Cameo Apple
Discovered as a chance sapling in 1987 between Red Delicious and Golden Delicious, the Cameo apple’s rise to fame is a quick one. Though we cannot say for sure how the apple came to be, the best guess would be from both these apples. It has that classic apple shape with some more refined features. The skin is strawberry in color base yellow with red stripes running vertically along the apple. The skin is thin and easy to bite through. Its flesh is pale yellow in color and is pretty standard: sweet, crispy, and juicy. A faint tartness balances the sweet. Separately, these features are rather unremarkable but when combined into one apple, these features enhance each other for a well balanced and delicious apple. It is, however, remarkably fragrant.
Ranked one of the best apple varieties in Cooking Light 2002 Apple Pageant, the Cameo variety is a hearty, all-around apple with a deep juicy flavor and a crisp crunch that makes it the perfect eating apple. The Cameo is one of the top 10 most produced apples in the US. The apples are not ready all at the same time- this extends their harvest period so one is not inundated with apples. Perfect for hunters for its disease and deer resistance. This tree can take a punch as still happily produce fruit.
USDA Zone: 3-9
Mature Heights:
G.11: ~14-16' tall or 55-60% of Standard; Semi-Dwarf
M.106: ~17-20' tall or 70-75% of Standard; Semi-Dwarf
Sun: Full Sun
Bloom Group: 3, Mid Season
Ripening Time: Late September-Early November
Pollination: Required