Granny Smith Apple Tree

Granny Smith is a mid-season apple originating as a chance seedling found in Australia in the 1860s. Its medium-to-large green fruit is crisp and tart, with a long keeping quality that suits both fresh eating and cooking. ## Fruit and orchard use The University of Maryland Extension describes the flesh as greenish white and the fruit as useful in the kitchen as well as fresh. It is a mid-season cultivar, but harvest timing changes with climate and growing region. Preserve space for the rootstock and training system used; the height and width of a purchased apple tree are not determined by the cultivar name alone. ## Site and pollination Apples grow best with ample light and good air movement. Most cultivars produce better when a compatible apple or crabapple with overlapping bloom supplies pollen, so check local bloom timing when choosing a companion. Cultivar-specific chilling needs also matter when selecting a site. Sources: [University of Maryland Extension](https://extension.umd.edu/resource/important-apple-cultivars-mid-atlantic-region-eb-2023-0684), [NC State Extension apple profile](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/malus-domestica/). ## Maintenance Water consistently while the tree establishes, then adjust irrigation to soil and weather. Prune during dormancy to maintain structure and light through the canopy, and thin crowded fruit if the crop is heavy. Monitor for apple scab, mildew, aphids, and other regional pests; use local extension guidance for identification and control. ## 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 'Granny Smith' / Apple with Moderate/high flammability (main-directory entry 298). The source and catalog both identify 'Granny Smith'. The source writes Malus x domestica, while this catalog omits the hybrid sign; no other apple cultivar is substituted. 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.