- Mature height
- 3m to 5m (approx.) (can be kept smaller by pruning)
- Mature width
- 2m to 3m
Malus domestica 'Pink Lady', correctly the cultivar Cripps Pink, produces the crisp pink-blushed apples that made it Australia's best-known modern variety. Fruit holds its texture and balance of sweetness and acidity for months in storage, well beyond most home garden apples.
'Pink Lady' grows to 3 to 5 metres tall and 2 to 3 metres wide at 30 to 60 centimetres per year, and is easily held at 2.5 metres with annual pruning. Masses of white blossom cover the tree in spring, which makes it genuinely ornamental as well as productive.
'Pink Lady' is frost hardy, surviving heavy and frequent frost without damage, and needs a long warm season to ripen its late-maturing fruit fully. It wants full sun, free-draining soil, and a second apple variety nearby for reliable cross-pollination.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Malus domestica 'Pink Lady'
When does Pink Lady fruit ripen?
Pink Lady is a late-season apple, ripening from late autumn. It needs a long warm growing season to develop its full colour and flavour.
Does Pink Lady need a pollinator?
Yes. Pink Lady sets a much heavier crop with a compatible apple variety flowering nearby. Granny Smith, Gala and Golden Delicious are all suitable partners.
How big does a Pink Lady apple tree grow?
It reaches 3 to 5 metres tall and 2 to 3 metres wide unpruned, and is easily held at 2.5 metres with annual pruning, which keeps fruit within reach.
Can Pink Lady be grown in a pot?
Yes, in a large pot with free-draining mix in full sun. Container trees crop lighter and need consistent watering and annual pruning to stay productive.
Is Pink Lady the same as Cripps Pink?
Yes. Cripps Pink is the cultivar name, bred in Western Australia. Pink Lady is the trademark under which fruit meeting certain quality standards is sold.
When should I prune an apple tree?
Prune in winter while the tree is dormant, removing crossing branches and opening the centre. Apples fruit on spurs that persist for years, so avoid removing short stubby growth.
Is Pink Lady frost hardy?
Yes. The tree survives heavy and frequent frost without damage, though late frosts during spring blossom can reduce that season's crop.