Apple Trees: The Heart of American Orchards

Apple trees have been woven into the fabric of American life for centuries. They grow in nearly every state, they show up in everything from pies to cider to those tiny lunchbox-sized juice boxes, and they’ve inspired everything from folklore to fragrance. Whether you’re bobbing for them at fall festivals or picking them straight from a tree on a crisp autumn afternoon, apples have a way of making life just a little sweeter.

A Brief, Possibly Exaggerated History of Apple Trees in America

Apples didn’t actually start out in America. Like many things we now claim as our own (pizza, coffee, the concept of weekends), they originated elsewhere—specifically, in the mountains of Central Asia. The wild apple tree (Malus sieversii), native to Kazakhstan, is basically the great-great-great-grandparent of all the apples we know and love today.

When European settlers arrived in America, they quickly realized they needed apples—both for eating and, more importantly, for making cider (because clean drinking water wasn’t always a guarantee, but fermented apple juice? That was a survival strategy). Enter John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, who spent his life planting apple trees across the country. Contrary to popular belief, he wasn’t just skipping through fields tossing apple seeds in the air—he was planting orchards designed to thrive, many of which were meant for making cider. So, in a way, the apple’s rise in America is thanks to cider, which feels like a fitting legacy.

“Here’s Johnny!" Well, at least the 1966 U.S. postage stamp version of him. The man, the myth, the barefoot apple enthusiast who planted his way into American folklore. If you want to know more about the real Johnny Appleseed (spoiler: his last name wasn’t actually Appleseed), check out his story here.

By the 1800s, apple orchards were flourishing, and farmers were experimenting with new varieties. Today, there are over 2,500 types of apples grown in the U.S., ranging from the perfectly crisp Honeycrisp to the famously tart Granny Smith. And then, of course, there are crab apples—the tiny, sour cousins of the apple world that have a knack for confusing kids who mistake them for a snack.

Growing apples isn’t just a “plant it and forget it” kind of job—apple farmers put in some serious work. It takes four to five years for a tree to start producing fruit, which means a lot of patience (and probably a few pep talks to the saplings along the way). The growing season kicks off in spring, when orchards burst into bloom, and ends in fall, when apples are finally ready for picking. But in between, growers have to fend off pests, unpredictable weather, and the occasional overly enthusiastic deer.

Nothing to see here—just a deer living its best life, enjoying an all-you-can-eat apple buffet. Orchard owners call it ‘pest control,’ but the deer just call it ‘Tuesday.’

The average apple farm in the U.S. is about 50 acres, which is a lot of ground to cover when you’re out there checking trees. And while it all sounds pretty idyllic, make no mistake—apple farming is a labor of love, with early mornings, long days, and a lot of ladder climbing. But, after months of hard work, they get the ultimate reward: the first bite of a crisp, just-picked apple straight from the tree (or, if they’re feeling daring, one of those tiny, sour crab apples that seem to exist purely to keep people on their toes).

Crab Apples, the Farm, and the Magic of Rose’s Apple Pie

Speaking of crab apples, Penny and Rose’s farm had its fair share of them. And while most people ignored those tiny, sour apples, we saw potential—okay, Rose saw potential. We’d gather them by the bucket, and with enough sugar and a little kitchen magic, she’d turn them into the most incredible apple pie you’ve ever tasted.

Rose and her daughter Kathie in the farmhouse kitchen—where sweet memories (and pies) were made from scratch.

The secret to the best apple pie? Honey. Rose knew that a drizzle of golden honey would smooth out the tartness and add a rich, warm sweetness to every bite.

If you're interested in Rose's apple pie recipe, the button link is provided at the end of the blog.

Those sweet, honey-laced memories inspired Penny & Rose’s seasonal Under the Apple Tree fragrance, a scent that brings you right back to crisp autumn air, rustling leaves, and the comforting aroma of apples just waiting to become something delicious. It’s nostalgia bottled up, no baking required.

So whether you love apples for their history, their flavor, or just the way they make your home smell like fall, one thing is certain—apple trees have made their mark on America, one orchard at a time.

What do apples remind you of? Pie with Grandma? Autumn hayrides? That one orchard date where you swore you picked the perfect one? We’d love to hear your apple memories—drop them in the comments!