Apple
Can I Grow Braeburn?
Braeburn delivers complex, spicy-sweet flavor with exceptional firmness that holds up in storage and cooking. Discovered as a chance seedling in New Zealand, it's prized by bakers and cider makers.
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
700
Hardiness Zones
5-6-7-8-9
Harvest
October to November
Results
Enter your zip code to see if Braeburn will thrive in your area.
About Braeburn
Braeburn delivers complex, spicy-sweet flavor with exceptional firmness that holds up in storage and cooking. Discovered as a chance seedling in New Zealand, it's prized by bakers and cider makers.
Braeburn requires 700 chill hours — the number of hours between 32°F and 45°F during winter dormancy. Without enough chill, the tree may fail to flower properly or produce poor fruit.
Common Challenges
Prone to bitter pit and internal browning in hot climates; needs consistent moisture.
Common Misconception
Can I grow Braeburn in Zone 10 or warmer?
No. While Braeburn is listed for zones 5-9, it requires 700 chill hours to produce fruit. Warm zones like 10+ typically receive only 200-400 chill hours. The tree may survive but will not fruit reliably. Consider low-chill alternatives like Anna apple (200h) or Tropic Snow peach (200h) instead.
Other Apple Varieties
Chill hour data from ERA5 reanalysis (Copernicus/ECMWF). Variety information compiled from university extension services.