Pre-order for spring 2024We are now accepting pre-orders for the spring 2024 planting season.
Orange Pippin Trees USA logoSpecialist fruit trees for your orchard or back-yard

Grimes Golden apple tree

Grimes Golden
Grimes Golden is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Late
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile
  • Pollination group: 3
A high quality apple, Grimes Golden is probably the parent of Golden Delicious, but with a richer flavor.
StarStarStarStarStar See or add reviews

Grimes Golden apple trees for sale

  • Small 1-year bare-root tree $37.95
    Mature height: 6ft-9ft after 10 years
    Dwarf rootstock
Next deliveries

We are now accepting pre-orders for the spring 2024 planting season.


Grimes Golden is of historical interest as the probable parent of Golden Delicious, and is usually considered to have a richer flavor than its offspring. Spicy sweetness is perhaps the best way to describe it.

It is green/yellow in color, changing to yellow in storage. The apples store well and have a high sugar content.

How to grow

Grimes Golden has a narrower climate range than Golden Delicious, being traditionally an apple for the central and eastern states, zones 5 and 6, and not especially winter hardy. Grimes Golden is generally productive but not necessarily a regular bearer, which was one of the main reasons it was replaced by Golden Delicious as a commercial apple - however the home grower is likely to put up with Grimes Golden's uncertain productivity as a trade-off for its richer flavor.

In a good spring the fruitlets may require thinning. Fruit size is generally larger in the higher zones.

It is self-fertile and (like Golden Delicious) a good pollinator for other apple varieties.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

West Virginia, early 19th century.

Grimes Golden characteristics

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
  • Pollination group3
  • Pollinating othersGood
  • PloidyDiploid
  • Bearing regularityRegular
  • Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
  • WildlifeRHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking seasonLate
  • UsesEating freshCulinaryJuice
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)3 months or more
  • Flavor style (apples)Sweeter
  • General resistanceAverage
  • FireblightSome resistance
  • ScabSome susceptibility
  • Cedar apple rustSome resistance
  • MildewSome resistance
  • Cold hardiness (USDA)(5) -20F / -29C
  • Summer maximum temperaturesWarm (25-30C / 76-85F)
  • Country of originUnited States
  • Period of origin1800 - 1849
  • Fruit colorGreen / Yellow