The Golden Delicious Apple, otherwise known as the Malus X Domestica ‘Golden Delicious’ or Apple ‘Golden Delicious’, Golden Delicious Apple, Malus ‘Golden Delicious’, Malus ‘Yellow Delicious’, is a rather well known tree plant by gardening enthusiasts around the world.
Best known for its high maintenance and moderate growth, this tree will likely liven up your house (or garden) with its green colored leaves. But, only if you learn how to take proper care of it for it to thrive.
This is why all the topics you need to know in order to achieve this will be covered in this Golden Delicious Apple Care Guide. Ready? Let’s go!
The fundamental caring guidelines for every Golden Delicious Apple can be summed up into the following:
- Water: The Golden Delicious Apple spreads on the floor when growing in the garden. It require frequent watering when potted.
- Light: Keep your Malus X Domestica ‘Golden Delicious’ in an environment where it can receive partial to full sun on a daily basis.
- Soil: Make sure to keep the Golden Delicious Apple in soil with moist but well-draining to well draining properties, so ideally, one that is made of sand, loam, and clay.
That’s it – sunlight, water and soil! The basic 3 fundamentals for all plant care, and with the Golden Delicious Apple this is no exception. With these three elements, your leafy friend will live healthy and happy.
Scientific / Botanical Aspects
In botanical terms, the Golden Delicious Apple belongs to the Rosaceae family, the genus Malus and the species Domestica, hence its scientific (or botanical) name Malus X Domestica ‘Golden Delicious’ (MAY-lus doh-MESS-tik-a).
Some of the more popular Rosaceae plants are Rock Spray, Braeburn Apple, Malus Domestica, Oklahoma Redbud, Pink Stripe New Zealand Flax, Blenheim Apricot, Prunus Cerasifera ‘Krauter Vesuvius’, Thundercloud Myrobalan plum, Yoshino Cherry Akebono, Rosa ‘Korberbeni’, Climbing Rose ‘Golden Showers’, Large-Flowered Climber, Large-Flowered Climber, Bridal Wreath Spirea ‘Pink Ice’, Thriller Lady’s Mantle, Prunus Subhirtella ‘Pendula’, First Snow Spirea, Fuji Apple, Japanese Rose, Prunus Laurocerasus, Prunus Salicina ‘Ozark Premier’, Juneberry, ‘Brilliantissima’ Chokeberry, Prostanthera Cuneata ‘Badja Peak’, Cotoneaster humifusus, Skimmia Japonica, Yellow Raspberries, Photinia melanocarpa, Cecile Brunner Climbing Rose, Frosty® Potentilla, Strawberry ‘Berried Treasure Pink’, Carthaginian Apple, Malus ‘Red Delicious’, Taiwan Firethorn ‘Santa Cruz’, Rosa Banksiae ‘Lutea’, Solidago ‘Crown Of Rays’, Bradford Callery Pear and Gingersnap™ Potentilla.
As with other Malus’s, the Golden Delicious Apple is a deciduous plant, which means it will shed its leaves annually once autumn comes.
Growing Region
The Golden Delicious Apple is a plant native to the United States and W. Virginia.
Knowing your plant’s native region is very useful, as it can give you tips on which environment is best for your Golden Delicious Apple. If you keep it in mind, you can try to replicate these conditions at home, and you’ll likely end with a healthier plant.
With this in mind, the Malus X Domestica ‘Golden Delicious’ will be most used to regions where the plant hardiness level falls between 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a and the ideal climate zone is between 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
Growth and Size
Growth
In terms of size and growth, the Golden Delicious Apple is a relatively moderate grower, which makes things somewhat easy for any plant enthusiast.
Size
But, how big does the Golden Delicious Apple actually get? What should you expect in terms of size? Let’s dive right in…
The Malus X Domestica ‘Golden Delicious’ can grow up to 12′ – 15′ (3.6m – 4.5m) in 12′ – 15′ (3.6m – 4.5m) and 12′ – 15′ (3.6m – 4.5m) in 12′ – 15′ (3.6m – 4.5m).
Water
In terms of watering, the Golden Delicious Apple is a fairly complicated plant to take care of.
This is mostly because it has a not so straightforward watering schedule and somewhat irregular watering needs.
Specifically, most experts agree that the Malus X Domestica ‘Golden Delicious’ spreads on the floor when growing in the garden. It require frequent watering when potted.
Which is why it is considered a plant with relatively average needs in terms of water.
Watering
As a rule of thumb, you should remember to keep your Golden Delicious Apple in soil with moist but well-draining to well draining characteristics, as these will guarantee the right conditions for your plant to grow and thrive.
When you consider this, this is why you should aim to choose soil that has good drainage, and moist properties to keep the right moisture levels at all times.
But, if you want a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to watering your Golden Delicious Apple then you should consider the famous ‘finger’ test. To perform this test, you just need to put your finger in your plant’s soil and determine if it’s moist or not. If it is, then don’t water; if it isn’t, then please do. In any case, this test will allow you to know if your Golden Delicious Apple needs or does not need water, every time.
Soil Mix
As mentioned earlier, the Golden Delicious Apple prefers to have soil with good drainage, and moist properties at all times, reason why you need to make the soil mix out of sand, loam, and clay.
This is why most experts agree that the Golden Delicious Apple requires soil with clay, high organic matter, and loam (silt), which will give you the right conditions it needs.
In addition to this, expert gardeners recommend having preferably neutral soil.
Light and Exposure
In terms of light & exposure, the Golden Delicious Apple requires partial to full sun in order for it to thrive under the right conditions.
Most experts agree that this tree will do well as long as you keep it in full sun, and it will be able to grow properly.
Specifically, we recommend that you place your Malus X Domestica ‘Golden Delicious’ in full and direct sun (more than 6 hours of direct sunlight per day).
Season
Being a deciduous plant, the Golden Delicious Apple will shed its leaves annually once autumn comes.
But, you can expect it to have its ‘prime-time’ during the spring (mid, late), the summer (early, mid, late), and during the fall.
Flowers
You can expect your Golden Delicious Apple to flower around the spring months from April to June (spring).
In particular, this tree is well known for its showy flowers around the plant enthusiast community.
The Golden Delicious Apple produces some beautiful pink, or pink and white flowers around this time of year.
Foliage
The leaves from the Golden Delicious Apple have a beautiful green color during most of the year.
In particular, they have a alternate organization in its leaves.
The Golden Delicious Apple is well known for being able to attract butterflies, birds and hummingbirds, so keep that in mind when choosing your plant, as you’ll likely end up finding one or another in your garden.
Garden
Now, let’s talk garden and how your Golden Delicious Apple will look best in it.
Most Malus X Domestica ‘Golden Delicious’ owners agree that this tree will look great in most contemporary, mediterranean, cottage, asian/zen and sustainable gardens of all types.
Other owners consider that they complement well most gardens of informal and cottage styles.
In particular, the Golden Delicious Apple’s best use for landscaping within your garden is as kitchen garden, container, specimen, espalier, mass planting, or a urban garden.
Companion Plants
Golden Delicious Apple’s do well with some other plants beside it. One good companion plant is the Rosmarinus, which will pair up nicely with your leafy friend.
Others consider that a nice Lavandula will work well too, so choose whichever you find works best for you!
Conclusion
And we’ve come to an end. Fortunately, that’s everything you need to know about your Golden Delicious Apple to keep it safe and sound in your garden or home. Enjoy planting!
