naturehills.com.

What are the watering requirements for a newly planted Yellow Delicious Apple Tree?

Water newly planted Yellow Delicious Apple trees deeply 1-2 times per week, providing about 1 inch of water total. During the first growing season, maintain consistent soil moisture but avoid waterlogging. Check soil 2-3 inches down and water when it feels dry to the touch.

What are the shipping costs and options for Yellow Delicious Apple Trees from online nurseries?

Shipping costs for apple trees typically range from $15-30 depending on tree size and your location. Most online nurseries ship bare-root trees in early spring or potted trees throughout the growing season. Check the nursery's shipping calculator at checkout for exact costs to your zip code.

Can I plant a Yellow Delicious Apple Tree bought from discount stores like Aldi or Lidl?

Most discount store apple trees are unnamed varieties with unknown pollination requirements and disease resistance. Yellow Delicious from Nature Hills offers proven self-pollinating genetics and disease resistance for reliable harvests. For best results with known parentage and proper care instructions, shop established nurseries like naturehills.com.

How do I prune a Yellow Delicious Apple Tree?

Prune Yellow Delicious Apple trees in late winter while dormant, before buds break. Remove dead, diseased, and crossing branches first, then thin crowded areas to improve air circulation. Focus on creating an open center structure with 3-4 main scaffold branches.