Buds were sampled from nonflowering spurs on 1-year-old wood of 10 apple cultivars during the 2004 growing season and dissected to determine floral commitment and morphogenesis. Dissected buds were classified into five stages based on floral bud morphogenesis. The 10 cultivars differed in their patterns of floral commitment and morphogenesis. At the end of the growing season, the proportion of floral buds was 30% to 100% depending on cultivar. The probability of observing doming, indicating floral commitment, was from 5% to 50% depending on cultivar, with `NJ90' (50%), `Zestar' (30%), and `CQR10T17' (30%) rated among the highest. The lowest probability (5%) was with `Ambrosia', `Pinova', and `Silken'. The time of a peak of floral commitment was earliest in `Delblush' and `CQR10T17' and latest in `Sundance'™ and `Pinova'. Most cultivars exhibited a single peak of floral commitment, except for `Pink Lady' in which two peaks were present. The duration of the process of flower initiation was from 20 to 43 days depending on cultivar. The timing of floral commitment and morphogenesis was not related either to blooming date, or to fruit harvest time of the cultivar.