Malus domestica 'Grimes Golden'

Grimes Golden Apple

Malus domestica ‘Grimes Golden’ is a fruit tree grown for its medium yellow to golden-yellow apples with crisp, juicy flesh and a rich sweet flavor often described as spicy. This heirloom apple has a rounded to spreading habit, white spring flowers, and dependable fall fruit that is excellent for fresh eating, juice, cider, sauce, and baking. It is an old American cultivar from West Virginia and is often noted as a parent of ‘Golden Delicious.’  

Type: Fruit tree
Mature Size: 10–20' wide x 15–25' high
USDA Zones: 4a–8b
Form: Rounded, spreading
Light: Full sun
Soil / Water: Fertile, well-drained soil / moderate, consistent moisture
Bloom Time / Length: Mid spring / 1–2 weeks
Wildlife: Bees and other pollinators attracted to spring flowers.

Features & Landscape Uses: Excellent for home orchards and edible landscapes. Fruit typically ripens in September to late September, stores well, and is valued for its dessert quality and cider flavor. ‘Grimes Golden’ is often described as self-fertile or self-pollinating, but yields are generally better with another compatible apple nearby. It is also noted for some resistance to fire blight and cedar apple rust.

Care: Plant in full sun with good air circulation and well-drained soil. Water regularly during establishment and in dry periods. Prune annually in late winter to maintain structure and fruiting wood, and thin heavy crops for better fruit size and consistency. 

Plant type

Fruit Tree

Height

15-25'

Width

10'-20'

Hardiness zones

4–8

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Moderate

Bloom time

Mid Spring

Flower color

Dark Pink, Dark Sea Green

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Green

Attracts

Bees, Birds

Soil

Moist well-drained

Landscape use

Fruit

Shape

Rounded, Spreading

Bark

Fissured

Fruit

Yes

Fragrant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No