Empire Apple Tree
Delivery Options
- Bare Root trees ship Nationwide!
- Containers ship to WI, IA, IL, MI, MN
- Local Pickup is FREE
The Empire is a hybrid of the McIntosh and Red Delicious apple varieties, and was developed by the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in 1945. The Empire apple has since become a popular commercial variety, known for its crisp texture, sweet-tart flavor, and attractive appearance.
The fruit of the Empire apple is medium to large in size, and has a round or oblate shape. The skin is smooth, with a bright red color that covers a greenish-yellow background. The flesh is cream-colored, firm, and juicy, with a fine-grained texture. It has a complex flavor profile, with a balance of sweetness and tartness, and a slightly spicy undertone. It also makes excellent caramel apples.
The Empire apple is a mid-season variety, typically harvested in late September to early October, and is well-suited for long-term storage. The tree is moderately vigorous and productive, with a spreading growth habit. It is cold hardy and disease-resistant (notably against Apple Cedar Rust and Fire Blight), making it a good choice for growers in northern regions.
USDA Zone: 4-7
Mature Height: M.7 ~15-17’ tall; Semi-Dwarf
Sun: Full Sun
Pollination: Required
Bloom Group: 4 Late Mid Season
Harvest Dates: Mid-Late October
As of July 20, 2025, we have ceased shipping bare root trees for the Spring 2025 Season. We will resume shipping bare root trees in November of 2025. We will assume all bare root trees order, unless otherwise stated in the product description, will ship in November. Please order accordingly.