Dwarf apple trees have many advantages over standard apple trees. You can grow them in small spaces and easily prune, spray and harvest them. After planting, dwarf apple trees produce fruit much earlier, usually after three years, than standard apple trees, which may take up to 10 years to produce. Dwarf apple trees are created by grafting an apple variety to a dwarf rootstock. The absolute size of a dwarf apple tree also depends partly on cultural conditions and pruning methods. To fruit well, apple trees need a chilling period, a period with temperatures of 45 degrees F or less. Many dwarf apple tree varieties have a low chill requirement, thriving and producing apples in warmer climates.
Arkansas Black Dwarf Variety
The Arkansas Black apple tree (Malus domestica Arkansas Black) can be obtained as a dwarf or semi-dwarf tree. The dwarf tree will grow 6 to 9 feet tall and the semi-dwarf tree will reach 8 to 10 feet at maturity. Ten years after planting, these apple trees are considered to be mature. The Arkansas Black apple is flavorful and good for eating fresh, cooking or making juice. Trees have good disease resistance, especially against cedar apple rust disease. Arkansas Black dwarf varieties grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. These trees cannot self-fertilize and need to be pollinated by another nearby apple tree variety.
Goldrush Dwarf Variety
The Goldrush apple tree (Malus domestica GoldRush) comes as a dwarf (6 to 9 feet) or semi-dwarf ( 9 to 12 feet) tree. Goldrush is easy to grow and produces a large apple crop. The yellow-orangey apples are flavorful and sweet, especially after they are stored for a while. They are good eaten fresh or used in cooking. The Goldrush apple tree is disease-resistant, especially to scab and mildew. Goldrush is self-sterile, so it needs to be pollinated by another apple tree variety nearby. These trees grow well in USDA zones 5 through 9.
Gala Dwarf Variety
The Gala apple tree (Malus domestica Gala) grows 8 to 12 feet tall at maturity. The Gala apple is a common apple in supermarkets, but it is much sweeter when freshly picked. The orangey-red Gala apple is good for eating fresh or making juice. The tree grows well in USDA zones 5 through 9. However, the tree needs to be sprayed, because it has poor pest and disease resistance, especially against scab. The Gala apple tree is partially self-fertile, meaning it can bear fruit without pollination by another apple tree. But pollination from another apple tree variety will improve fruit-bearing.
Fuji Dwarf Variety
The Fuji apple tree (Malus domestica Fuji) can be planted as a dwarf or semi-dwarf tree. The Fuji apple is an attractive yellow apple with a reddish-pink overlay. The apple has a mild, sweet taste and is good when eaten fresh. The tree likes warm climates and a long growing season. It prefers USDA zones 6 through 9, although under the right conditions, it may also be productive in zone 5. The tree has average pest and disease resistance. It is self-sterile and needs to be pollinated by another apple tree variety.
Granny Smith Dwarf Variety
The Granny Smith apple tree (Malus domestica Granny Smith) reaches a height of 8 to 12 feet at maturity. It grows well in USDA zones 6 through 9 and sometimes even in zone 5, although apple ripening may not occur. The Granny Smith apple tree originated in Australia, but now is a popular variety in the United States. The green apple is tart, good for eating fresh or in cooking, especially for baking apple pies. The tree has average pest and disease resistance and is self-fertile. It does not need to be pollinated by another tree variety, although fruiting may be increased by a compatible nearby apple tree variety.
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