Born from a cross of McIntosh and Red Delicious at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Empire leans heavily toward its McIntosh parent: crisp, juicy, sweet-tart, with that creamy white flesh that holds up beautifully whether eaten fresh or cooked down into sauce. Available generally from 1966, it filled a real gap — a mid-sized tree with fruit ready to harvest September through October, storing well for up to three months in a cool cellar or refrigerator.

At 12 to 15 feet, Empire suits smaller gardens where a standard apple's 25-foot canopy would overwhelm the space. Like all dwarf-rootstock apples, it asks for a companion — Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Gala, or a well-timed crabapple will all do the job. Give it loamy, slightly acidic soil in the pH 6.0 to 6.5 range, full sun, and good air circulation, and pull back on fertilizer come late summer to reduce fungal pressure. Empire holds reasonable resistance to fire blight and rust, though scab and powdery mildew remain the usual adversaries.