AppleflowersData

To support a comprehensive analysis of apple flower blooming stages, we independently constructed a dedicated dataset encompassing key developmental phases, including florets, early bloom, full bloom, and wilting. Each sample was captured under diverse lighting and environmental conditions to enhance variability and robustness. This dataset enables detailed investigation of physiological transitions in apple flowers, with a particular focus on the correlation between anther color changes, floral morphology, and blooming stage. It provides a solid foundation for the development and validation of models for accurate stage specific flower detection. The dataset is collected from Yuezhuang Town, Yiyuan County, Shandong Province, China (coordinates: 118°29'N, 36°23'E). Images are taken using a HUAWEI Nova7 smartphone in JPG format, with natural elements such as soil, sky, and apple trees in the background. To increase the diversity of the dataset, photos are captured from late April to early May 2024, spanning full days from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and this process is repeated across multiple cycles. The data collection includes alternating between day and night sessions, with a variety of lighting conditions, such as downlight and backlight. Different shooting distances, angles, and natural conditions (sunny, cloudy, foggy, rainy, and post-rainy) are also incorporated. This dataset contains 1000 images and 1000 corresponding annotation files. The images are in .jpg format, and the annotations are provided in .xml format, which can be opened with the LabelImg tool.The annotation criterion is based primarily on anther color: Flowers with dark brown or orange anthers are labeled as mature, corresponding to the late flowering stage, i.e., the full bloom and post-bloom phases of apple flowers. Flowers that are unopened, or open but with un-dehisced pale-yellow anthers, are labeled as immature, corresponding to the early flowering stage, i.e., the dormant, bud swelling, green tip, tight cluster, pink, and balloon stages. For transitional cases, the initial appearance of orange in the anthers is taken as the criterion for mature, in order to emphasize the practical value of pollination period recognition. Notably, such flowers, positioned between the end of the balloon stage and the onset of full bloom, also represent the critical timing for artificial anther collection. While this definition may slightly advance the classification of full bloom, it aligns with practical agricultural needs, where pollination is preferably identified earlier rather than later. Our dataset encompasses multiple flowering stages of apple blossoms. We encourage researchers to fully explore its potential and to extend its applications in various directions, such as king flower detection and phenological stage recognition of apple flowers.