Dessert
Empire Apple is a mid-sized tree that produces medium apples with striking red skin and crisp, juicy white flesh. Born from a cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious, this variety balances the bright tang of McIntosh with the honeyed sweetness of Delicious, delivering a well-rounded flavor that works equally well for fresh eating or cooking. Hardy in zones 4 through 7 and reaching 12 to 15 feet at maturity, Empire begins bearing fruit in 2 to 5 years and thrives in full sun with moderate water and well-draining soil.
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Full Sun
Moderate
4-9
192in H x 180in W
Perennial
High
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Empire combines the best traits of two legendary parents: the crisp, juicy character that makes McIntosh a favorite for sauce and fresh eating, paired with the deeper sweetness and storing ability of Red Delicious. Disease resistance to fire blight and cedar apple rust means you spend less time troubleshooting and more time harvesting. This is a low-maintenance tree that produces reliably across a wide climatic range, delivering productive harvests year after year without fussy pruning or constant pest management.
Empire apples shine in fresh eating, where their balanced sweetness and crisp texture make them satisfying out of hand. The juicy white flesh also breaks down beautifully into applesauce and ciders, taking advantage of the bright McIntosh tang. Their firm flesh holds up well in baking and cooking applications where you want the apple to retain some structure alongside a complex, not-too-sweet flavor.
Plant bare-root or balled-and-burlapped Empire Apple trees in early spring or fall, when the tree is dormant. Choose a location with full sun exposure and dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Backfill with native soil mixed lightly with compost, water deeply to settle, and mulch around the base to retain moisture. Space trees 12 to 15 feet apart.
Pick Empire apples in September when the skin turns deep red and the fruit yields slightly to gentle pressure. The apples will continue to develop flavor and sweetness for a week or two after picking, so taste-test a few before harvesting the entire crop. Gently twist the apple upward and slightly to the side to detach it from the branch, or use pruning shears if the stem resists. Handle fruit carefully to avoid bruising.
Prune Empire Apple trees in late winter or early spring while dormant, removing dead, crossing, or diseased wood and thinning crowded branches to open the canopy for light and air circulation. Maintain a central leader or open-vase form depending on your preference. Light, consistent pruning encourages strong fruiting branches and reduces the risk of fungal diseases.
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“Empire Apple emerged as a deliberate cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious, combining two of North America's most celebrated apple varieties. This parentage was carefully chosen to capture McIntosh's refreshing acidity and tender flesh alongside Red Delicious's deeper sweetness and superior storage life. The result is an apple that performs well for both home gardeners and commercial growers, bridging the gap between two very different flavor profiles in a single, versatile fruit.”