[GPI]

Malus ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’.




This tree is regarded by the British as producing the best eating apples; the original variety can reach an ultimate height of 8 metres (24 ft) and have a spread of 10 metres (30 inches).
Thankfully nowadays it can be found on rootstocks that allow it to be grown much smaller, ideal for most gardens.
Selecting a tree on an M9 or M26 rootstock will give you a tree with an eventual height of approx 3 metres (10 ft).
The ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ has the typical green leaves of the apple tree with their slightly downy white underside.
It will produce a medium sized fruit approx 6cm (2 ½ inches) across with a sweetly scented skin. This skin is a golden yellow colour with tints of orangey red and some brown russeting is also exhibited.
The flesh can be described as juicy, sweet and flavoursome. The usual harvest time for ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ is October, with storage lasting till February.
Two varieties that are related to ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’, but are reputed to have even better resistance to apple scab are “Sunset” and “Pixie”.
Give ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ a position in full sun with some protection from cold winds and it will repay you not just with fruit but with the colour exhibited by its showy flowers from early to mid spring.