How big does Apple grow?

About 4 m × 3.5 m after ten years (height × width).

What soil does Apple grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous.

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Apple be planted?

Plant it at least 2.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

When does Apple flower?

Flowering: April–May, white, pink.

How much water does Apple need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Apple cost?

It sells for roughly €30 to €220 in local shops, depending on size.

Apple

Malus domestica

Apple (Malus domestica) is a fruit plant that reaches 4 m × 3.5 m after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Toxic to dogs and cats. Sold in local shops from about €30.

Illustration of Apple — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

The best known garden fruit tree: it is covered in white and pink blossom in spring, and the fruit ripens from late summer to autumn depending on the cultivar. It is sold grafted and the rootstock decides the final size: on a dwarf rootstock it stays 2 to 3 m tall, on a medium-vigour one around 4 m, while a vigorous rootstock gives a large, spreading tree. Most cultivars are not self-fertile, so plant a second cultivar that flowers at the same time (or rely on one next door), and expect regular pruning and plant protection.

Watch out for

In Central Europe apple is one of the fruit trees that needs the most spraying. The main diseases are scab (spotted leaves and cracked, blotchy fruit in wet springs), powdery mildew and fire blight, which can kill whole branches; infected parts must be cut back well into healthy wood. The main pest is codling moth (maggoty apples), with aphids, woolly aphid and spider mites also causing trouble. The crop rarely stays clean without treatment, so for a small garden choose cultivars resistant to scab and mildew. It needs pruning every year (in late winter, and trained forms also in summer), otherwise the crown gets congested and it crops only every other year. Late spring frost can kill the blossom, and windfalls attract wasps, so pick them up.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Medium
Care: High
Size after 10 years: 4 m × 3.5 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–May, white, pink

Group	Fruit
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	4 m × 3.5 m
Ultimate size	3–9 m × 3–9 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, white, pink
Harvest	July–October
Self-fertile	no
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	High
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 2.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	Fruit
Planting distance	400 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €30

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
21 cm	approx. €30
90 cm	approx. €30
size not stated	approx. €34 – €220

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

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