Growing apple tree is not a hard task to do, but finding suitable pollinator tree is.
This is going to be the most useful resource for the apple tree growers. I made an Apple tree pollination chart for apple growers and the most interesting part is introducing the USDA growing zone in the chart. This will help you to find the suitable apple tree with its suitable pollinator varieties based on your USDA growing zone.
I have seen multiple charts online and they are nice but I somehow felt that they are a bit complicated in terms of readability.
That's the reason I take my time to build a chart like this that will help us find appropriate pollinators for a specific apple tree variety easily considering our growing zone. ( As warmer climates are not the same as cooler regions )
Pollination Chart for Apple Trees
Here you will find 45 apple tree varieties with their pollination group, bloom time, compatible pollinators, preferable USDA zone, and some extra notes (might be useful for the apple tree growers).
| Apple Variety | Pollination Group | Bloom Time | Compatible Pollinators | USDA Zones | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuji | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith | 6–9 | Triploid: Cannot pollinate others |
| Gala | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | Fuji, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Pink Lady | 5–8 | Reliable pollinator for many varieties |
| Granny Smith | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | Fuji, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Braeburn | 6–9 | High chill variety |
| Honeycrisp | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Granny Smith, Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious | 3–8 | Requires specific compatible pollinators |
| Golden Delicious | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious | 4–9 | Self-fertile but better with cross-pollination |
| Red Delicious | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | Gala, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Braeburn | 5–8 | Pairs well with early and mid bloomers |
| Braeburn | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | Fuji, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala | 5–8 | Good pollinator for mid-season trees |
| Pink Lady (Cripps) | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji | 6–9 | Needs longer growing season |
| McIntosh | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | Cortland, Empire, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp | 4–7 | Popular in cooler climates |
| Cortland | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Empire | 4–7 | Cold-hardy, ideal for northern regions |
| Empire | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | McIntosh, Cortland, Golden Delicious | 4–7 | Compact and productive |
| Jonathan | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | Golden Delicious, Fuji, Red Delicious | 4–8 | Well-suited to baking |
| Jonagold | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith | 5–8 | Triploid: Cannot pollinate others |
| Arkansas Black | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Golden Delicious, Fuji, Granny Smith | 5–8 | Excellent storage apple |
| Winesap | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji | 5–9 | Intensely tart and flavorful |
| Stayman | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala | 5–8 | Triploid: Needs cross-pollination |
| Spartan | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | McIntosh, Empire, Golden Delicious | 4–8 | Small and sweet dessert apple |
| Liberty | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | McIntosh, Golden Delicious, Cortland | 4–8 | Disease-resistant |
| Opal | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji | 4–8 | Resistant to browning |
| Ambrosia | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith | 4–8 | Low acid, very sweet |
| Cameo | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | Golden Delicious, Fuji, Honeycrisp | 5–8 | Slow to brown after slicing |
| King David | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | Golden Delicious, Gala, Red Delicious | 5–8 | Intense flavor |
| Enterprise | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Liberty, Cortland, Golden Delicious | 4–8 | Disease-resistant |
| Gravenstein | Group 3 | Early Season | Golden Delicious, Fuji, McIntosh | 5–9 | Short storage life |
| Yellow Transparent | Group 3 | Early Season | Golden Delicious, Liberty, McIntosh | 3–7 | Best for early-season pies |
| Pink Lady | Group 4 | Late Season | Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious | 6–9 | Known for long storage life |
| Red Delicious | Group 4 | Mid Season | Golden Delicious, Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp | 5–8 | Popular in North America |
| Honeycrisp | Group 3 | Mid Season | Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious | 3–8 | Very cold-hardy |
| Golden Delicious | Group 3 | Mid Season | Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp | 4–9 | Excellent pollinator for many varieties |
| Braeburn | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious | 5–9 | Intense flavor profile |
| Cameo | Group 4 | Late Season | Honeycrisp, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala | 5–8 | Discovered as a chance seedling |
| Cortland | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | Honeycrisp, Gala, Red Delicious, Fuji | 4–8 | Resistant to browning |
| McIntosh | Group 3 | Mid Season | Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala, Cortland | 4–8 | Classic tart flavor |
| Jonagold | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Gala, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Braeburn | 5–8 | Triploid: Needs two pollinators |
| Empire | Group 3 | Mid Season | Red Delicious, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious | 4–8 | Cross between McIntosh and Red Delicious |
| Opal | Group 4 | Mid Season | Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp | 4–9 | Does not brown easily |
| Ambrosia | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Braeburn | 5–8 | Sweet with low acidity |
| Envy | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Honeycrisp, Gala, Granny Smith, Red Delicious | 4–7 | Cross between Braeburn and Royal Gala |
| Jazz | Group 4 | Late Season | Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious | 5–8 | Crisp with tangy-sweet flavor |
| Liberty | Group 3 | Early to Mid Season | McIntosh, Empire, Gala, Red Delicious | 4–7 | Highly resistant to diseases |
| Spartan | Group 3 | Mid Season | Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp | 5–8 | Small size, intensely sweet |
| Crimson Crisp | Group 4 | Late Season | Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala, Red Delicious | 4–8 | High resistance to apple scab |
| Enterprise | Group 4 | Late Season | Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Fuji | 4–8 | Known for disease resistance |
| Pacific Rose | Group 4 | Mid to Late Season | Gala, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious | 5–8 | Exceptionally sweet and aromatic |
| Gravenstein | Group 2 | Early Season | Golden Delicious, Gala, Honeycrisp | 6–9 | Best for cooking and cider |
| Wolf River | Group 3 | Mid Season | Golden Delicious, Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji | 4–7 | Extremely large apples |
| Kingston Black | Group 4 | Late Season | Granny Smith, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala | 5–8 | Primarily used for cider |
Tip: Make sure you plant at least two compatible varieties (within 50 feet of each other) within the same pollination group.
Blooming time is very essential for successful pollination. That's the reason I have highlighted the blooming period beside each apple variety.
Bees are the most important insects that help pollination. I will suggest you plant some native plants that can attract bees easily.
Why native plants? They are easy to maintain.
I have witnessed that cold or rainy weather can reduce bee activity. So what to do in these critical times? Use the hand pollination method.
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The list is broad and to make this pollination chart accurate, I cross checked all the information multiple times. This seriously took a huge time. Just subscribe this site ( It's free! ) and share this article with others.
