Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
Malus domestica 'Caudle'(CAMEO®) PP9068
Plant Common Name
Apple, Cameo Apple, Dessert Apple, Eating Apple
General Description
Bred in Washington State and first released in 1998, Cameo® is one outstanding apple for both flavor, texture and keeping qualities. The rounded fruits have thin red skin washed with pale yellow to greenish-yellow. The fine, cream-colored flesh of this dessert apple is firm and crisp with a perfect tart, sweet balance. Quality is said to improve with age and fruits keep for months in cold storage. The tree was a chance seedling planted by Darrel Caudle amongst a block or 'Red Delicious' apples in his Dryden, Washington orchard. Once the tree began to bear fruit, he quickly realized the apples were different. The single tree was propagated and named 'Caudle' (Cameo®).
Cameo trees are vigorous with spreading, rounded tops. The branches have extra large green leaves and extra long bore shoots. The fruits are ready to harvest from October to early November. Pollinate with other apples that bloom mid- to late-season, like 'Spur Winter Banana' or 'Golden Delicious.'
There is nothing more satisfying than growing your own apple trees. The domestic apple is most commonly a medium-sized tree with a rounded to oval canopy. It originates from southeastern Europe, Siberia, and southwestern Asia and has been in cultivation for thousands of years. In spring, the trees offer sweet, fragrant flowers of light pink, white or rose and in fall reward us with crisp, juicy apples.
These fruits come in a wide variety of colors, textures and flavors and may be eaten out-of-hand, pressed for cider, frozen, canned or baked in a variety of ways. There are thousands of cultivars available, including many interesting heirlooms as well as fresh new varieties. Different selections vary in height and may bear fruit in summer, fall or winter.
While the domestic apple prefers full sun and well-drained soil, it will tolerate light shade and bouts of drought. For best fruit production, trees must be vigorously pruned and maintained. Apples are susceptible to many pests and diseases, but resistant varieties are available. Most apples are grafted onto rootstock that provides a wide range of benefits such as vigor, pest and disease resistance and dwarf stature, depending on the stock.
