Royal Empire™ Apple Tree

Royal Empire™ is Empire elevated — the same beloved McIntosh × Red Delicious flavor heritage in a deeper, more vibrant ruby-red package. Where standard Empire produces attractive red fruit, Royal Empire™ delivers deeper, more richly colored skin that makes it one of the most visually striking mid-season apples available. The creamy white flesh is juicy, firm, and balanced — the characteristic Empire sweet-tart profile that combines McIntosh’s bright tang with Red Delicious sweetness in a genuinely satisfying mid-September apple. Moderate disease resistance to mildew, fire blight, and rust. Cold hardy in Zones 4–7.

Deeper Red, Same Beloved Empire Character

Royal Empire™'s defining improvement over standard Empire is its depth of color. The ruby-red skin is more intensely and uniformly colored — visually striking at harvest and beautiful in the fruit bowl — while the flavor delivers everything Empire is celebrated for. The creamy white flesh is juicy, firm, and well-balanced with the characteristic sweet-tart complexity that has made Empire one of the most popular mid-season apples in American home orchards for decades.

McIntosh × Red Delicious — A Classic Crossing

Empire was developed in Geneva, New York by the Cornell breeding program in the 1940s, introduced in 1966 — a deliberate McIntosh × Red Delicious cross that captured the refreshing tang of McIntosh and tempered it with the sweetness of Red Delicious. Royal Empire™ carries that same genetic heritage forward in a more colorful expression, making it as appropriate for fresh eating, baking, and cider as the standard Empire it improves upon.

Moderate Disease Resistance — Mildew, Fire Blight, and Rust

Royal Empire™'s moderate resistance to powdery mildew, fire blight, and cedar apple rust reduces the disease management demands that affect many apple varieties, making it a more practical and lower-maintenance choice for home orchardists who want mid-season Empire-type flavor without intensive spray programs.

Why Growers Choose Royal Empire™

• Deeper, more vibrant ruby-red skin — more intensely colored than standard Empire
• Classic McIntosh × Red Delicious flavor — bright sweet-tart balance, juicy and firm
• Moderate disease resistance — mildew, fire blight, and cedar rust
• Mid-September harvest — reliable fall timing across Zones 4–7
• Versatile — outstanding for fresh eating, baking, and cider
• Cold hardy in Zones 4–7 — proven performance in northern growing regions