Florina

Florina apple tree — a French variety developed in 1977 through repeated crossbreeding of Royal Beauty, Golden Delicious, Starkrimson, and Jonathan varieties using Malus floribunda seedling. Trees are medium-sized with wide, round, and strong crowns. Self-sterile, it has moderate winter hardiness and high resistance to diseases, including scab, moniliosis, powdery mildew, bacterial burns, and aphids. Seedlings are grafted onto rootstocks 54-118 or 106 mm, which enhances winter hardiness and disease resistance.

Florina apple fruits are medium to large in size, weighing 120 to 200 grams, with a rounded-conical shape and barely noticeable, smoothed ribs. The skin is smooth, thin, light-yellow, covered with a rich burgundy blush, a characteristic waxy coating, and numerous white-gray dots. The flesh has medium density, tender, very juicy, crisp, cream-white color, pleasant sweet taste with almost no acidity, and a strong aroma.

This variety is winter-hardy and ripens in early October. The fruits exhibit high storability and transportability: under normal storage conditions, fruits can be kept until March, and in a refrigerator until June. Due to its excellent flavor, disease resistance, and good storability, the Florina apple tree is an excellent choice for growing in moderate climate gardens.