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Apple-loving homeowners on the West Coast, and in the South need to know about Anna Apple tree (Malus 'Anna'). Anna requires only 200 hours of chill time, which makes it ideal for warmer climates.
As you know, it's always best to select varieties that do best in your area. Finding a good Apple tree for warmer regions can be tough, but Anna fits that profile.
A Golden Delicious style apple with green skin that can have a red blush over the top. You'll enjoy crisp, flavorful apples early in the season. Use them for snacking, baking, and juicing. The fruit of the Anna Apple tree stores for up to two months, depending on your storage method.
This tree is self-pollinating, so you'll get a nice harvest from a single tree. However, if your trees are planted with a partner, they'll get cross-pollinated. You'll get a whole lot more apples! Although considered partially self-fertile, there are some pollinator partners that will boost the fruit set by planting with Dolgo Crabapple, Dorsett Golden, Duchess of Oldenburg, Golden Russet, Idared, or McIntosh.
Anna is a prolific producer, and the harvest starts early in the summer. This makes a welcome addition to backyard orchards that already have later-bearing varieties.
The petite, pink-tinted springtime blossoms are very fragrant. You'll have plenty of hummingbirds and butterflies come for a visit.
Enjoy watching your developing harvest of fruit. Anna fruit features yellow skin with a fiery red blush upon ripening.
This multi-use apple is sweet, with a tartness that makes for wonderful fresh eating, juicing and baking. In its early stages, Anna has been compared to a Grammy Smith. However, during the apple ripening season, Anna increases in sweetness.
Early to flower, the Anna Apple tree bears fruit early, too. It won't make you wait long before you're enjoying your very own, homegrown fruit. Order yours today!
Plant the Anna Apple as part of an Edible Landscape. It makes a unique specimen tree in the front yard. Or, go for the gold with a long row of sculpted fruit trees lining your driveway.
We bet your family and friends will certainly help you enjoy that fresh fruit! Create a hedgerow by planting several varieties 15 feet apart on center. Measure from the center of one to the center of the next.
Alternate between Anna and Dorsett Apple tree to boost your harvest. Both have low chill requirements and are cross-pollination partners.
Why not plant a specimen tree near a window to enjoy its beautiful look from a close-up? The pretty spring flowers and developing fruit are so interesting. Keep things easy for yourself by removing any lawn and placing mulch underneath Apple trees.
You can easily keep Anna Apple to a smaller size if you prefer. Summer pruning is the key to controlling the size. Let it grow out, or maintain it at your preferred height from 5 to 10 feet tall.
Anna Apple trees need full sun to thrive. Plant them in a spot that will receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day. The more sun, the better!
Morning sun is especially good for fruit trees. The drying power of the morning sun will quickly dry off the foliage. Keep the leaves dry when you can.
It's best to use drip irrigation, rather than rely on overhead lawn sprinklers. If you must water using sprinklers, set the timer to run in the early morning. Good air circulation in your planting site will also help keep the leaves dry.
Give your Apple tree a moderate amount of water on a regular basis. Water carefully during periods of drought and especially during fruit development.
Apples need well-drained soil. If you need to improve drainage, create a raised garden bed to plant in. Mound up soil to 18 inches high and 3 feet wide. Plant in that mound.
Anna Apple should be mulched to keep the root system nice and cool. Apply a thick, 3-inch layer of mulch and spread it out to 3 feet past the canopy. Pull the mulch back several inches all around the trunk. Please don't let the mulch touch the main trunk.
Prune in late winter to correct the shape, and open the canopy to sunlight and air circulation. Remove crossing branches at that time.
Prune in summer to keep the height where you want it. Tip prune to an outside-facing bud.
Although it is self-fertile, the Anna Apple performs optimally when it has another pollinator nearby. Plant it with Apple trees that flower at the same time, and you will see larger crops.
Order yours today!
Planting Bareroot trees as soon as you can dig a hole in spring and until hot weather, the earlier the better. Plant container Apple trees throughout the growing season with complete success - that is the benefit of container plants - to extend the planting season. Your County Agricultural Extension Office is a great resource for first and last frost dates in your area.
Dig a large hole only as deep as needed to accommodate the bareroot or container root ball, and twice as wide. Add Nature Hills Root Booster to speed root establishment. Remove the pot or bag and situate it into the hole so the top of the soil (soil line if bareroot), is level with the new location's soil being careful not to plant too deep. Water in again very well and backfill with the same soil you dug up, tamping down gently to ensure there are no air pockets.
Top off with a 3-4 inch thick layer of Arborist mulch. Consider staking your tree to keep its trunk growing straight for the first year to ensure it stands tall against strong winds and drifting snow.
Trim off any broken branches from delivery as soon as you take them out of the box. Prune and trim apple trees while dormant, in late winter or early spring, before you see new growth.
Dormant prune to:
Prune Apple trees in the summer to:
Growing an apple tree is easy when proper soil, good drainage, attention to moisture, and regular fertility are maintained. Once you've chosen an apple tree that works for your climate, in the size you need for your landscape, and its pollinator (if needed), then you've accomplished half the battle!
Apple trees will tolerate a wide range of soils, so long as water and nutrients are not limited and the pH level is adequate.
For the first year, water alone is most important. It is always best to get a soil test to see what your soil is lacking before adding more fertilizers. Once established, a fertilizer routine may be beneficial. We do offer some excellent slow-release organic options, applied according to the package directions.
Fruit trees need more phosphate and it's possible to apply too much nitrogen which affects the soil's pH. Test soil acidity or alkalinity using a pH Tester.
Fertilize in spring when you first see new growth emerging.
Anna is not self-fruiting and needs a pollinating partner. Pair with one of these varieties:
Anna's are typically ready to harvest in late June through July.
Early-Season? Mid-Season? Late-Season? The terminology can be confusing for new apple tree growers. Weather, climate and your tree determine when it's ripe.
For Apples:
The growing season consists of spring, summer, and fall, and varies with climate and weather. Areas with longer growing seasons in the warmer hardiness zones can greatly affect the harvest times for each particular apple variety grown in your area. Learn which growing zone you are in.
NatureHills.com works closely with our growers and nursery professionals to ensure we ship when it is most appropriate for your area. Our goal is to deliver the hardiest plants by avoiding extreme high and low temperatures. Check out our shipping schedule for more information and to learn our wills and won'ts when it comes to shipping plants. Find your Anna Apple Tree for sale here at NatureHills.com!
Apple trees have been grafted onto different rootstocks since before the mid-1800s. Different rootstocks are used to improve the anchoring of trees, eliminate diseases, and reduce the natural mature size of the tree itself. While there are many different types of rootstock, they are all labeled as being either Dwarf, Semi-Dwarf, or Standard.
The apple descriptions, including flowering, pollination, and apple characteristics are the same whether the plant is grown on a standard rootstock or some varying dwarfing rootstock. The overall size can vary by climate and soil but the understock used is ultimately what affects the mature size.
There will be some variation in sizes but as a guide, we are suggesting the overall mature size of these apple varieties are:
Semi-Dwarf Apples
Standard Apples
Remember that all fruit tree sizes can easily be altered if needed by simple pruning as the trees grow and develop.
Nature Hills sells a large variety of plants with several options available. Plants are offered in both potted containers and as dormant bare root without soil. Here is a helpful resource to understand your options as you create a beautiful landscape with help from Nature Hills.
Ever wonder what a larger plant will mean for your landscape? Container Sizes are really all about the age of the plant!
Seasonally, Nature Hills offers hand selected, high quality bare root trees, shrubs and perennials. Bare root plants are sold by height from the top of the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may be taller than the height minimums.
Keep in mind, specific varieties and different growing conditions can affect the rate at which plants grow. Variations in size may occur.
Young Plants to 18 Months | ||
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Size | Volume | |
2"x2"x3" | Ranges from | .18 to .21 dry quarts / .198 to .23 dry liters in volume |
4.5" Container | Equal to | .65 dry quart / .72 dry liter in volume |
Sprinter Pot | Equal to | .63 dry quart / .69 dry liter in volume |
4" Container | Ranges from | .31 to .87 / .35 to .96 dry liter in volume |
6" Container | Equal to | 1.4 dry quarts / 1.59 dry liters in volume |
1 Quart | Equal to | 1 dry quart / 1.1 dry liter in volume |
5.5" Container | Equal to | 1.89 of a dry quart / 2.08 dry liters in volume |
4"x4"x5" | Ranges from | .8 to 1.1 dry quarts / .88 to 1.2 dry liters in volume |
4"x4"x6" | Ranges from | 1.0 to 1.3 dry quarts / 1.1 to 1.41 dry liters in volume |
4"x4"x9" | Ranges from | 1.1 to 2.1 dry quarts / 1.2 to 2.3 dry liters in volume |
4"x4"x10" | Ranges from | 1.7 to 2.3 dry quart / 1.87 to 2.53 dry liters in volume |
Plants 18 Months - 2.5 Years Old | ||
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Size | Volume | |
2 Quart | Equal to | 2 dry quarts / 2.2 dry liters in volume |
#1 Container | Ranges from | 2.26 to 3.73 dry quarts / 2.49 to 4.11 dry liters in volume |
5"x5"x12" | Equal to | 3.5 to 4.3 dry quarts / 3.85 to 4.74 dry liters in volume |
Plants 2 - 4 Years Old | ||
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Size | Volume | |
#2 Container | Ranges from | 1.19 to 1.76 dry gallons / 5.24 to 7.75 dry liters in volume |
#3 Container | Ranges from | 2.32 to 2.76 dry gallons / 10.22 to 12.16 dry liters in volume |
Plants 3 - 5 Years Old | ||
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Size | Volume | |
#5 Container | Ranges from | 2.92 to 4.62 dry gallons / 12.86 to 20.35 dry liters in volume |
#6 Container | Ranges from | 5.25 to 6.01 dry gallons / 23.12 to 26.42 dry liters in volume |
#7 Container | Ranges from | 5.98 to 6.08 dry gallons / 26.34 to 26.78 dry liters in volume |
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Color | Zone | Times |
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3 | Spring 2019 | |
4 | Now | |
5 | Now | |
6 | Now | |
7 | Now | |
8 | Now | |
9 | Now | |
10 | Now | |
11 | Now |
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
From | To | S&H | |
---|---|---|---|
0 | - | 19.99 | 24.99 |
20 | - | 49.99 | 29.99 |
50 | - | 69.99 | 34.99 |
70 | - | 99.99 | 39.99 |
100 | - | 129.99 | 44.99 |
130 | - | 149.99 | 48.99 |
150 | - | 150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
The story of the Anna Apple begins in the mid to late 1950's at a Kibbutz named Ein Shemer, situated among the green hills of the Shomron region of Israel. The Kibbutz was founded in 1927, as a collective community based in agriculture. It was one of many Kibbutz communities to form in the early 1900's. Abba Stein, a member of the Ein Shemer Kibbutz was working on developing a Golden Delicious apple type that would produce in the hot desert climate.
Abba was successful in producing two noted varieties. The first, the Ein Shemer Apple, was introduced into the United States in 1967. It became popular as a low-chill selection for climates like Florida and Southern California. This variety, though still available, has proved to be less desirable; lacking the quality of Stein's other 1967 introduction, the Anna Apple.
Named after Stein's daughter, Anna is a cross between the Dorsett Golden Delicious and a lesser known local Crabapple type fruit, Red Hadassiva. Noted for its showy blossoms that appear as early as late January, the Anna is credited with two and sometimes three separate crops in one season in the desert climates.
The Anna's fast ripening is a highly sought-after quality in the hot, dry desert climate for which it was developed. It does however contribute to a shorter storage life, so Anna is considered best eaten fresh off the tree.
Pollinators are the Dorsett Golden or the Ein Shemer.
Abba Stein has gone on to introduce other low-chill selections such as 'Or' and 'Tomer', which were both introduced in the early 1990's. These are both still being tested around the world in low-chill regions; the Tomer is currently drawing much interest.
Brand | Nature Hills' Choice |
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Botanical Name | Malus 'Anna' |
Mature Height | Semi-Dwarf Height: 12 - 18 feet | Standard Height: 18 - 25 feet |
Mature Spread | Semi-Dwarf Spread: 10 - 15 feet | Standard Spread: 15 - 18 feet |
Sun Exposure | Full Sun |
Soil | Widely Adaptable |
Moisture | Low Once Established |
Growth Rate | Medium |
Flower Color | Deciduous |
Foliage | Deciduous |
Foliage Color | Green |
Harvest Time | Early Season |
Pollinator Friendly | Yes |
Fruiting Time | Very Early Season |
Pruning Time | When Dormant |