Golden Delicious has a famous golden color, but what if that golden apple also developed a beautiful rosy-red cheek? That’s where Golden Da Rosa® comes in. Also known as Golden Parsi da Rosa, this apple is a color mutation of a Golden Delicious clone. It keeps the familiar sweet, mellow character associated with Golden apples while adding an attractive pink-to-red blush to some of the fruit. It’s golden with a little extra color, and a fun variety to discover in the orchard.
Golden Da Rosa®, also called Golden Parsi da Rosa, is a naturally occurring color mutation of Golden Delicious Clone B. Rather than being a completely separate apple created through a traditional cross, it was selected for its desirable characteristics, particularly its attractive coloring and reduced tendency toward russeting. It retains the classic characteristics associated with Golden Delicious while adding a beautiful blush to some fruit.
Golden Da Rosa apples are medium to large and have the familiar elongated shape associated with Golden apples. The base color is a warm yellow to golden yellow, but some fruit develops an attractive pink or red blush. One of the variety’s notable characteristics is its relatively low susceptibility to russeting, helping the skin maintain a smoother appearance. The amount of red coloring can vary depending on growing conditions and location, so some Golden Da Rosa apples may be more golden while others show a much more pronounced rosy cheek.
If you enjoy Golden Delicious, you’ll likely find Golden Da Rosa familiar. The apple retains the classic Golden flavor profile: sweet, mellow and pleasantly aromatic, with enough acidity to keep the flavor balanced. The flesh is firm, juicy and crisp when properly mature. At Apple Holler, we describe Golden Da Rosa simply: sweet and crisp, and it’s particularly good for eating fresh or adding to salads.
Golden Da Rosa is a fall apple, generally ripening around the same time as Golden Delicious. At Apple Holler, Golden Da Rosa is typically ready around late October. Because Mother Nature doesn’t always follow a calendar, exact harvest dates can change from year to year. If you’re specifically hoping to pick Golden Da Rosa, check Apple Holler’s current apple availability before your visit.
Golden Da Rosa is especially good for fresh eating, but its Golden Delicious heritage gives it plenty of kitchen versatility. Try it for:
Its sweet flavor works beautifully in salads, while its crisp texture makes it enjoyable straight from the tree.
So what’s the difference? Golden Da Rosa is closely related to Golden Delicious rather than being an entirely unrelated variety. It originated as a mutation of Golden Clone B and maintains many of the characteristics associated with Golden apples. The biggest difference you’ll notice is appearance. Golden Da Rosa can develop that beautiful pink-to-red blush, giving it a little more color than the traditional golden-yellow apple. It’s a fun example of how naturally occurring mutations can create new and interesting apple selections.
The rosy coloring on Golden Da Rosa isn’t guaranteed on every apple. Environmental conditions, including growing location and light exposure, can influence how much blush develops. Some fruit may remain predominantly yellow, while other apples develop a much more noticeable pink or red cheek. That means every Golden Da Rosa can look just a little different!
If you usually reach for Golden Delicious, keep an eye out for Golden Da Rosa during the later part of our apple-picking season. Its sunny yellow skin, rosy blush and sweet, crisp flavor make it a beautiful addition to an orchard basket, and a delicious one, too.
Pick one fresh from the tree and see if you can spot the difference between Golden Da Rosa and its Golden Delicious relatives!
Variety: Golden Parsi da Rosa®
Origin: Mutation of Golden Delicious Clone B
Color: Yellow/golden with possible pink-red blush
Flavor: Sweet, mellow and classic Golden flavor
Texture: Crisp, firm and juicy
Season: Late October at Apple Holler
Best For: Fresh eating, salads, snacking and cooking
Special Trait: Attractive red blush with relatively low russeting
