21 Delicious Apple Tree Cultivars And Varieties To Plant This Spring - Or Anytime!

Let’s brainstorm the 21 most delicious apple tree varieties and cultivars for your backyard garden or food forest! Because planting an apple tree isn’t just growing fruit. Nope. It’s more like creating a homestead heirloom that will feed your family for generations. And each apple cultivar or variety tells its unique story through flavor, texture, and color.

A large wicker basked stuffed with delicious apples.

So – let’s bite into some of the best apple varieties!

Shall we?

21 Best Apple Tree Varieties

Here’s your guide to the 21 most delicious and ample apple tree varieties – from old-school heirlooms to new-school apple tree cultivars.

1. Cox’s Orange Pippin

Three delicious Cox Orange Pippin apples growing on the tree.

This legendary British apple delivers complex flavor with pear, orange, and mango notes in a beautiful sunset-colored package. The trees are somewhat finicky but worth the effort for their incomparably rich, aromatic taste that improves with a few weeks of storage. Perfect for those who appreciate apples with character and history.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating, cider, and baking.
Flavor Profile: A rich, aromatic, complex blend of sweet and tart.
USDA Grow Zones: 5 through 9.

A mature Cox’s tree in full bloom attracts many beneficial pollinators, creating a buzzing symphony of life in your spring garden.

2. Liberty

Delicious liberty apples growing on the tree.

Liberty apple trees are like the gold standard for disease resistance. This variety barely needs spraying while delivering sweet, crisp fruit with a beautiful burgundy color. The trees have a cooperative growth habit with fruit accessible from ground level. Perfect for organic growers tired of fighting apple scab and fire blight.

Tree Height: 10 to 15 feet semi-dwarf.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating, baking, and cider.
Flavor Profile: Sweet tart with a crisp texture.
USDA Grow Zones: 4 to 7.

Their natural resistance to cedar apple rust makes them ideal for planting in areas where eastern red cedars grow wild in the landscape. (To be clear – these trees aren’t 100% immune – but have better resistance than most.)

3. Jonagold

Jonagold apples growing in the food forest garden.

These giants combine the best of Jonathan and Golden Delicious with honeyed sweetness and just enough tang to keep things interesting. The trees produce heavily but need good cross-pollination and perform poorly in the warmest climates. It is outstanding for fresh eating or baking into pies where their flavor intensifies beautifully.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating, baking, and sauces.
Flavor Profile: Sweet with a slight hint of tarty and honeyed flavor.
USDA Grow Zones: 5 to 8.

Try slicing and dehydrating these naturally sweet giants. They maintain their flavor exceptionally well when dried and need no sulfuring to retain their color.

4. Gravenstein

Delicious Gravenstein apples growing on the tree.

It is an old-world treasure that ripens early with a perfect sweet-tart balance and a distinctive aromatic quality. The trees thrive with a spreading habit and produce fruit that makes legendary pies and applesauce. Sadly fleeting, these apples don’t store well, so enjoy them in their brief but glorious season.

Tree Height: 15 to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Baking, sauces, and cider.
Flavor Profile: Tart and aromatic with a crisp texture.
USDA Grow Zones: 2 to 9.

When fully ripe, the fruit emits a distinctive strawberry-like fragrance that fills your harvest basket and kitchen with an aroma that signals summer’s end.

5. Esopus Spitzenburg

Fresh Esopus Spitzenburg apples at the farming market.

Thomas Jefferson’s favorite apple for good reason! This historic variety offers a rich, wine-like flavor with a crisp yellow flesh that develops a subtle rosy tint. The trees have a distinctive growth habit with many small branches, making them easy to identify even in winter. If you’re willing to wait (they’re slow to bear), you’ll be rewarded with an epic apple experience.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating, baking, and cider.
Flavor Profile: Rich, spicy, and complex with a firm texture.
USDA Grow Zones: 4 to 7.

Plant these historical treasures near a bench or sitting area. Their twisted, character-filled branches create a natural sculpture that is as beautiful in the winter snow as when crammed with summer fruit.

6. Mutsu (Crispin)

Mutsu or Crispin apples ripening and growing on the tree.

These Japanese-developed apples can reach softball size with juicy, refreshing flesh that balances sweetness and acidity perfectly. The trees are vigorous growers that need spacing but produce heavy crops of delicious fruit. It is equally suitable for fresh eating, cooking, or pressing into cider.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Cider, fresh eating, baking, and sauces.
Flavor Profile: Sweet, juicy, and crisp with a hint of tartness.
USDA Grow Zones: 4 to 8.

One Mutsu apple can yield nearly a cup of juice with a distinctive greenish tint and refreshing mineral notes when pressed.

7. Braeburn

Epic and big Braeburn apples growing in the backyard food forest.

Born in New Zealand, these intensely flavored apples offer a perfect sweet-tart balance with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon. The trees are naturally semi-dwarf with upright growth and distinctive reddish bark. They’re also keepers that taste fresh even after months in storage.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating and baking.
Flavor Profile: Balanced sweet-tart flavor with a crisp texture.
USDA Grow Zones: 5 to 8.

Braeburns are one of the rarest apple cultivars on our list. But they have lots to offer! Braeburn apple trees are relatively easy to grow and produce tons of delicious fruit. They are also perfect for long-term food storage and security.

8. Ashmead’s Kernel

Lovely Ashmead's Kernel apples growing on the tree.

Don’t let the rustic, russeted exterior fool you. This 300-year-old English variety packs a flavor punch that rivals modern favorites. The trees are naturally disease-resistant and produce fruit with a champagne-like effervescence and complex pear-drop notes. A true connoisseur’s apple that gets sweeter in storage.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating and cider.
Flavor Profile: Intensely aromatic, sweet-tart with a nutty undertone
USDA Grow Zones: 4 to 7.

The distinctive nutty flavor intensifies when these apples are paired with sharp cheeses, making them the secret weapon of sophisticated charcuterie boards.

9. Pink Lady

Deep red or pinkish Pink Lady apples growing on the tree.

These rosy beauties require a long growing season but reward patient gardeners with crisp, champagne-like flesh and a perfect sweet-tart balance. The trees bloom late, avoiding many spring frosts, and the fruit hangs well on the branch, improving color and flavor. Stores exceptionally well, maintaining its distinctive snap months after harvest.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating and baking.
Flavor Profile: Crisp, sweet-tart with a hint of spice.
USDA Grow Zones: 6 to 9.

These trees have evolved to thrive in hot, sunny conditions where other varieties might sunburn, making them perfect for southern orchardists.

10. Arkansas Black

Delicious Arkansas black apples harvested and ready to eat.

These striking apples deepen with an almost black purple tint-and become harder than most varieties as they mature. The trees grow upright with attractive, disease-resistant foliage, while the fruit develops a unique flavor that mellows and improves dramatically after several months in storage. It is a conversation piece with shelf-life staying power. They can keep it until spring!

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard).
Best Way To Use: Baking and cider.
Flavor Profile: Very firm, tart when fresh. Mellows with storage.
USDA Grow Zones: 4 to 8.

Their dense flesh and high sugar content make them exceptional candidates for home cider pressing, producing a rich amber liquid that ferments beautifully.

11. McIntosh

Bowl of delicious and red McIntosh apples.

This Canadian classic delivers soft, aromatic flesh with a distinctive fragrant quality and wine-like juice. The trees are highly cold-hardy with a beautiful rounded form and reliable annual bearing. It makes incredible applesauce that needs no added sweetener.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating and sauces.
Flavor Profile: Juicy, sweet tart with a tender texture.
USDA Grow Zones: 4 to 7.

McIntosh apples are easily one of the most popular apple tree cultivars. We can see why! Homesteaders love them for their tender, juicy flesh and their perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors.

12. Honeycrisp

Raw red delicious Honeycrisp apples ready for eating.

Honeycrisp is a modern favorite that lives up to its name with explosive crispness and sweet honey-like flavor in a beautifully mottled red package. The trees can be somewhat finicky and prone to biennial bearing, but proper thinning helps. These delicious apples demand a premium price if you’re selling, and they’re worth every penny.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating.
Flavor Profile: Exceptionally crisp, juicy, and sweet with a hint of tartness.
USDA Grow Zones: 3 to 7.

Honeycrisp apples are delicious no matter how you eat them. Slice them into your next garden salad – or mash them into applesauce. You can also cook them into scrumptious apple pies and crisps – but most enjoy them raw.

13. Gala

Ripe and delicious gala apples growing on the tree.

This New Zealand native offers sweet, aromatic flesh with floral notes and beautiful striped skin in shades of red and yellow. The trees bear young, produce reliably yearly, and adapt to various climates. These apples are also deliciously sweet and ripen relatively early in the season.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating and salads.
Flavor Profile: Mildly sweet and crisp.
USDA Grow Zones: 5 to 8.

The skin develops a natural wax that gives well-grown specimens a beautiful shine without post-harvest treatments.

14. Northern Spy

Tasty heirloom Northern Spy organic apples growing on the branches.

This New England classic takes patience (up to 14 years to bear fruit) but rewards you with large, striped apples with bright, spicy-sweet flavor. The trees grow quite large with an upright habit but offer beautiful pink-tinged blossoms in spring. It makes exceptional pies and holds its shape when cooked.

Tree Height: 15 to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Baking and cider.
Flavor Profile: Tart, juicy, and crisp.
USDA Grow Zones: 4 to 7.

The unusually high vitamin C content (nearly three or four times that of Golden Delicious) makes these apples nutritional powerhouses.

15. Stayman Winesap

Delicious red Stayman Winesap apples growing on a tree.

This reliable producer offers deep crimson fruit with wine-like complexity and a distinctive spicy tang. The trees have attractive weeping branches that become more pronounced with age and fruit production. Excellent for cider and cooking, with juice so rich it needs little or no sweetening.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard).
Best Way To Use: Baking, cider, and fresh eating.
Flavor Profile: Spicy, wine-like, tart-sweet flavor.
USDA Grow Zones: 5 to 8.

Hang a few of these beauties in mesh bags in a cool garage, and they’ll infuse the air with a distinctive spiced wine fragrance all winter.

16. Fuji

Lovely Fuji apple trees growing in an orchard.

These Japanese-developed apples store incredibly well while maintaining their satisfying crunch and sweet, honey-like flavor. The trees are generally cooperative growers with good disease resistance and adaptability to different climates. Fuji apples develop the best taste and sweetness in regions with warm fall days and cool nights.

Tree Height: 10 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 25 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating, baking, and cider.
Flavor Profile: Sweet, crisp, and juicy.
USDA Grow Zones: 4 to 8.

These apples contain more antioxidants than most varieties, with levels increasing during proper cold storage.

17. Golden Delicious

Epic golden delicious apples growing in the summer garden.

This American classic is an excellent snack apple and a reliable pollinator for many other varieties. The trees are precocious bearers with a manageable size and distinctive fuzzy leaves and shoots. Versatile in the kitchen for everything from pies to sauce to salads.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating, baking, and sauces.
Flavor Profile: Sweet, mellow, and mildly tart.
USDA Grow Zones: 5 to 8.

Golden Delicious is self-fertile, unlike most apples, meaning a single tree will bear fruit abundantly without requiring a pollination partner.

18. Spartan

Ripe and delicious Spartan apples growing on the tree.

This McIntosh descendant improves on its parent with firmer flesh and deeper color while maintaining that distinctive aromatic quality. The trees have a naturally compact form that works well in smaller spaces and starts bearing quickly. Excellent for northern growers looking for reliable production.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating and cider.
Flavor Profile: Sweet, crisp, and aromatic.
USDA Grow Zones: 4 to 7.

The branches develop a distinctive dark purplish bark that adds winter interest to the home orchard landscape.

19. Cortland

A basket stuffed with yummy Cortland apples.

These snow-white fleshed beauties resist browning better than almost any other apple, making them perfect for salads and cheeseboards. The trees are reliably productive with a spreading form and good cold hardiness. Cortland also makes an exceptional cider with a beautiful pink tint from its rosy skin.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating, salads, and baking.
Flavor Profile: Sweet, tart, and tender.
USDA Grow Zones: 4 to 7.

These apples grow sweeter after a light frost, with many old-timers refusing to pick them until after the first cold snap of autumn.

20. Enterprise

Delicious Enterprise apples growing on the tree.

This modern marvel laughs at disease while producing glossy red apples with a crisp, creamy texture and sprightly flavor. The trees have a naturally compact form that works well in smaller spaces and starts bearing quickly. It improves dramatically after a month in storage when the initial tartness mellows.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Fresh eating, baking, and cider.
Flavor Profile: Spicy, tart, and crisp.
USDA Grow Zones: 4 to 8.

The trees form a naturally pleasing pyramidal shape that makes them striking landscape specimens even before you consider their delicious fruit.

21. Granny Smith

Deliciously green granny smith apples growing on the tree.

These tart green giants offer unmatched crispness and a lemon-lime zing that mellows only slightly in storage. The trees are vigorous growers that bear heavily and early in life, though they need a long season to develop flavor fully. They are exceptional for pies and baking, where their tartness provides the perfect balance.

Tree Height: 12 to 15 feet semi-dwarf. Up to 20 feet standard.
Best Way To Use: Baking, sauces, and fresh eating.
Flavor Profile: Very tart, crisp, and juicy.
USDA Grow Zones: 5 to 9.

The trees feature unusually glossy leaves that reflect sunlight beautifully, making them stand out as orchard-like gems catching the late afternoon sun.

Conclusion

Three delicious organic apples sitting on some colorful autumn leaves.

Remember that apple trees grow best in pairs. Grow several varieties for extended harvests, cross-pollination, and a symphony of flavors from tangy to honey-sweet. The best time to plant your backyard apple tree was ten years ago, but the second-best time is today. Your future self (and lucky neighbors) will thank you!

What about you?

Will you grow some apple trees this year?
Which apple cultivar will you grow?
Will you grow a dwarf or standard variety?

Thanks for reading.

Have a great day!