05/01/2025
Apple Blossoms
Current Facts
Apple blossoms form along the newly awakened branches of apple trees, a deciduous tree belonging to the rose family, botanically classified as Malus domestica. Apple buds appear for only ten days during spring before withering and falling away. There are over 7,500 varieties of apples grown worldwide, with more than 100 varieties grown commercially in the United States. Apple trees go dormant in the winter and, depending on the variety, require a certain number of dormancy hours with temperatures between 0 and 7 degrees celsius before blooming. These chill hours range from 400 to 1000. Based on this dormancy period, apple cultivars can be classified into four groups: early flowering, mid-season flowering, late-season flowering, and very late-season flowering. Late-season bloomers can be successfully grown in colder climates, whereas early-season bloomers are best in more temperate climates, protecting the buds from late spring frost. To fruit, apple trees need to cross-pollinate, so understanding when apple trees will bloom is vital for crop production. If trees planted near each other do not bloom during the same period, cross-pollination cannot occur, and fruit will not form. Apple blossoms form in clusters. It is common practice in apple orchards to thin some or all of the smaller flowers in these clusters to increase apple size and crop yield. These thinned blossoms can be used for various culinary applications or combined with other seasonal flowers like jasmine, rose, and lily of the valley to produce perfume. The Apple blossom is the state flower in Michigan and Arkansas, and the delicate, sweet-smelling bloom is celebrated during many festivals in the United States, Canada, and Europe.