Mark Kane
Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
Malus domestica 'Gala'
Plant Common Name
Apple, Eating Apple, Gala Apple
General Description
The apple cultivar 'Gala' has gained wide popularity for its attractive fruits and their eating quality. The tree has a rounded to oval canopy and, like all domestic apples, originates from a species of apple native to southwestern Asia.
In spring, it offers sweet, fragrant flowers of light pink to white, and in fall rewards us with medium-sized, crisp, highly aromatic, sweet, juicy apples in red-yellow hues. These are harvested from late summer to early fall but lose flavor in storage. This cultivar hails from New Zealand and was developed in 1965.
This tree prefers full sun and well-drained soil but will tolerate light shade and bouts of drought. For best fruit production, trees must be pruned with restraint to let sunlight reach all the leaves. Highly susceptible to fire blight, a sometimes lethal bacterial disease, 'Gala' does best when growth is moderate so fertilize sparingly or not at all and avoid severe pruning. The tree tends to over-produce so the apples should be thinned while still the size of marbles, removing all but two per cluster. Thinning lets the remaining apples reach full size and quality and also keeps the tree strong enough to bear well year after year. For small yards, use trees grafted on rootstocks that limit growth.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
5 - 8
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Sunset Zone
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16
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Plant Type
Fruit
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
0'-15' / 0.0m - 4.6m
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Width
0'-15' / 0.0m - 4.6m
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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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Tolerances
Drought
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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, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Light Pink
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Fruit Color
Yellow, Red, Orange Red
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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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
