Melrose is a handsome, grower-friendly tree. It is strong, cold hardy, and very vigorous, with an upright-spreading habit. This tree is prolific, and fruit quality will suffer if it is not thinned diligently. It is moderately susceptible to fireblight, powdery mildew, and scab. West Coast growers should note that Melrose is highly susceptible to anthracnose canker.

The apple looks like a picture of an apple; it is medium sized, oblate to conic, and flushed red over a yellow-green background. The off-white flesh is firm, coarse, and juicy. In both appearance and flavor Melrose resembles its parent Jonathan - it is sweet, with pleasant, spicy notes. The most notable difference is that Melrose has a much improved storage life. It has its best flavor, in fact, after Christmas, when its aromatics are fully developed.

Melrose was developed by Dr. Freeman S. Howlett at Ohio State University. It is a cross of Red Delicious and Jonathan, selected in 1937 and released in 1944.