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SmittenTM apple

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Smitten is a modern apple variety, developed in New Zealand, but closely related to some popular modern English varieties - Fiesta and Falstaff, as well as Gala and Braeburn.

The flesh is a yellow-cream color, fairly dense, with a crisp texture and moderately juicy. The flavor is sweet but with some acidity. We rate it as pleasant but not outstanding.

The skin is slightly greasy, but with a pleasant odour.

Given its parentage it is not surprising it has good keeping qualities - Fiesta, Gala, and Braeburn all store very well.

Smitten is the trademark, the cultivar name is PremA17.

USDA identification images for Smitten

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


    Visitor reviews

    • 15 Jul 2022 
      Absolutely delicious !!
    • 10 Mar 2022 
      Just had my first one. Straight out of the fridge. I like it. A lot.
    • 23 Apr 2021  LUDLOW, United Kingdom
      Really tough flesh makes it hard work to eat. Hardly any taste, but sticky sweet. Ghastly!
    • 28 Nov 2020  OHIO, United States
      Agree with the notes: crisp, sweet, not much character otherwise. Fine for eating out of hand. Not sure why we needed this variety, as it's little different from Honeycrisp.
    • 28 Sep 2020  CA, United States
      Fuji had been my favorite for a long, long time till I found Smitten only recently. Solid variety all around.
    • 15 Mar 2019  WI, United States
      Smitten-Crisp, juicy, sweet and slightly tart apple that really delivers on flavor. The smitten apple owns its name. I was smitten by the first bite. After two apples a day for the last three months I can swear I've never gotten a bad one!
    • 27 Jan 2019  MI, United States
      I find I get bored with any type of apple after awhile. I purchased these organic apples when my Pink Lady apples where not available. I was impressed at that time and still am smitten for this apple. I purposely go to a different store just to get this brand.
    • 07 Jan 2019  United States
      The most delicious apple I ever had!
    • 03 Dec 2017  GA, United States
      Superb. If you like fuji-types, you'll like this
    • 02 Nov 2017  PA, United States
      Tastes like a brighter, slightly crisper honeycrisp to me. A superlative apple for eating fresh.

    Tree register

    We don't have any registered trees for this variety yet. If you have a Smitten tree you can register it here.

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Parentage: Falstaff X Fiesta sibling and Braeburn X Royal Gala
    • Originates from: New Zealand
    • Introduced: 1995
    • Developed by: Plant & Food Research

    Identification

    • Country of origin: New Zealand
    • Period of origin: 1950 - 1999
    • Fruit size: Average

    Using

    • Keeping (of fruit): 3 months or more
    • Flavour quality: Very good
    • Flavour style (apples): Sweet/Sharp
    • Cropping: Good
    • Food uses: Eating fresh

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Average
    • Flowering group: 3
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Slightly large
    • Precocity: Precocious
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
    • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Smitten:

    United States




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