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Pink Lady Apple

Malus domestica 'Cripps Pink'

A premium late-season apple with stunning pink blush over yellow-green skin and an exceptional sweet-tart flavor that improves with storage. This Australian-bred variety requires a long, warm growing season to develop its signature taste and beautiful coloring, making it perfect for gardeners in warmer apple-growing regions. Pink Lady apples are prized for their crisp texture, excellent keeping quality, and complex flavor that balances sweetness with refreshing acidity.

Harvest

200-210d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

4–9

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

15-30 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Transplant

Harvest

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Pink Lady Apple in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 fruit-tree →

Zone Map

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Pink Lady Apple · Zones 4–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Moderate to challenging

Spacing15-20 feet apart

SoilWell-drained, fertile loam with good organic matter

pH6.0-7.0

Water1-1.5 inches per week, consistent moisture

SeasonSpring planting, very late fall harvest

FlavorPerfect sweet-tart balance, crisp, juicy with wine-like complexity

ColorPink blush over yellow-green background

SizeMedium to large, 3-3.5 inches diameter

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 4	—	June – July	—	September – September
Zone 5	—	May – July	—	September – October
Zone 6	—	May – July	—	September – October
Zone 7	—	May – June	—	August – October
Zone 8	—	April – June	—	August – November
Zone 9	—	March – May	—	July – December

Complete Growing Guide

Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 24-60 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: CrimsonCrisp®, 'Empire', 'Fuji', 'Gala', 'Ginger Gold', 'Golden Delicious', 'Jonagold', 'Mutsu', 'Red Delicious', 'Rome', 'Stayman'. Propagation: Grafting, Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Large, round, firm fruits that often have a waxy coating. Some varieties ripen late summer and some in the fall.

Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Red/Burgundy. Type: Pome. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.

Garden value: Edible

Harvest time: Fall, Summer

Bloom time: Spring

Edibility: Fruits can be eaten raw and cooked in a variety of dishes.

Storage & Preservation

Properly stored Pink Lady apples are legendary keepers, maintaining quality for 4-6 months under ideal conditions. Store unwashed fruits in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator at 32-35°F with high humidity. Their excellent storage ability actually improves flavor—the starch converts to sugars while acidity mellows, creating the complex taste Pink Ladies are known for.

For preservation, Pink Ladies excel in dehydrating due to their firm flesh and balanced sugar content. Slice thinly and dehydrate at 135°F for 8-12 hours for crispy chips. They also freeze well when sliced with a bit of lemon juice, maintaining texture better than softer varieties. While suitable for canning, their premium eating quality makes fresh storage the preferred method. The variety's natural wax coating helps prevent moisture loss during extended storage periods.

History & Origin

Origin: Central Asia to Afghanistan

Advantages

+Attracts: Pollinators, Small Mammals
+Edible: Fruits can be eaten raw and cooked in a variety of dishes.

Companion Plants

Plant Together

Comfrey

Deep roots bring nutrients to surface, leaves make excellent mulch and fertilizer

Chives

Repels aphids and reduces apple scab disease

Nasturtium

Acts as trap crop for aphids and woolly apple aphids

Marigold

Deters nematodes and various apple pests with strong scent

Clover

Fixes nitrogen in soil and provides living mulch

Tansy

Repels ants, mice, and various insects that damage apple trees

Dill

Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control apple pests

Lavender

Repels moths and other flying pests, attracts pollinators

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone toxin that inhibits apple tree growth and can cause death

Fennel

Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of most fruit trees including apples

Grass

Competes heavily for water and nutrients, especially problematic for young trees

Nutrition Facts

Calories

25kcal(1%)

Protein

0.6g(1%)

Carbs

5.7g(2%)

Fat

0.3g(0%)

Vitamin C

22.3mg(25%)

Vitamin A

17mcg(2%)

Iron

0.07mg(0%)

Calcium

29mg(2%)

Potassium

123mg(3%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #168171)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Good scab resistance, susceptible to fire blight in humid conditions

Common Pests

Codling moth, apple maggot, aphids, scale insects

Diseases

Fire blight in humid areas, apple scab (moderate), powdery mildew

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Pink Lady apple take to grow and produce fruit?▼

Pink Lady apple trees typically take 4-6 years to begin fruiting and 7-10 years to reach full production. Each growing season requires 200-210 days from bloom to harvest, with fruit ripening in late October to November. The extended growing period and late harvest make this one of the longest-season apples available.

Can you grow Pink Lady apples in containers?▼

Pink Lady can be grown in large containers (minimum 25-30 gallons) using dwarf rootstock, but success is limited by climate requirements. You still need 200+ frost-free days and consistent warmth. Container growing allows mobility for frost protection but makes achieving the long, warm season more challenging in marginal climates.

What does Pink Lady apple taste like?▼

Pink Lady offers a perfect sweet-tart balance with crisp, juicy flesh and wine-like complexity. The flavor develops over time—newly harvested fruits are more tart, becoming sweeter and more complex during storage. The taste combines bright acidity with honeyed sweetness and subtle floral notes, making it exceptional for fresh eating.

What climate zone can you grow Pink Lady apples in?▼

Pink Lady apples grow best in USDA zones 8-10, requiring at least 200 frost-free days with warm temperatures. They're ideal for areas like Southern California, parts of Texas, Florida, and similar climates. Northern regions typically lack sufficient heat accumulation for proper fruit development and the characteristic pink color.

Pink Lady vs Honeycrisp apple—what's the difference?▼

Pink Lady has a more complex, wine-like flavor with stronger tartness and stores 4-6 months, while Honeycrisp is primarily sweet with explosive crispness but shorter storage life. Pink Lady requires much warmer climates (zones 8-10) versus Honeycrisp (zones 3-8). Pink Lady is better for baking due to superior shape retention.

Do Pink Lady apple trees need a pollinator?▼

Yes, Pink Lady apples require cross-pollination from compatible varieties planted within 50 feet. Good pollinators include Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, and Red Delicious. The extended bloom period makes timing crucial—ensure your pollinator varieties overlap during Pink Lady's flowering window for successful fruit set.