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Anna apple

Anna

Anna is a Golden Delicious-style apple, developed in Israel specifically for cultivation in "low-chill" areas where winter temperatures rarely drop to freezing.  Most apple varieties require around 800 hours or more of winter temperatures in the range from about 6C / 45F down to freezing, in order to become properly dormant, which is an essential part of their annual cycle  - this is the "chill requirement".  Anna has an exceptionally low chill requirement, and will thrive even in climates where temperatures dip towards freezing for only 300 hours or so each winter.  This makes it ideally suited to climates such as southern California and southern Texas which are in USDA zones 8-10.

Anna is likely to flower in February in zones 9 or above. It is often paired with Dorsett Golden, another low-chill apple variety, however Dorsett Golden flowers later, and the flowering times do not always overlap.

Anna is a very early-season apple, ripening in late June / early July.  It bears fruit early in the life of the tree.

Anna apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Anna

USDA identification images for Anna

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

    Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

    Parents and other ancestors of this variety


    See also

    • Dorsett Golden - Anna and Dorsett Golden are natural partners, being the only varieties which flower so early in the season.

    Visitor reviews

    • 15 Feb 2024 
      What is the typical lifespan of an Anna Apple Tree?
    • 02 Jun 2019  CA, United States
      Living in SF East Bay Area - milder winters and fewer chill hours . Planted app 2 yrs ago and with year's rain, early blooming and apples are quickly ripening. Crop not as bountiful as neighboring Fujii, but nice variety and attractive growth. Fruit last year was a bit tart.
    • 30 Nov 2018  FLORIDA, United States
      Anna apple is our favorite variety! We grow it here at our nursery and our customers have been enjoying these apples for years! The best flavor
    • 29 Jul 2018  CA, United States
      Our Anna apple tree in Long Beach, CA, has been producing for 7-8 years. It blossoms so heavily that I must thin the blossoms or the fruit would break the branches. It is constantly in fruit or blossom, sometimes at the same time. This spring the worms were very bad and if fruit is left to ripen on the tree the bottom end starts to mush. How can I save our fruit?
    • 22 Aug 2017  CALIFORNIA, United States
      I have two in containers (as well as Dorset Golden for pollination) and they produce 4-5 crops a year, mostly for the squirrels. Right now I have one in a 15 gal container with 3 2nd crop 3" fruit, a bunch of 1" 3rd crop fruit, and it's blooming and setting 4th crop...it's 8-21-17, S. Calif. The Dorsett Golden's haven't bloomed for at least two months so these are self fertile crops. I've been holding off planting these in the ground because I didn't want to loose the multiple crop ability...so I'm happy to read here that people are getting at least 2 crops from in ground Anna apple trees.
    • 21 Aug 2017  CALIFORNIA, United States
      I have two in containers (as well as Dorset Golden for pollination) and they produce 4-5 crops a year, mostly for the squirrels. Right now I have one in a 15 gal container with 3 2nd crop 3" fruit, a bunch of 1" 3rd crop fruit, and it's blooming and setting 4th crop...it's 8-21-17, S. Calif. The Dorsett Golden's haven't bloomed for at least two months so these are self fertile crops. I've been holding off planting these in the ground because I didn't want to loose the multiple crop ability...so I'm happy to read here that people are getting at least 2 crops from in ground Anna apple trees.
    • 07 Aug 2016  WA, United States
      I just harvested my Anna apples August 5th. They were nice and red, light feeling and mildly crisp. The taste was moderately fruity and very tasty. Much better than I expected. I'll get another tree. I'm in eastern WA state.
    • 28 Jun 2016  CA, United States
      We have both an Anna and Golden Dorset next to each other. Easily pull 300+ pounds of apples a year. Great taste and makes fantastic apple sauce which we freeze for year around use. Have done nothing to trees since put in the ground 20 years ago.
    • 18 Feb 2016  AZ, United States
      4 yr old Anna in central AZ bears huge crops. Quality and appearance of fruit is markedly better if cross-pollinated, but Anna starts blooming a week or so ahead of other early apples. Great cooking Apple. I find if picked a bit early, it stores well 3-5 weeks in bottom drawer of the fridge.
    • 06 Jul 2015  USA, United States
      first crop of anna's apple tree planted about two years ago. It flowered in January 2015 and isnow starting to flower again --the first of July 2015. Just started reading about anna' apple tree. My trees apples are a bit tart but have not waterd well or fertilized since the tree went in the ground. The truck is at least twice the thickness of a nesr by peach tree same year, and planed at the same time. Tnought there was something wrong with my tree with early flowering (southern CA) and second flowering! happy to know my tree is normal! annoying to find out it is not a good keeper. However LOVE to make homemade apple pies. Now know my family and friends are going to be very happy in the future. LOL. JUDY R. D
    • 09 Nov 2014  SAN DIEGO, United States
      Anna is self-fruitful in our area. 2 crops per year are certain, and 3 are possible. The fruit has good eating and juicing quality, and makes for a nice studel when mixed with Granny Smith. It has no keeping quality to speak of.
    • 17 Jul 2014  CA, United States
      I love the taste of my Anna Apple. My tree has three crops a year. It has apples now and is starting to bloom. Best picked when half colored. Pink on one side and green on the other. When they get real red they are too mushy to eat but great for applesauce.
    • 07 Jul 2014  CA, United States
      Planted in 2010. 2014 had big bloom in Feb. and had abundant crop, medium sized fruit and flavors that vary from tart (early) to florally sweet (late). Stupendous for pies. The Feb. crop has 2 apples still on tree 1st week July and already has a new crop starting with hundreds of flowers and 20 apples! The apples bruise easily and store in frig for 2 weeks. Fairly normal weather this year with a heat spell in Jan. I believe.
    • 31 May 2014  ARIZONA PIMA COUNTY, United States
      I have 5 Annas, 3years old. This is the 1st year all 5 trees produced a huge abundance of apples. Branches weighted to the ground in early May 2014.
    • 15 May 2014  CALIFORNIA, United States
      We have 2 Anna apple trees in our backyard and without fail they produce two crops a year. One in spring and the other in the fall. If we do get a decent chill the apples are much larger, but no matter they taste great! Another benefit is the neighbors love looking at our trees when in full bloom.
    • 15 Jan 2014  United States
      Planted an Anna last Spring, our 4th vatrety of apples, in Redlands, CA which is most famous for a century of producing premium Navel oranges. We had a very early cold winter in Nov-Dec with 3 weeks below freezing at night. Leaves have fallen off most trees, but not the apples. We are now in week two of an extended hot spell in the 70's and 80's. Went out this morning to do busy work and was shocked, stunned, to see apple blossoms all over this 6' Anna tree, complete with a host of bees. This is mid January and we still have the heart of winter and radiant freezes to get through (Feb-March). Should we be worried or is this normal? Thanks
    • 30 Mar 2012  CALIFORNIA, United States
      So many apples! I have to cull them greatly to keep the branches from breaking.
    • 21 Nov 2011  CALIFORNIA, United States
      We live just North of San Diego, and are getting 3 or 4 crops from our dwarf Anna, seems like fruit is on it year round. She is a young tree, so the fruit is small. We have trouble keeping the squirrels and coyotes away from her. Her fruit is great in salads.
    • 08 Jan 2011  QUEENSLAND, Australia
      Tasted my first Anna this afternoon. Good sized fruit, green with a pink blush, white flesh. Crisp and juicy. Nicely flavoured with good balance of sweetness and acidity, followed by a refreshing, almost grassy finish reminiscent of hot summer afternoons. If I was living somewhere subtropical, and Anna was one of my only options, I'd be pretty well pleased with her qualities.
    • 28 Dec 2010  CALIFORNIA, United States
      Anna also makes wonderful pies; the slices hold up well and you can smell the aroma two blocks away!
    • 22 Nov 2010  OFRA, Israel
      Anna is very popular here in Israel. It ripens very very early, and has a lot of fans for its distinct falvor and tartness. It's also very popular for growing in many areas in Israel that don't get a significant number of chill hours. My parents' tree had two crops last year. On the down side, Anna apples have a very poor shelf life and get bruised very easily; by the time they make it to market they can often be pretty lousy if not handled carefully.
    • 17 Sep 2010  CALIFORNIA, United States
      I live in a very hot and dry area of Riverside County in Southern California. This tree is doing well here. Picked fruit this year from June 15 - 30th.
    • 25 May 2010  ADANA, Turkey
      The earliest apple in Turkey !! Great shape, good size, tasteful...
    • 12 May 2010  United States
      Oh my, this apple is great. I can't explain my absolute adoration for this varieties. I live in Northern New York, so our grocery stores never carry this type, but whenever I visit my condo in Santa Ana, California, I buy a bunch of these apples. I just can not get enough of this apple!
    • 28 Mar 2010  CALIFORNIA, United States
      I live in Southern California. This is an incredible apple for our climate. It is capable of two crops a year and ripens in June to early July. Along with Dorsett Golden (May ripener) and Ein Shemer (June to July) we have an extended apple season. These apples hold us until the latter apples start ripening.
    • 01 Jan 2010  United Kingdom
      Starter post

    Tree register

    United States

    Australia

    South Africa

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2022 season

    • 1st February  2022  - tree owned by Cheryl in La Habra, United States
    • 1st February  2022  - tree owned by Cheryl in La Habra, United States

    2018 season

    • April  2018  - tree owned by Marilyn in Long Beach, United States

    2017 season

    • 18th March  2017  - tree owned by Katie in Murrieta, United States

    2016 season

    • 28th February  2016  - tree owned by Dawn in Taylor, United States
    • 15th February  2016  - tree owned by Kenneth in Newberry, United States
    • 1st February  2016  - tree owned by Kenneth in Newberry, United States

    2015 season

    • 25th February  2015  - tree owned by Dawn in Taylor, United States
    • 15th February  2015  - tree owned by Cr in Marana, United States
    • February  2015  - tree owned by Kenneth in Newberry, United States

    2014 season

    • 20th February  2014  - tree owned by Dave in Coalinga, United States
    • 15th February  2014  - tree owned by Kenneth in Newberry, United States
    • February  2014  - tree owned by Cr in Marana, United States
    • 25th January  2014  - tree owned by Danny in Phoenix, United States

    2013 season

    • 16th February  2013  - tree owned by Dave in Coalinga, United States
    • 2nd February  2013  - tree owned by Don in Corona, United States

    2012 season

    • 4th February  2012  - tree owned by Randy in Baxley, United States

    2011 season

    • March  2011  - tree owned by Randy in Baxley, United States

    Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.


    Harvest records for this variety

    2022 season

    • 2nd week June  2022  - tree owned by Cheryl in La Habra, United States
    • 2nd week June  2022  - tree owned by Cheryl in La Habra, United States

    2017 season

    • 3rd week July  2017  - tree owned by Katie in Murrieta, United States

    2016 season

    • 1st week August  2016  - tree owned by Mike in Walla Walla, United States

    2015 season

    • 1st week June  2015  - tree owned by Dawn in Taylor, United States

    2014 season

    • 1st week June  2014  - tree owned by Kenneth in Newberry, United States

    2013 season

    • 3rd week June  2013  - tree owned by Don in Corona, United States
    • 1st week June  2013  - tree owned by Arlyn in Imperial, United States

    2011 season

    • 3rd week June  2011  - tree owned by Randy in Baxley, United States

    2010 season

    • 3rd week June  2010  - tree owned by Randy in Baxley, United States

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Parentage: Golden Delicious
    • Originates from: Israel
    • Introduced: 1959
    • Developed by: Abba Stein at the Ein Shemer kibbutz

    Identification

    • Period of origin: 1950 - 1999
    • Fruit colour: Green - light
    • Fruit colour: Green / Red
    • Fruit colour: Red
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous
    • Flesh colour: Cream
    • Fruit size: Average
    • Fruit shape: Conical
    • Country of origin: Israel

    Using

    • Picking season: Very early
    • Keeping (of fruit): 1 week
    • Flavour quality: Good
    • Flavour style (apples): Sweet/Sharp
    • Cropping: Good
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Picking month: June
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Average
    • Flowering group: 1
    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Average vigour
    • Precocity: Precocious
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
    • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile

    Climate

    • Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 5 (-29C)
    • Chill requirement: Low-chill 200
    • Climate suitability: Warm climates
    • Cold-hardiness: Cold-hardy
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Hot (>30C / 86F)

    Other qualities

    • Disease resistance: Average

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Anna apple trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Anna:

    United States




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