Malus Domestica Discovery Apple

Malus Domestica Discovery, known widely as the Apple Discovery, is a very popular eating apple tree that has held the RHS Award of Garden Merit since 1993 and more recently added the Perfect for Pollinators title too.

This deciduous dessert apple tree was raised in the UK, fruiting in 1949, by Mr Drummer of Essex. Its parent trees are thought to be Beauty of Bath, an old English favourite, and Worcester Pearmain. Its reliable parentage explains its bright red fruit with a crisp texture and sweet flavour. Beauty of Bath also has the delicate pink stained flesh beneath its skin.

This is a midsized fruiting deciduous tree perfect for smaller gardens. In spring its silver tipped foliage begins to emerge from overwintered buds, followed by pink blossom that gradually turns a fragrant and fresh bright white. Its compact canopy becomes covered in white blooms that attract pollinators. The eating apples are ready to pick in late August to early September and best eaten straight from the tree to get a hint of strawberry flavour. Foliage dies back as the frosts arrive, leaving a bare but pleasantly shaped framework throughout the winter.

How Hardy Is Malus Domestica Discovery
Malus Domestica Discovery is an extremely hardy apple tree that is easy to grow in the UK, but late frosts may damage blossom, so it’s best to plant Apple Discovery in a sunny spot away from frost pockets and cold drying winds.

How To Use Malus Domestica Discovery
This midsized apple tree works well as part of a large border or as specimen tree in the lawn. It can be grown in a large well-watered container and fan trained along a sunny wall or fence too.

How To Care for Malus Domestica Discovery
Apple Discovery needs a pollination partner of a different variety in order to produce fruit. New specimens will require water throughout dry spells and plenty of organic matter around the roots, and in the planting hole, so it can establish a good strong root system. Pruning is not always necessary, but you can increase its vigour by cutting back a third of all branches to a bud and removing any broken or crossed branches in the winter months.

Malus Domestica Discovery is very popular and for good reason. It’s one of the best eating apples to grow because supermarket versions don’t tend to have a long shelf life. There is nothing like picking a fresh Discovery apple from your garden and eating it straight away. It’s one of the best for flavour and its attractive growing season gives a lot of pleasure to you and to wildlife. This is a top buy that’s endorsed by gardeners across the UK. We also have Malus Domestica Discovery available as a Fan-Trained tree, ideal for growing along a sunny wall.