Empire Apple TreeEmpire is McIntosh crossed with Red Delicious from New York released in 1966. Medium dark red fruit with firm fine textured flesh and balanced sweet tart flavor; ripens mid season and stores two to three months. Productive tree with moderate scab resistance; somewhat prone to fire blight in humid sites. Cold hardiness: Zone 4Plant Details One year old trees grafted onto one or two year old rootstocks. Apple trees are typically 12 to 20" tall.