This tree is moderately vigorous and very precocious. It will need thinning to maintain annual bearing, and it is susceptible to fireblight, scab, and powdery mildew. Braeburn is recommended for areas with long growing seasons. If you can ripen a Granny Smith, you can ripen a Braeburn. In hot climates it has a tendency to bitterpit.

Ripening just before Granny Smith, Braeburn is a medium sized apple with skin that is streaked red over a yellow-green background. The white flesh is crisp and juicy and the flavor is rich and zesty. This apple is high in both sugar and acid, making it excellent for fresh eating, baking, sauce, and juice. It stores very well.

The parentage of Braeburn is unknown. It is possibly an open-pollinated seedling of Lady Hamilton. It was discovered by O. Moran in Nelson, New Zealand, where it remains a supermarket staple, and it first arrived in America in 1984.