Reinette Franche Apple Tree is suited to USDA zones 5–10 and requires about 800–900 chill hours. Harvest is typically October, with timing varying by region and season.
Reinette Franche Apple Tree offers the rare combination of deep history, distinctive flavor, and genuine orchard presence. Its medium-to-large apples develop a handsome blend of crimson and gold, often marked by russet rays spreading outward from the stem. Beneath that old-world exterior is firm, crunchy, yellowish-white flesh with an aromatic spicy character described as having hints of nuts and orange. The fruit is memorable fresh and has enough structure and complexity for cooking, baking, and storage. This variety was carried from its long cultivation in Normandy into California’s Sierra foothills by pioneering nurseryman Felix Gillet, and surviving trees demonstrate the productive potential of a well-adapted heritage apple. For gardeners who want fruit that begins conversations and rewards careful tasting, Reinette Franche is both a delicious harvest and a living link between European pomology and California orchard history.
Plant this bare root apple in full sun and well-drained soil, water deeply while it establishes, and prune during dormancy to develop an open, durable branch structure. Thin crowded fruit clusters to support size and reduce strain. Because Reinette Franche does not appear on the confirmed characteristics sheet, specific zone, chill-hour, harvest-date, and rootstock claims are intentionally omitted pending verification.
Planting another compatible apple nearby is recommended to increase pollinator activity and support dependable fruit set. Heritage companions include Scarlet and Sierra Beauty; Fuji Red offers another available orchard partner where bloom overlaps.
Reinette Franche Apple Tree Details
Fruit: Medium to large apples with crimson-and-gold skin and decorative russeting
Flavor and texture: Firm, crunchy, spicy, and aromatic with nutty and citrus-like notes
Best uses: Fresh eating, cooking, baking, and storage
Harvest: October, with timing varying by region and season
USDA zones: 5–10
Chill hours: About 800–900 chill hours
Pollination: Plant with another compatible apple with overlapping bloom
Recommended companions: Scarlet, Sierra Beauty, or Fuji Red
Special care: Thin clusters and prune to keep the canopy well lit and structurally balanced
Something special: Cultivated in Normandy for centuries, Reinette Franche was introduced by Felix Gillet and preserved in Sierra County.
