Mark A. Miller
Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
Malus domestica 'Cripps Pink'(PINK LADY) PP7880
Plant Common Name
Apple, Cripps Pink Apple, Eating Apple, Pink Lady Apple
General Description
Bred in Australia and well suited to hot climates, this hybrid of the popular ‘Golden Delicious' is prized for its sweet and beautifully colored fruits. Ripening late in the season and holding well in storage, the medium-sized apples are rosy pink with yellow undertones. Their flesh is crisp, juicy, and slightly tarter than that of 'Golden Delcious'. They are usually sold under their trademark name, Pink Lady. Although deciduous, 'Cripps Pink' holds its leaves well into winter in mild climates. Self-fertile (but requiring a companion for maximum yield), it bears heavy crops in mid-fall. It flowers and fruits well with far less cold in winter than most apples, requiring only 400 to 500 hours of temperatures below 7 degrees C (45 degrees F). It is a vigorous tree with an upright habit.
Like most domestic apples, ‘Cripps Pink' grows and fruits best in full sun in average, well-drained soil. Requiring more than 200 days to ripen its fruits, it is not suited to gardens with short growing seasons. It is also suitable as a flowering ornamental tree for a large yard. For a small yard, it should be grafted to a rootstock that controls its size. If allowed to bear a full crop, it is likely to bear a lighter crop the following year and continue to alternate between light and heavy crops. To even out the harvests, every spring remove about one-third of the young fruits while they are still the size of marbles. This allows the tree to ripen a heavy crop of high-quality fruits year after year.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 2
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USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 9
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Sunset Zone
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
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Plant Type
Fruit
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
15'-25' / 4.6m - 7.6m
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Width
15'-25' / 4.6m - 7.6m
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Bloom Time
Spring
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Native To
Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Russia/Siberia, Southern Asia, Western Asia
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White
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Fruit Color
Yellow, Yellow Green, Pink, Rose
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Light Yellow, Brown
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Bark Color
Brown, Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
Yes
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
