L. Frederic Hough of Rutgers University first crossed this tree in 1969 by pairing the Jonamac x Vista Bells apples. The tree, having a similar shape and fruit appearance to Empire was dubbed the Empress Apple. The tree is a spur bearer and is generally smaller than other apples trees on similar rootstock making this a great tree for small spaces. It is also precocious with evidence suggesting the tree can begin producing fruit at 4-5 years old. The flowers exhibit some unusual characteristics; the tree tends to flower later than other apples but is one of the first to ripe, usually a couple days before Paula Red. The apple is medium sized but can be smaller due to its tendency to flower and fruit in clusters. Its skin is nearly 100% cardinal red without surface details. The skin produces a heavy waxy bloom that gives the apple a bright shine. Its flesh is light yellow in color and has a sub acid flavor- similar to Jonamac. It's tart but has a pleasant aroma making this a high quality eating apple. Similar to other early apples, the Empress should be eaten soon after harvest and can store for about 1 month under proper conditions. There are no notable disease resistances. USDA Zone: 4-8 Mature Height: B.9 ~8-10' tall, Dwarf Sun: Full Sun Bloom Group: 4, Late Mid Season Ripening Time: Late August Pollination: Required B.9 Rootstock Characteristics
