Golden Delicious Apples

Last updated 2026-11-09 — The earliest introduced and most widely distributed Western apple variety tree in Yunnan. A deciduous tree of the Malus genus in the Rosaceae family. A temperate fruit tree. Also known as Golden Crown, the Golden Delicious originates from the United States. It was first introduced to Dalian, China, from Japan in 1910. In 1940, Wu Jingyi from Zhaotong purchased 150 trees from Chengdu, Sichuan, and planted them in Safu Township, Zhaotong. Today, the local fruit technology station in the Zhaotong area still maintains over 70 of the originally planted trees that bear normal yields. This variety is suitable for cultivation in cooler, less rainy regions, thriving best with an average annual temperature of 9°C–11°C and annual precipitation below 700 mm. The fruits ripen in early September. The variety is known for its high and stable yields. Golden Delicious apples typically weigh around 180 grams and are oblong in shape. Those grown at lower altitudes tend to be more flat-round. The skin is yellow-green at the base, turning golden yellow when ripe. The flesh is fine-textured, moderately sweet, and aromatic, making it ideal for fresh eating. However, it is prone to russeting and can become mealy after storage. Fully dwarf and virus-free rust-resistant strains have been introduced.