Plant Finder

Description:

Flowering tree with edible amber colored apples that are streaked with red; apples are good for eating fresh, cooking, storage; fireblight and scab resistance; showy red flower buds open to fragrant white flowers; best pruned as a dwarf tree

Edible Qualities

Dexter Jackson Dwarf Apple is a small tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces gold round apples (which are botanically known as 'pomes') with a red blush which are usually ready for picking from late summer to early fall. The apples have a sweet taste and a crisp texture.

The apples are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Cooking

Features & Attributes

Dexter Jackson Dwarf Apple is clothed in stunning clusters of fragrant white flowers along the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy gold apples with a red blush, which are carried in abundance from late summer to mid fall. 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 shapely form and gracefully arching branches. 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 plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds and bees to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Messy

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Dexter Jackson Dwarf Apple is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Dexter Jackson Dwarf Apple will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 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 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 does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. 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. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.