Apple, Granny Smith (Semi-Dwarf) Malus 'Granny Smith' Height: 15 feet Spread: 15 feet
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Hardiness Zone: 5a Description: A tart and crisp apple with solid green skin, stark white flesh. Considered among the best all purpose apples for cooking and fresh eating. Edible Qualities Apple, Granny Smith (Semi-Dwarf) is a small tree that is typically grown for its edible qualities. It produces large light green round apples (which are botanically known as 'pomes') with white flesh which are usually ready for picking from mid to late fall. The apples have a tart taste and a crisp texture. The apples are most often used in the following ways: Features & Attributes Apple, Granny Smith (Semi-Dwarf) features showy clusters of lightly-scented white flowers with shell pink overtones along the branches from early to mid spring, which emerge from distinctive pink flower buds. It has forest green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy light green apples carried in abundance in mid spring. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up. This is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration; Aside from its primary use as an edible, Apple, Granny Smith (Semi-Dwarf) is sutiable for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Apple, Granny Smith (Semi-Dwarf) will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more. This variety requires a different selection of the same species growing nearby in order to set fruit. This tree is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. This plant should be periodically fertilized throughout the active growing season with a specially-formulated acidic fertilizer. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. Special Attributes Apples require regular maintenance with spraying for insects & diseases. They are excellent pollinator for other apples and self-fruitful but produces better with a cross pollinator; Gala, Golden Delicious or Honeycrisp.
