Apple (Malus) ‘Grimes Golden’ Semi-dwarf 7 Gal.

Apple 'Grimes Golden'
Malus 'Grimes Golden'

Delicious, rare heirloom from before 1804, that was once popular here in the Blue Ridge mountains. Outstanding dessert and cider apple, although historically also highly prized for frying, apple butter, and brandy. Flesh is snappily crisp, fine grained, very sweet and aromatic with hints of spicy nutmeg. Vigorous. 

Tom Burford says: "This classic American apple is used for a broad spectrum of purposes, including making hard cider and brandy, and was quite prevalent in early homestead orchards. Trees have been found in abandoned Virginian orchards still bearing small, sooty-blotched fruit of extraordinary flavor, even after 50 years of neglect."

Mid season bloomer with a long bloom time - good pollinator for other apples. While technically self-pollinating, yields will be much larger with a pollinator. Harvest season is late.

Disease resistances: Remarkable for an heirloom! Resistant to fireblight, powdery mildew, apple scab, and cedar apple rust.

Early 1800s Heirloom. Thomas Grimes found this tree in 1804 in Brooke County, West Virginia, originally found by Thomas Grimes. It was found not far from where Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) and his brother established a nursery and cider mill. Old alcohol stills in the mountains are often surrounded by Grimes Golden trees. 

Grimes Golden is suspected to be a parent of Golden Delicious; Grimes Golden sometimes goes by the names Grimes, or Grimes Golden Pippin.

Zones 5-8. Cold hardy to -20F.