Pristine® Apple Tree
Description
About the Pristine® Apple Tree
Bring early-season flavor to your orchard with the Pristine® apple tree, a standout choice for fresh eating and cooking alike. Introduced in the mid-1990s, Pristine is one of the first apples to ripen in the summer—maturing about a week and a half after Lodi. Its medium-to-large fruit features a canary-yellow skin with a smooth finish and a subtle pink blush, paired with a crisp, juicy bite and a sweet-tart flavor.
Perfect for pies, applesauce, or enjoying straight off the tree, Pristine® apples are also valued for their impressive storage quality, holding well in refrigeration for up to six weeks. With its attractive fruit and versatility in the kitchen, this tree makes a rewarding addition to any home orchard.
How to Grow the Pristine® Apple Tree
Pristine® is a vigorous grower that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It’s prized for its strong resistance to common apple diseases including apple scab, powdery mildew, fire blight, and cedar-apple rust—making it a low-maintenance option for gardeners. Hardy and dependable, this variety does require a pollination partner; see recommendations below for compatible apple trees.
Expect reliable crops of firm, flavorful fruit beginning in mid-July. Regular pruning and thinning will help maintain tree shape and maximize fruit quality. With its early harvest and disease resistance, the Pristine® Apple Tree is an ideal way to kick off apple season with flavor and ease.
Survival Guaranteed!
Since 1816, Stark Bro’s has promised to provide customers with the very best fruit trees and plants. It’s just that simple. If your trees or plants do not survive, please let us know within one year of delivery. We will send you a free one-time replacement, with a nominal shipping fee of $9.99. If the item in question is not available, we can issue a one-time credit to your account equaling the original product purchase price or issue you a refund. Read more about our warranty policy.
Characteristics
| Bloom Color | White |
| Bloom Time | Mid |
| Fruit Color | Yellow |
| Fruit Size | Medium |
| Hardiness Zone Range | 5 - 8 |
| Pollination | Pollinator Required |
| Ripens/Harvest | Mid July |
| Shade/Sun | Full Sun |
| Soil Composition | Loamy |
| Soil Moisture | Well Drained |
| Soil pH Level | 6.0 - 7.0 |
| Taste | Tart |
| Texture | Crisp |
| Years to Bear | 2 - 5 |
Size & Spacing
Mature Size
Recommended Spacing
Zone Compatibility
Pollination
This variety requires another one for adequate pollination.
Tools & Supplies
Planting & Care
Learn all about how to grow apple trees in The Growing Guide. An entire section of our website dedicated to your growing success.
Shipping Information
Arrives when it's time to plant
Questions & Answers
GoldRush and Enterprise yes. Jonafree I dunno
As long as you pick the fruit when it's ripe and firm, it should make a good canning apple. If the fruit seems too soft or overripe, you're still in luck – Pristine makes top-notch apple sauce and apple butter that you may also can!
A low chill variety needing only 400 chill hours.
Yes there should be enough bloom time overlap that they will pollinate.
The Pristine apple is primarily a spur-bearing variety, meaning it produces most of its fruit on short, stubby growths called spurs along the branches. However, like many apples, it may also have some fruiting on branch tips, but it is predominantly spur-bearing.
We appreciate you reaching out to us. We use several different rootstocks, depending upon the desired result and what is available. For that reason, we're unable to guarantee a specific rootstock.
If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. Have a great day!
This looks to be a website error thank you for pointing this out. we are working to get this fixed. but to Answer your question No, Pristine and Lodi apple trees are not the same thing. While they share some similarities, such as both being early-season apple varieties, they are distinct cultivars with different origins, flavors, and characteristics. If you’re looking for a crisp apple with better disease resistance and versatility, Pristine might be a better choice.
If you want a classic cooking apple for sauces and pies, and don’t mind managing diseases, Lodi could work well.
Pristine is an early-blooming variety, while Cortland and Jonagold bloom in mid-season, making them poor matches in terms of overlapping bloom times for effective pollination.
Yes they are able to pollinate each other even though harvest times differ. Pollination occurs at bloom time and these are both mid season bloomers.
I planted this at another location and it was one of the best tasting and best producing apple trees i ever had.
Sounded interesting and early. Basically variety
On sale for $18
Needed an early apple