The apples from a Wealthy Apple Tree look like they’re blushing from embarrassment. The soft yellow/green skin takes on a pink/red blush that radiates up from the bottom of the apple instead of from the stem.
You will adore the vibrant color palette, this heirloom apple is a pleasure to view in a wooden bowl or hanging from the tree. Super juicy with a sweet-tart flavor profile, the Wealthy Apple is perfect for fresh eating, baked desserts, and cooked in savory dishes. It is truly nature’s healthy treat.
History of the Wealthy Apple Tree
The Wealthy Apple Tree was created by Peter Gideon in 1868 who named the apple variety after his wife, Wealthy Gideon. He created this super cold hardy tree from a mix of Cherry Crabapple seeds from Maine and a Siberian Crab Apple from his orchard. The result was a prolific producer with delicious, long lasting fruit.
Characteristics of the Wealthy Apple Tree
The Wealthy Apple Tree is an early season picker that shows off pretty pink and white flowers in early spring. The fragrant sweet pink and white blooms open slowly over a longer than average bloom period. This makes the Wealthy Apple Tree very pollinator friendly since it’s available to bees for a long stretch of time.
With a sweet-tart flavor that is laced with notes of honey and raspberry, the Wealthy Apple is a sure winner. Crispy and juicy, the yellow/green fruit with a stunning red blush is enhanced by its white flesh making it perfect for munching fresh off the tree and able to hold its own in baked goods.
The Wealthy Apple Tree with its pretty flowers and stunning fruit makes a perfect tree for your edible landscape, as a garden centerpiece, or part of your larger home orchard. Finding plants that are pretty in the landscape and provide nutritious food for your family can be a daunting project. This apple is ready, willing, and able to fill that role.
Planting Zones
The Wealthy Apple Tree has a wide growing range. It is grown in USDA Hardiness Zones ranging from zones 4 through 7 and requires 1,000 Chill Hour. This heirloom varietal is widely adaptable to soil variations and colder growing regions. The adaptability to colder growing conditions makes this apple tree very appealing to farmers who live in the northern regions.
If this is your first time planting an orchard tree, read all about how to get off to a successful start with How To Grow Apple Tree.
Size and Spacing for your Apple Trees
The Wealthy Apple Tree has a mature height and spread of 12 to 15 feet. Allowing your apple trees plenty of room to grow, set roots that don’t have to compete for water, and an open branching structure to soak up the glorious sunshine are tantamount to having a healthy and productive orchard. With proper spacing, your apple trees will produce copious amounts of fruit for years to come.
Our beginner primer, How To Plant Apple Trees, is a great resource for getting your apple trees planted correctly and to encourage a bountiful harvest.
Pollination Partners for the Wealthy Apple Tree
The Wealthy Apple Tree has a long bloom time. This makes it the perfect pollination partner for many early blooming trees in your apple garden.
Good pollination partners for the Wealthy Apple Tree are the Golden Delicious, Gala, and Red Rome. Many of these varieties may already be in your home orchard, therefore, adding the Wealthy Apple Tree will be a great addition for your home orchard. Adding extra pollination friendly trees will increase your yield. Orchard farmers love a bountiful crop!
Bees are amazing pollinators and will increase your orchard’s yield exponentially. They require minimum effort and reward you with honey and perfectly pollinated fruit trees. If you are lucky enough to have a beekeeper in your neighborhood, that’s amazing. If not, perhaps you should consider placing a hive or two in your orchard and reap the exceptional pollination benefits.
Wealthy Apple Tree Care
Sunlight
- Like all apple trees, the Wealthy Apple requires full sun, a minimum of 6 hours per day will produce the best results.
Soil
- This apple tree loves a rich loamy soil that is enriched organically.
- A moisture holding site that drains well is ideal.
- The Wealthy Apple Tree will benefit from mulching to keep the roots insulated from extreme heat and cold. Do not pile the mulch around the tree trunk, keep it about 2 feet from the base.
Watering
- Moist, well-drained soil is critical for a new sapling to flourish. Do not let your tree dry out during the first year.
- The Wealthy Apple Tree is somewhat drought tolerant once it is well established, water during times of extended drought.
Pruning
- The Wealthy Apple Tree needs to have suckers removed regularly.
- Prune away dead and diseased branches.
- Prune cross branches to allow air circulation and sunlight into the center of your apple tree.
- For the most complete pruning advice, visit our post on Pruning Apple Trees: The Home Grower’s Complete Guide.
Diseases & Care
- The Wealthy Apple Tree has a good resistance to apple scab, fireblight, and cedar-apple rust.
- Knowing about Apple Tree Diseases and Care is critical to keeping your trees healthy and productive.
Pests
- Pests are always an issue for fruit trees. They love the sweet treats as much as we do. Keep a sharp eye out for common pests like apple maggots and codling moths who will wreck your crop.
- The best time to treat these pests is early summer when the insects are laying their eggs. Select from a variety of organic crop control pesticides; choosing one that works best for you and your garden.
Common Uses For The Wealthy Apple
The Wealthy Apple is a great, all-round apple. It is an early season apple with harvest beginning in September. For cooking, harvest the fruit early, when its red blush just begins. For the best fresh eating, let the fruit hang on the tree until it is almost red skinned. When the fruit is fully ripe, the tree lets it drop, making harvest easy if you don’t get to it before full maturity.
The Wealthy Apple is a good storing apple, it will stay fresh for 1 to 2 months after harvest when kept in the refrigerator. When cooked in pies, the apple gets soft, but not too saucy. The sweet-tart flavor profile makes the Wealthy Apple a good choice for cider making.
The Wealthy Apple works well in all kinds of apple recipes.
Apple pie is the quintessential American dessert. This Fresh Apple Pie recipe from Betty Crocker is as classic as it gets. By using a crust mix or pre-made dough, you can knock this delicious dessert out of the park in just a few minutes. Serve this latticed beauty at your next fall family gathering or harvest party, and you will be basking in all the glorious accolades,
Craft ciders are all the rage and making your own non-fermented version is super easy. Keep your cider warming in the crock pot with a few cinnamon sticks and your entire home will have the wafting scent of the holidays.
This Homemade Apple Cider recipe from delish is non-alcoholic making it perfect for the entire gang. Put out mugs for everyone to serve themselves and leave your favorite bourbon or whiskey on the counter for everyone to turn this spice filled cider into their favorite fall libation.
Another way to use up your homemade cider, or a purchased variety for that matter, is with our Dangerously Delicious Apple Cider Rye Cocktail. Rye is not a mainstream whiskey, but it provides an interesting kick to the cider based cocktail. Next time you have the gang over for a football game, break out this recipe and show off your amazing bartending skills.
Health Benefits of Eating Apples
The Wealthy Apple is particularly healthful. It is low in calories and very filling since it has a high fiber and carbohydrate content. This soluble and insoluble fiber combination creates a healthy environment for your digestive system. Apples are the perfect fruit to add to a healthy eating regimen. Eating apples daily is good for your wellness plan.
To learn why apples are the best snack for your heart and your waistline, visit our post on the 10 Amazing Health Benefits of Apples.
Where You Can Purchase A Wealthy Apple Tree
A reputable trusted nursery is the most economical way to purchase a fruit tree that you know is healthy and will not only grow, but thrive in your home orchard. We prefer to use trusted nurseries when recommending fruit tree purchases and Nature Hills Nursery is our recommended purveyor of apple trees. You can order your Wealthy Apple Tree to be delivered at the perfect time for planting in your region.
While you are considering your Wealthy Apple Tree purchase, be sure to add one or two of these perfect pollination partners. Golden Delicious, Gala, and Red Rome. The best way to get a bumper crop harvest is to plant two or three different varieties of trees that play well together.
Don’t make the mistake of buying your trees from an unknown and untested vendor. You want your fruit trees to bear bountiful harvests for years to come; and long-lasting trees need a good start, with expert care to help them grow into productive orchard trees.
Where To Buy Wealthy Apples
You won’t often find Wealthy Apples in the local supermarket. They are more prevalent in pick-your-own orchards, farm stands, and farmers markets. However, once you find a source, you will be back again year after year during apple season to stock up on these interesting and delicious apples.
The best way to assure you have plenty of Wealthy Apples, find a good sunny spot in your yard for a tree. With some pollination help, you will have your own supply of these pretty little gems.
The Wealthy Apple Tree
Here at Minneopa Orchards, we are committed to providing you with the best advice about purchasing, growing, and cooking beautiful fruit. The Wealthy Apple is a standout in the orchard world. It is a perfect plant for your home orchard.
Excited for more apple content? Visit my apple trees page to learn more about apple planting, growing, picking, cooking, and more!