Red Jonathan AppleMalus domestica ‘Red Jonathan’

The standard red Jonathan apple tree grows to a height of 20–25' and a spread of around 25' at maturity. The semi-dwarf variety grows to a height of 12–15' with a spread of 12–15'. The dwarf variety grows to a height of about 10' with a spread of about 10'.

The red Jonathan apple grows well in moist, well-drained soil. It is not drought-tolerant.

• Produces a medium-sized apple that is bright red in sunny climates but striped red in cooler climates. Its crisp and juicy white flesh has a bold, tart but well-balanced flavor--great for fresh eating, freezing and cooking. The fruit will keep for 3–6 months if stored in the refrigerator.
• Yields ripe fruit typically from mid-September to mid-October.
• Grows in an oval, spreading shape. Sometimes they are horizontal, upright or erect.
• Needs a compatible cultivar--growing within 100' of the tree for standard, 50' for semi-dwarf and 20' for dwarf varieties-- to ensure pollination.
• Bears fruit in 6–10 years if standard sized. The semi-dwarf tree bears in 4–6 years, the dwarf in 3–4 years.
• Blooms midseason, with white to light pink flowers.
• Can be pollinated with yellow delicious, red delicious, early harvest or a variety from a different apple family.
• Is available in standard, semi-dwarf and dwarf sizes. Our standard red delicious seedlings are budded onto whole rootstock; our semi-dwarf seedlings are grafted onto Malling-Merton III; and our dwarf seedlings are grafted onto Malling 7A, Malling 26.
• Requires regular watering.
• Has a chill hours (CU) requirement of 700–800. (Chill hours are the average hours of air temperature between 32° and 45° F in a typical winter season.)

Apples are eaten by a variety of birds and mammals. The leaves and branches are browsed. The trees can be destroyed by rodents and rabbits girdling the stem or trunk. The nectar and/or pollen provides nutrition for bees in early to late spring. Also, apple orchards are considered valuable habitat for wildlife.