Speciality Apple Varieties

Pippins Speciality Orchard

We grow about 60 varieties of apple – one of the biggest selections in the country. Some of the varieties are old, dating back several hundred years but we also have many notable modern varieties. We supply several heritage apple events to celebrate Apple Day in October.

The number in the first column is marked on posts in the orchard either at the start of a group or between trees of the same variety. Picking Dates are shown in parentheses, (A) August, (S) September (O) October.

2 Blenheim Orange (O) A dual-purpose apple which can be used for cooking or dessert. It makes a big tree and is slow to come into crop. Discovered in Oxfordshire in about 1740.

5 Orleans Reinette (O) This one may be of French origin but it was first described in England in 1776. It is considered to be one of the finest late dessert apples – a connoisseur’s fruit with a crisp, rich flavour.

6 Lord Lambourne (S/O) This dessert apple ripens slightly before Cox and was a popular market variety in October and November but the acreage is now much reduced.

7 King of the Pippins (S/O) A very good late dessert apple which stores well. It is yellowish with a red flush and is usually russetted. Introduced in 1899.

8 Jupiter (S/O) A modern variety of dessert apple from East Malling.

9 Ellison’s Orange (S) A large dessert apple with a characteristic aniseed flavour which must be eaten in September/October.

10 Charles Ross (S) This is a large dual purpose apple which ripens in September. It crops well and makes a compact tree.

11 Sunset (S) This dessert apple is very similar to Cox and is a good substitute where Cox is difficult to grow. It is a very attractive apple reflecting its name. Raised at Sevenoaks, Kent in 1918.

14 Ashmead’s Kernel (O) A very old variety raised in Gloucestershire in 1720. It is ripe in October and stores quite well. The flavour is excellent.

15 Chivers Delight (O) A good quality eating apple which is picked in October. It was raised in Cambridgeshire.

16 James Grieve (S) This is an early apple which is good to eat fresh from the tree but does not travel well. It is an excellent pollinator and was widely grown for this purpose. It is hardy and does well in the North.

17 Laxton’s Fortune (S) This ripens in September and keeps longer than Worcester Pearmain. It makes a small compact tree and crops well. Raised 1904 in Bedford.

19 Ribston’s Pippin (S) A good dessert apple. It was once a popular commercial variety. It is the parent of Cox’s Orange Pippin. It originated in Yorkshire from seed brought from France in 1707.

22 Kent (O) A modern late variety bred at East Malling. It keeps well. A cross between Cox and Jonathan.

26 Pitmaston Pine Apple (S) A small yellow apple the size of a plum with superb flavour. Tremendous with cheese. Irregular cropper.

31 Scrumptious (A/S) A new English variety. Sweet red apple with an aromatic flavour.

32 Worcester Pearmain (A/S) A traditional early season apple. Still grown commercially in small quantities. Good flavour but short season.

33 Adams Pearmain (S/O) An old Victorian apple which is highly regarded. It has an aromatic nutty flavour.

34 Red Pippin (S/O) Originally called Fiesta. A good sized autumn apple which can kept. A cross between Cox and Idared.

35 Winter Gem (S/O) A disease resistant heavy cropper bred in the 1980’s in England.

36 Meridian (S/O) Launched in 2000 this is a very juicy autumn apple. A cross between Cox and Falstaff. Bred at East Malling.

37 Kidds Orange Red (S/O) A red coloured apple with excellent flavour. Bred in new Zealand in the 1920’s. A Cox and Red Delicious cross.

38 Christmas Pippin (S) An English apple with good flavour

39 Limelight (S) A very pale light green distinctive modern apple

40 Crispin (O) A large green apple originally bred as “mutsu” in Japan

41 Spartan (S) A purple apple with white flesh originally from Canada

43 Jonagold (O) A juicy large apple, widespread in Europe

45 Discovery (A) First apple of the season with pinkish flesh

51 Cheerful Gold (O) A new Kent bred apple

52 Mairac (S/O) A modern apple from Switzerland

55 Golden Delicious (S/O) One of the main 20th century international varieties

57 Tickled Pink (S) A red fleshed apple with a tart flavour. The tree also has red blossom and a reddish leaf. Maybe best for juicing