Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Pollinators
The blossoms feed honeybees and native bees, and dropped fruit draws deer and birds.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 3–4 ft tall
tree · edible
Malus domestica 'Gala'
Gala is a sweet, early-ripening apple for USDA zones 5-8, growing about 15-20 feet tall on the semi-dwarf rootstock in full sun. Buy it for crisp, mild, sweet apples for fresh eating, ready from late August through September. Expect fruit in about 3-5 years, and plant a second apple variety nearby for pollination.
This plant needs a partner. Gala needs pollen from a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms at the same time, so plant Fuji, Honeycrisp or another apple within about 100 feet.
Expert recommendedPollination partners we sell
Apple Pie Domestic Apple Tree (2-3 Foot) | Malus 'domestica'Blooms at the same time · $11.95
ViewAn upright tree with a rounded, spreading crown.
Needs full sun, at least 6-8 hours a day, for good fruit set and color. Fruit in about 3–5 years.
Grows best in fertile, well-drained loam; avoid sites where water stands.
The blossoms feed honeybees and native bees, and dropped fruit draws deer and birds.
White blossoms open from pink buds in mid spring. Medium, red-striped apples with crisp, sweet flesh ripen from late August through September.
Deciduous glossy green leaves with little fall color.
Susceptible to apple scab, fire blight and aphids; a regular spray or sanitation program helps.
Prune in late winter to keep a strong framework and open the center to light; thin fruit early for better size.
Pollination
Not self-fruitful. Plant a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms at the same time within about 100 feet, such as Fuji or Honeycrisp. Shipping on one plant is $9.95 and on two it's $10.95, so the second plant adds just $1 in shipping.
Bare root vs potted
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Yes, Gala needs a different apple or crabapple variety that blooms at the same time within about 100 feet. Fuji and Honeycrisp are good partners.
Gala ripens early, from late August through September. Pick when the background color turns from green to yellow.
A semi-dwarf Gala usually starts bearing in about 3-5 years. Full sun and steady water in the first years help.
Gala is most reliable in zones 5-8; in zone 4 it can suffer winter injury. For colder sites, pair it with or choose Honeycrisp, which is hardy to zone 3.
You receive a dormant bare-root semi-dwarf tree, 2-3 or 3-4 feet tall depending on the size you choose, with no leaves and no soil. Plant it promptly and keep the roots moist until planting.