Jonagold apple

Malus domestica

Very popular commercial variety

Jonagold apple photo tape

Parentage: Golden Delicious x Jonathan
Origin: USA
Introduced: 1943
Season: Nov-Jan
Apple cultivar ID: 103300


Jonagold is an American apple, developed in the 1940s. As its name suggests, this is a cross between a Jonathan and a Golden Delicious. It is quite widely grown, and unusually for a Golden Delicious cross, is not limited to the warm apple regions, although it is not often found in the UK.

Jonagold is a large apple, and makes a substantial snack. If you are struggling to eat your 5 portions of fruit and veg per day, this can help !

The colouring is yellow of Golden Delicious, with large flushes of red. This is a crisp apple to bite into, with gleaming white flesh. The flavour is sweet but with a lot of acidity.

Jonagold's other parent, Jonathan, is an old (by American standards) variety which was discovered in the 1820s.

In the UK Jonagold sometimes appears in supermarkets in the spring packaged as "value" apples, often from Holland, and at a very low price.  We are trying to find out more about these apples, but it seems that they are mainly "second" quality apples which are nearing the end of their storage life and are surplus to other uses.

Relationships to other apple varieties

Offspring of this variety:

Parents and other ancestors of this variety:



Visitor comments

(Use the form at the bottom to add your own comments, or reply to one of the existing comments)

17 Jun 2009 18:38   Rob Barlow from Davenham Cheshire England
I note the comment " Not grown in UK -- often 2 I have been growing these apples for quite a few years now -- quite succesfully A realy good apple but did not know it was a USA developedReply to this comment
11 Mar 2009 13:59   Ray Hobby from Tatura.Victoria.Australia
I have bought these apples down at Geeveston,a cold area in southern Tasmania.I love anything and everything apple and thes are without doubt the best apples I have ever eaten.Reply to this comment
23 Dec 2008 14:34   Miranda Phillips from St Ives, Cornwall, UK
I'm passionate about apples, and on holiday this October in Macedonia I saw huge crops of Jonagold, Golden Delicious and (a few) Jonathans and Galas being gathered in. I had no idea that Macedonia was a major producer, as the only Jonagold I've seen in the UK have been Dutch, but apparently Macedonia exports mainly to the Gulf States ! I bought Jonagold for the first time as I'll always try a variety I've not seen before - and they were (still are) amazingly cheap. I like them a lot, I enjoy their crisp, slightly orangey sharp/sweetness, their juiciness and the fact that they are good "keepers". Other favourites Egremont russet, crisp cox (there are always some disappointingly soft ones), new season Discovery, James Grieve, Kidd's Orange.Reply to this comment
14 Dec 2008 01:18   Terry from San Jose, California
I have never liked apples or even apple pie because I didn't like the taste or the peeling of an apple, then I tried a Gala Apple because of thin skin it was a winner with me. One day while shopping for some apples, I saw a JonaGold and decided to try it. The color was striking and the taste was out of this world, it is by far the best tasting apple ever. I eat one everyday and will be sad when the season is gone I have become addicted to them. The price is a dollar or two cheaper than the rest, but I like that. An apple that is the best tasting ever at an affordable price is a WINNER.Reply to this comment
12 Nov 2008 12:10   Goran from Bulgaria
The best tasting apples. Very crisp and aromatic. You can notice the fragrance right away when you cut them! There are a sport of Jonagold - "Decoster", with a litle more acidic taste - superior!Reply to this comment
11 Jul 2008 14:05   Mike Field from Durham UK
Half the price of other varieties. Firm, slightly acidic flesh. Best peeled and sliced into segments with a touch of sugar, rather than eaten whole (and I'm not a sweet-tooth). Big enough to make a good baked apple by the looks of it.Reply to this comment
24 Jun 2008 20:42   Mary from New York, United States
Fear not, folks: this variety has been sold Stateside for decades with very few problems and has origins in one of the oldest apple growing regions in the nation. My guess is the ones you are eating are direct from the farm, so you should be fine.Reply to this comment
29 May 2008 16:51   Sarah Coyle from Tillatoba, MS
Undoubtedly the best tasting apple I have ever tried! My only problem is they are difficult to find in my area. If you like a crisp firm apple the is slightly sweet and tangy at the same time, try these!!Reply to this comment
13 May 2008 05:02   John from Melbourne Australia
It is cheap also in Australia. about $1-2 difference with other varieties. Makes me worryReply to this comment
19 Apr 2008 10:48   Kate from Kent
I've had similar concerns to those of Cliff, does anyone know why they are so cheap?Reply to this comment
20 Jan 2008 13:27   Cliff from Dorset, England
I agree with your tasting notes but what worries me is why they are so extremely cheap in s/markets, viz. 27p per kg against 63p per kg + for most other varities. Are they stock-piled somewhere in the EU? Are they as safe to eat? Are they subject more to pests & subsequently sprayed heavily? I would be grateful for your comments. Thanks.Reply to this comment
17 Sep 2007 16:53   Laura from Cornell University
This apple variety was created at Cornell University.Reply to this comment

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Where to buy apple trees

The following fruit tree nurseries offer Jonagold apple trees for sale:

Where to buy fruit and related products

The following orchards and suppliers offer Jonagold apples for sale:

Apple tree register

The following Jonagold trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree:

  • 13 Jun 09  Nynke Zijlstra
    Eastermar, Friesland, Netherlands
  • 09 Aug 08  Axel Kratel
    Jonagold
    Santa Cruz, California, United States

Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register here and contribute to our international register of apple trees.

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