Identifying the variety of an apple tree can be challenging, even for experienced gardeners. With over 7500 known apple varieties it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But don’t let that stop you! Here is a step-by-step guide to help you accurately identify the apple variety in your yard or orchard.
Start with Visual Characteristics
When trying to ID an apple tree, your first step should always be making careful visual observations. Look at:
-
Tree size and shape: Is it dwarf, semi-dwarf, or standard size? What is the growth habit – upright, spreading, pendulous?
-
Leaf shape and color Are the leaves oval round or spear-shaped? What color are they – green, blue-green, purple?
-
Flower color: Are the blooms pink, white, or red? Take note of the size and abundance of flowers.
-
Fruit characteristics: Size, shape, color, flavor, harvest time, etc. Make notes over an entire season.
-
Climate adaptation: Does the tree thrive in your region’s climate? Or does it struggle with issues like early/late frosts, humidity, extreme heat or cold?
Pay extra attention to the fruit itself. Things to note include:
-
Shape: spherical, conical, flat, oblate
-
Size: very small, small, medium, large, very large
-
Skin color: solid green/yellow/red or mixed, stripes, blush, russeting
-
Flesh color: cream, yellow, greenish, red
-Flavor: sweet, tart, balanced, aromatic
-
Texture: crisp, mealy, juicy, dry
-
Basin depth: shallow, medium, deep
-
Cavity width: narrow, medium, wide
-
Stalk length: short, medium, long
Check Against Visual References
Once you’ve compiled thorough visual notes, the next step is comparing your observations against apple variety guides with photos. Good photo references to check include:
-
Books like The New Book of Apples or Apples of North America
-
Orchard websites like Stark Bro’s
-
Online databases like the National Fruit Collection
-
Apple variety charts like this one from Orange Pippin
Finding a photo match for unknown apples may take time. Don’t get frustrated! View multiple years of fruit if possible, as apples can vary in appearance from season to season.
Consult Expert Opinions
If you can’t ID the apple tree through visual comparisons alone, seek out expert help. Great options include:
-
Nearby extension offices and universities with horticulture programs
-
Local orchards, especially U-Pick farms that grow heirloom and antique apples
-
Botanical gardens and arboretums with apple collections
-
Speaking to well-read gardeners at nurseries and garden clubs
-
Posting on online gardening forums like HelpfulGardener.com
Ask if they can view your tree in person. Bring along detailed notes, multiple years of fruit samples if you have them, and photos. Experts may ask probing questions about the tree’s vigour, growth habit, bloom time, pollination partners, etc. Be ready to provide as much context as possible!
Consider DNA Testing
As a last resort, DNA fingerprinting can genetically identify any apple variety. This definitive method is ideal when visual observations and expert opinions fail to pinpoint the exact cultivar.
Specialized labs like Agroforestry Research Trust and Brushwood Nursery offer apple DNA testing starting around $60 USD per sample. You’ll mail in fresh leaves, and receive the genetic profile results identifying your mystery tree in 1-2 weeks.
DNA testing provides all but absolute certainty about the genetic identity of your apple tree. It’s the most reliable route to an accurate variety ID when all else fails.
Enjoy the Hunt!
Identifying an unknown apple tree takes patience and persistence through a process of careful observation, visual comparisons, expert consultations, and sometimes genetic testing too. But the end result is well worth the effort!
Pinpointing the exact variety allows you to look up specialized care info, best pruning and thinning practices, ideal pollination partners, and more data to help your mystery apple tree thrive. Plus, putting a name to those delicious fruits makes the harvest even sweeter.
So embrace the hunt for apple tree IDs as a fun learning adventure. Keep good records, tap into expert wisdom, and don’t be shy about DNA testing when needed. Follow this guide, and you can successfully identify any backyard apple in your future!
Utilize Online Databases
If you look at the color, texture, appearance, when the fruit ripens, age, and size of the tree, you might be able to make a short list of possible cultivars. But even that is just a guess and not a real identification. Some online apple cultivar databases (see list below) have lists and descriptions of apple varieties, or you can use interactive tools to make a short list of possible cultivars and maybe figure out what kind of apple you have or what kind it is most like.
Question: How can I identify the apple tree variety in my backyard?
It’s hard to say what kind of apple it is because there are hundreds of possible cultivars or varieties that it could be. Iowa State University does not offer apple variety identification services.
With most trees, the only way to be sure of what kind of apple you have is to have proof, like a plant label, receipt, letter, or journal entry from the person who planted the tree. This isn’t always available because the person trying to figure out what kind of apple it is probably just bought or inherited a house and doesn’t know what kinds of fruit trees are already there.
Identifying an Apple Tree
FAQ
How do you tell what kind of apple tree you have?
Is there an app that identifies apples?
How do I figure out what kind of fruit tree I have?
What should an apple tree look like?
How do you identify an apple tree?
An apple tree can be identified by its first leaves, which grow green in April. The passage also mentions the beginning of flowering and the appearance of first spring buds on the tree. The images show apple trees with green leaves and ripe red apples.
How do you identify apples?
The best way to get your apples identified is to take them along to a local apple festival, where there will often be an expert on hand. The local aspect is important because in the past gardeners tended to plant varieties that they knew about, and which were known to perform in the local climate.
What are the characteristics of apple trees?
Some of its key characteristics include: Flowers: – Flowers: Light apple blossom pink, fading to a paler pink in the centre. They are miniature, typically around 5 cm in diameter and single with prominent yellow stamens in the centre. They are also lightly fragrant and produced during late autumn and winter.