Gala Apple Tree

Gala (Malus domestica ‘Gala’) is one of America’s most beloved and widely grown apple varieties — and Stark Bro’s has been part of its story from the very beginning. When Gala was introduced to the United States, it was a Stark Bro’s employee, Donald W. McKenzie, who obtained the US plant patent on October 15, 1974 — and Stark Bro’s went on to patent Royal Gala in 1977. Discovered in New Zealand in the 1930s as a Yellow Delicious × Kidd’s Orange Red cross, Gala’s sweet, crisp, beautifully striped fruit quickly earned a worldwide following that has only grown since. Beautiful yellow skin overlaid with bright orange-red striping, juicy and crisp medium-large fruit, and early October ripening that opens the fall apple season — Gala is a foundational variety of any home orchard. Cold hardy in Zones 5–8. Organic options available.

Introduced to America by Stark Bro’s

The Gala’s path to American orchards ran directly through Stark Bro’s. Donald W. McKenzie, a Stark Bro’s employee, obtained the first US plant patent for the Gala cultivar on October 15, 1974 — making Stark Bro’s the nursery that brought this now-beloved variety to American growers. Three years later, Stark Bro’s patented Royal Gala as well. The variety that now grows in home orchards and commercial operations across the country arrived here because of Stark Bro’s.

A Cross That Changed Apple Growing

Gala was discovered in New Zealand in the 1930s as a natural cross between Yellow Delicious and Kidd’s Orange Red — two varieties whose combination produced something neither parent achieved alone: the clean, bright sweetness of Golden Delicious with a crispness and aromatic character that Kidd’s Orange Red contributed. From New Zealand it spread to England, then — through Stark Bro’s — to America and eventually to orchards worldwide.

Sweet, Crisp, and Genuinely Versatile

Gala’s perfectly balanced sweet-tart flavor is approachable without being one-dimensional, the juicy crisp texture satisfies across every use, and the early October timing opens the fall apple season reliably year after year. Outstanding for fresh eating, juicing, baking, canning, and cooking — a true all-purpose apple that earns its place in the home orchard and the kitchen equally.

Why Growers Choose Gala

• Introduced to America by Stark Bro’s — US plant patent obtained by Stark Bro’s employee in 1974
• New Zealand origin, 1930s — Yellow Delicious × Kidd’s Orange Red cross
• Sweet, crisp, juicy, balanced flavor — outstanding for fresh eating, juicing, baking, and cooking
• Beautiful orange-red striped fruit — visually striking at harvest and in the bowl
• Early October ripening — opens the fall apple season reliably year after year
• Organic options available — for growers who want a certified organic tree