Apple, Pink Lady® (Malus domestica 'Cripps Pink') Pink Lady® is a premium late-season apple known for its vibrant pink blush, firm texture, and complex, sweet-tart flavor. Bred in Australia in the 1970s as a cross between ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Lady Williams,’ Pink Lady® (cultivar name ‘Cripps Pink’) requires a long growing season and lots of sunshine to develop its signature color and crispness. It's an excellent apple for fresh eating, salads, and baking—holding its texture exceptionally well. With good disease resistance, long storage potential, and unmatched flavor, Pink Lady® is a standout variety for orchardists in warm, temperate regions with long growing seasons. Key Characteristics Exceptionally crisp, sweet-tart fruitPink Lady® apples have a firm, dense bite and a lively flavor combining honeyed sweetness with bright acidity. The balance of sugars and acids makes them ideal for eating fresh, slicing into salads, or baking into pies and tarts. Long ripening season and excellent keeperThis is one of the latest ripening apples, harvested in October to early November. Fruit stores exceptionally well, retaining flavor and crunch for up to 6 months—perfect for extending fresh apple availability well into winter. Requires a warm climate and long growing seasonPink Lady® needs around 700–800 chill hours and a long, frost-free season to fully ripen and develop color. Best suited to regions with mild falls and hot summers (Zones 6–9), it may not reliably mature in colder areas. Naturally resistant to diseasePink Lady® shows good resistance to fire blight and mildew, making it a strong performer in low-spray or organic orchard systems. Proper pruning and good airflow improve fruit quality and reduce disease pressure further. Ideal for diverse orchard systems and home orchardsWith its long season, crisp texture, and broad appeal, Pink Lady® adds value to multi-variety orchards. It’s also a beautiful tree in the landscape, with its pink-blushed fruit, white blooms, and dense green foliage. A favorite for farm stands and CSA shares. Product Details Sun requirements: Full sun Soil requirements: Medium, well-drained Bloom time: Mid to late season Bloom color: White Fruit qualities: Medium to large, pink blush over yellow, firm, crisp, sweet-tart Fruit uses: Fresh eating, salads, baking, long-term storage Fruit ripening month: October to early November Required chill hours: ~700–800 Pollination requirements: Not self-fertile. Best pollinators include: Apple, Fuji Apple, Granny Smith Apple, Gala Apple, Enterprise Apple, Gold Rush Apple, Liberty USDA Hardiness Zones: 6–9 Pink Lady® is a premium-quality apple for growers with long, warm seasons. Its vibrant color, long storage life, and crisp, complex flavor make it a must-have for fresh-market growers, food forests, and home orchardists alike.
