Malus domestica 'ZVONKOVÉ' apple - late, pollination group 3
Symbivit Tric (arbuscular)
Symbivit (arbuscular)Malus
The group of apple trees grown for their fruit (Malus domestica) is one of the most important temperate fruit crops. It is not an original species but a domesticated hybrid complex whose genome is formed mainly by M. sieversii from the Tien Shan mountains; genetic analyses show that this species accounts for up to 90 per cent of the genome of modern cultivated apples. Smaller contributions come from M. orientalis from the Caucasus region and from the European wild apple M. sylvestris, which played only a minor role in domestication. Although the genus Malus includes roughly 55 to 60 species, only a few of them had a significant influence on the origin of the domestic apple. Botanically it belongs to the family Rosaceae, together with pears, quinces and cherries.
The apple tree has been cultivated and selected by humans for thousands of years. Archaeobotanical evidence confirms its consumption as early as the Bronze Age, while the first deliberate breeding began in classical antiquity. Modern pomology developed during the 18th and 19th centuries, when the first stable cultivars known today were established. The apple is now the most widely grown fruit tree in the world, with an annual production exceeding 86 million tonnes and thousands of cultivars differing in shape, flavour, colour and ripening time. Its distribution is determined by climate: it requires 800 to 1200 hours of winter chill, which makes it a rare and expensive delicacy in subtropical and tropical regions, much as we view their mangoes or papayas. In Europe and across the temperate zone it is so familiar that we take it for granted, even though its true genetic origin lies deep in the mountains of Central Asia.
We Europeans consider apples our everyday treasure – both in flavor and in health. The well-known English proverb “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” has its roots in 19th‑century Wales, where it originally went: “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.” Modern research gives this saying a surprisingly firm foundation: regular apple consumption lowers cholesterol, benefits the heart, supports a healthy gut microbiome, is associated with reduced risk of diabetes and certain cancers, strengthens the body, and aids detoxification. Polyphenols act anti‑inflammatorily, and fiber (especially pectin) regulates digestion – making the apple a true “little pharmacy in your pocket.” And at the same time, it tastes wonderful. Who doesn’t know the typical Central European apple strudel, with its oldest recipe recorded in Vienna in 1697? From an aristocratic dessert it became a symbol of homely comfort even in modest households, and although it remains one of the most beloved pastries in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany, like all good things it has spread across the world and been warmly embraced. Incidentally, the abundance of fruit alleys along old country roads in our land is thanks to Empress Maria Theresa, who during her reign (1740–1780) ordered their planting. The trees were meant to provide shade and fruit for soldiers and travelers, while at the same time preventing looting and food theft in villages.
Glockenapfel (Zvonkové in Czech) is one of those historic winter apples that can be recognised at a glance. Its tall, almost sculptural fruits resemble an old bronze bell, which inspired both its German name Glockenapfel and the French synonym Pomme Cloche. The fruits are medium to large, with a pale yellow to greenish-yellow skin that may develop a delicate orange-red blush on the sunny side. The flesh is silvery white, firm, crisp, and pleasantly crunchy. Its flavour is refreshingly tart with subtle spicy undertones and never feels heavy or excessively sweet. This is not an apple that reveals its full character immediately after harvest. Its greatest virtue is patience. Picked from mid to late October, it develops its finest eating quality only during the winter months, when the flavours become rounder, more harmonious, and better integrated. It is no coincidence that Glockenapfel is regarded as one of Europe's classic keeping apples. In a traditional fruit cellar, it stores well into spring, while modern controlled-atmosphere storage close to 0°C can preserve the fruit until early summer. In Switzerland it remains particularly valued for apple strudel, as the flesh holds its shape during baking instead of collapsing into puree, while its lively acidity provides welcome balance in rich pastries.
The tree is vigorous when young, initially producing a narrow, strongly upright crown that gradually broadens with age and develops an elegant, slightly pendulous habit. Growth naturally slows as the tree matures and settles into reliable cropping. Historically, Glockenapfel was most grown as a standard tree on seedling rootstocks, where its longevity and capacity to remain productive for decades could be fully appreciated. Today, MM106 remains an excellent choice for medium-sized garden trees, while M9 is often selected for smaller forms and more intensive plantings. The qualities of this cultivar have also been utilised in breeding programmes, most notably as one of the parents of the well-known German variety Gloster 69. Glockenapfel is self-sterile and belongs to Pollination Group 3. Suitable pollinating partners include cultivars from Groups 2, 3, and 4, such as James Grieve, Cox's Orange Pippin, Discovery, Elstar, Golden Delicious, Idared, Jonathan, Spartan, and Ontario.
The exact origin of Glockenapfel remains uncertain. The National Fruit Collection records it as a historic cultivar long associated with Switzerland, while German pomological literature places its roots somewhere within the wider region of southern Germany and the Swiss borderlands. Neither its original discoverer nor breeder is known, which is not unusual for ancient European fruit cultivars. Under names such as Altländer Glockenapfel, Schweizer Glockenapfel, Echter Glockenapfel, and Weisser Winterglockenapfel, it has been cultivated since at least the first half of the 19th century. Modern plant patents and breeders' rights do not apply to this historic variety. Its reputation for exceptional storage life and dependable productivity has allowed it to survive long after many contemporary cultivars disappeared from orchards and collections.
Last revision 20‑10‑2026
Apple trees in general are not demanding to grow. They thrive best in sunny sites with fertile loamy to sandy‑loam soils that are well‑drained and moderately moist. The optimal pH is slightly acidic to neutral. They do not tolerate permanently waterlogged soils, nor extremely dry and windy locations where fruit may drop prematurely. Young slender trees and half‑standards should be tied to a stake to ensure straight growth, while tall‑standards benefit from a firm wind‑brace for the first three years. During this period (and preferably longer) the soil above the roots should be kept clean of grass and weeds. Fertilization can be light, ideally organic, but is not essential. Pruning, on the other hand, is generally discouraged – it is an old and misguided habit of previous generations that often resulted in water sprouts and overcrowded crowns without fruit. Modern experience shows that, given the right site, apple trees shape a balanced crown on their own and bear reliably without intervention. Most cultivars are highly frost‑hardy, easily withstanding temperatures below –30 °C, so in our conditions they require no winter protection. At harvest and in storage, however, the fruit should be handled carefully, as even small bruises can shorten its keeping quality.
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- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
