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Apple variety

Pink Lady

Also known as Cripps Pink

The short answer

Pink Lady requires 300–400 chill hours[1] and grows in USDA zones 6–9[1]. It needs a pollination partner[2].

Growing facts

Pink Lady growing facts
Chill requirement300–400 chill hours[1] (nursery figure)
HardinessUSDA zones 6–9[1] (nursery figure)
PollinationNeeds a pollination partner[2]
Harvest windowOctober–November[1]
Years to bearing4–5 years (typical for apples)[3]
Pink Lady appleSpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

Pollination partners

Plant another Apple variety with an overlapping bloom time nearby.

Notes

  • Resistant to powdery mildew and cedar-apple rust; highly susceptible to apple scab; moderately susceptible to fire blight.[4]
  • Very late harvest (needs a long, warm season to ripen).[1]

A year with your Pink Lady

When the work happens for an apple in USDA zone 8, anchored to typical frost dates.

Months for pruning, thinning, spray-timing windows, and harvest for Apple in zone 8
TaskJFMAMJJASOND
Prune————————
Thin———————————
Spray timing—————
Harvest——————————
Care——————————

See the full month-by-month apple calendar for zone 8 →

Can I grow Pink Lady where I live?

Check the verdict for a few regions, or your exact ZIP:

Growing a Pink Lady? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, with email reminders.

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Questions

How many chill hours does Pink Lady need?
Pink Lady needs 300–400 chill hours.
What hardiness zones suit Pink Lady?
Pink Lady grows in USDA zones 6–9.
Is Pink Lady self-pollinating?
No — Pink Lady needs a compatible pollination partner nearby.

Sources

  1. [1] Dave Wilson Nursery. Apples — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] University of Minnesota Extension. Growing apples in the home garden — accessed July 2026
  3. [3] Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. How soon will a newly planted fruit tree begin to bear fruit? (Yard and Garden FAQ) — accessed July 2026
  4. [4] Cornell University (College of Agriculture & Life Sciences). Disease Susceptibility of Common Apples — Apple Variety Database — accessed July 2026