Malus domestica ‘sunrise’
€30.00
Frequently Bought Together
Description
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Sunrise Apple
- Botanical Name: Malus domestica ‘Sunrise’
- Plant Type: Deciduous fruit tree
- Mature Height: 3–4m (as a standard tree; can be kept smaller with pruning or on dwarfing rootstock)
- Mature Spread: 2.5–3.5m
- Flowering Period: April to May
- Flower Colour: White to pale pink
- Fruit: Medium-sized, pale yellow apples flushed with pink-red; crisp, juicy, sweet with a delicate tang; harvest August to early September
- Foliage: Mid-green, turning yellow in autumn
- Hardiness: RHS H6 (hardy throughout UK & Ireland)
- Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained, moderately fertile
- Aspect: Full sun (essential for best fruiting and colour)
- Maintenance: Moderate (annual pruning and thinning recommended)
Description
Malus domestica ‘Sunrise’ is an early-season apple variety that brings a welcome burst of colour and flavour just as summer is winding down. Its fruit is medium-sized, with pale yellow skin beautifully flushed with pink-red, and the flesh is crisp, juicy, and sweet with a gentle tang—perfect for eating fresh straight from the tree.
In spring, ‘Sunrise’ covers itself in clusters of white to pale pink blossom, attracting pollinators and lighting up the garden or orchard. The tree is compact, productive, and reliable, making it a great choice for Irish and UK gardens, especially where an early harvest is valued. Apples are ready to pick from late August into early September, offering a refreshing, sweet-tart flavour when many other varieties are still ripening.
Partially self-fertile, ‘Sunrise’ will crop more heavily with a compatible pollination partner (group 3—such as ‘Discovery’, ‘James Grieve’, or ‘Fiesta’) nearby. With its combination of early fruit, lovely blossom, and easy care, it’s ideal for family gardens, small orchards, or as a feature tree in a sunny spot.
Caragh Garden Notebook
Planting:
Space trees 2.5–3.5m apart for standards, or closer for cordons/espaliers. Plant bare-root or container-grown trees in late autumn to early spring (November–March). Choose a sunny, sheltered site with fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid frost pockets and waterlogged areas. Dig a generous hole, incorporate well-rotted compost, and plant at the same depth as in the nursery. Firm soil, water well, and mulch to retain moisture.
Space trees 2.5–3.5m apart for standards, or closer for cordons/espaliers. Plant bare-root or container-grown trees in late autumn to early spring (November–March). Choose a sunny, sheltered site with fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid frost pockets and waterlogged areas. Dig a generous hole, incorporate well-rotted compost, and plant at the same depth as in the nursery. Firm soil, water well, and mulch to retain moisture.
Soil Preparation:
Prefers moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.0 is ideal. Improve poor soils with compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
Prefers moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.0 is ideal. Improve poor soils with compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
Pruning & Care:
Prune annually in late winter or early spring to maintain shape, encourage fruiting spurs, and remove any dead or congested growth. Thin fruit in early summer to promote larger, healthier apples and reduce the risk of biennial bearing.
Prune annually in late winter or early spring to maintain shape, encourage fruiting spurs, and remove any dead or congested growth. Thin fruit in early summer to promote larger, healthier apples and reduce the risk of biennial bearing.
Pollination:
‘Sunrise’ is partially self-fertile but will crop best with a pollination partner from group 3 (such as ‘Discovery’, ‘James Grieve’, or ‘Fiesta’).
‘Sunrise’ is partially self-fertile but will crop best with a pollination partner from group 3 (such as ‘Discovery’, ‘James Grieve’, or ‘Fiesta’).
Harvesting:
Pick fruit from late August to early September when apples are fully coloured and come away easily from the branch. Best enjoyed fresh, as they do not store for long.
Pick fruit from late August to early September when apples are fully coloured and come away easily from the branch. Best enjoyed fresh, as they do not store for long.
Pests & Problems:
Generally reliable and disease resistant, but watch for aphids, apple scab, and codling moth. Good hygiene and regular checks help keep trees healthy.
Generally reliable and disease resistant, but watch for aphids, apple scab, and codling moth. Good hygiene and regular checks help keep trees healthy.
Propagation:
Not typically divided; propagate by grafting in winter for more trees.
Not typically divided; propagate by grafting in winter for more trees.
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