Apple tree identification

Look at the bark.

When you look at the bark of an apple tree, think about how rough it looks. Is the bark smooth and light gray? If so, your tree is most likely a McIntosh or Empire.

Is the bark a little bit rough? If so, your tree may be a Golden Delicious or Red Delicious.

Is the bark a little bit rough and red? Then your tree may be an Ida Red.

If the bark is rough, red, and has some bumps on it as well, then you’re looking at an Iowa Beauty apple tree.

Observe the leaves.

The leaves of the apple tree are four to six inches long and are made up of five distinct features. The shape of the leaf is not a simple V-shape, but is more like a lollipop with arms curving in toward itself. The size of the leaf varies from one plant to another, and can range from three inches to an inch and a half.

The colour of the leaf ranges from green through yellow, red, or purple. The veins running along the sides of the leaf make it look rough when viewed under magnification. The underside of the leaf that touches on the branch will be covered in fine hairs called pubescence.

The leaves on a single plant tend to be arranged in circles around each other in pairs or threes, or have small gaps between them.

The serrations at the edges of each side help create spaces for insects to enter and get trapped.

These serrations can also help reduce damage should a bird decide it wants to peck out some juicy part.

The texture on many apples is described as “hairy” because it contains fine hairs called corky indumentum pericarpium (CPIP).

This helps trap water that runs off when they’re wet.

It also gives them their tanginess by giving off this smell (yes, you’ve smelled this before), which is usually described as being reminiscent of cucumbers and watermelon.

It even tastes great!

Check the twigs and buds.

The twigs (the branches) and buds of an apple tree are brown, slender and hairless. They come out of a pith that is a light yellowish brown color, and the shoots emerge from the side of the bud in an upright position. The buds themselves are along the twig, not at the end of it, and they have a rounder appearance than those on many other trees. The shoots that emerge from them are also upright in relation to their placement on the twig, rather than sideways or inward.

Apple trees grow tiny, tightly-folded flowers which branch together in clusters. They’re white or pinkish with no petals, and each flower contains five sepals where petals would normally be located. When apple trees bloom in springtime, they do so before any leaves appear on their branches.

Consider the flowers and fruit.

• Consider the flowers and fruit. The first step in identifying an apple tree is to take notes on the blossoms and apples at different times of year. Most apple trees flower in late spring, with flowers that are usually white or pink and vary in size from 1⁄2 to 2 inches (1–5 cm) across. Petals often have a slight pink flush when they first open, but fade to white shortly after blooming. Apples ripen in late summer or early fall, depending on the climate, so this is also the time to watch out for fruit characteristics such as shape, color, size, length of stem and calyx tube (the cup-like base where petals meet), skin texture and flesh color.

Look for a little bit of everything.

A simple way to identify an apple tree is by looking for a little bit of everything. There are some unique things to look for, but the best way to identify an apple tree is by its overall shape and form. Some trees may look similar to apple trees, but these will be other species of trees that happen to resemble the shape or form of an apple tree.

Try to remember that apple trees can grow in clumps, or as dwarfs, or even as single trees.

• Try to remember that apple trees can grow in clumps, or as dwarfs, or even as single trees.
• So when you are out looking for apple trees, don’t discount the possibility of a single tree just because you didn’t find two.
• If you’re not completely sure what type of apples tree it is, just look at the leaves:
• Crab apples’ leaves are rounder and the tips are more blunt than regular apples’ leaves. If they have very deep indentations along the sides of their leaves (cut almost all the way through), then they’ve got cedar apple rust and should be removed immediately!
• Regular apples’ leaves are more pointed along the edges and their tips come to a point. The leaf cutouts look smooth and curvy on regular apples.

Apple trees are not difficult to identify

Much of the information on apple tree identification is outdated, inaccurate and confusing. Let’s demystify the process by taking a look at some common myths about identifying apple trees.