Braeburn Apple Tree

Braeburn is a sweet-tart dessert apple with crisp, juicy flesh and a red blush over a yellow background. It ripens in mid-season in Washington State University’s variety profile and is known for keeping quality in storage. ## Fruit and harvest The [WSU Tree Fruit Braeburn profile](https://treefruit.wsu.edu/variety/braeburn/) describes a red-over-yellow apple with sweet-tart flavor and a crisp texture. It reports a mid-season harvest and storage potential of up to ten months under suitable conditions. Timing varies with climate and growing season. The fruit can be eaten fresh or used in cooking, sauce, and freezing. ## Site and pollination Give an apple tree full sun and well-drained soil. Most apple varieties need pollen from a different cultivar to set a reliable crop; two Braeburn trees do not provide cross-pollination for each other. Choose a compatible pollinizer whose bloom overlaps locally. [Utah State University Extension’s home-orchard guide](https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/apple-production-and-variety-recommendations-for-the-utah-home-garden) covers site selection, bloom overlap, and cultivar-specific climate limits. ## Maintenance Water deeply during establishment and dry periods. Train and prune the tree for its actual rootstock and chosen form, and thin developing fruit when needed to reduce crowding and support consistent fruit size. Monitor for common apple pests and diseases, which vary with region and season. ## New Zealand — FENZ Moderate/high flammability The [Fire and Emergency New Zealand directory](https://www.checkitsalright.nz/reduce-your-risk/low-flammability-plants) lists Malus x domestica 'Braeburn' / Apple with Moderate/high flammability (main-directory entry 296). The source and catalog both identify the 'Braeburn' apple cultivar. The source writes Malus x domestica, while this catalog omits the hybrid sign; this does not justify extending the band to other apple cultivars. The directory includes all flammability bands; inclusion alone is not a planting recommendation. Higher bands mean more flammable and are separate from Idaho's numerical resistance scores. Source ratings remain conditional on plant condition, site and maintenance, with no guarantee of individual stock performance. Maintain appropriate spacing and water, remove dead material and follow local defensible-space guidance. No plant is fireproof; preserve other regional classifications separately.