Apple Tree

The apple tree is a deciduous tree in the rose family best known for its sweet, pomaceous fruit. Cultivated worldwide as a fruit tree, it is the most widely grown species in the genus Malus. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, Malus sieversii, is still found today. Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe and were brought to North America by European colonists. Apple trees are large if grown from seed, but small when grafted onto roots. They require chill hours during winter to break dormancy and produce fruit successfully, making them well suited to temperate climate zones around the globe.