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Adams Pearmain apple trees

Malus domestica
Adams Pearmain apples
Adams Pearmain is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Late
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3

Adams' Pearmain is a well-known traditional English apple variety of the Victorian era which remains popular today.

It is known for its rich nutty flavour, and was rated by the Victorian writer Hogg as "A dessert apple of first-rate quality".

 

Adams Pearmain apple trees for sale

Pot-grown

All our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

  • PG12-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock£56.50
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)

Bare-root

  • BR11-year bare-root treeM116 rootstock£35.75
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR21-year bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£34.95< 5 in stock
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR32-year bush-trained bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£43.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season
  • BR42-year half-standard bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£46.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season
  • BR51-year bare-root treeM25 rootstock£35.75
    Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)
  • BR62-year (1.75m) bare-root treeM25 rootstock£46.95
    Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season

Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts

Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.

Tree specification

Photos of trees as supplied | Tree sizes and forms

Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 24th February.

Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.

Growing and Training

Adams' Pearmain is generally easy to grow, and it starts to bear fruit at an early age in the life of the tree. Cropping is good, and it is a good choice for growers in wetter climates.

The main problem to watch out for is a tendency to biennial bearing as the tree gets older - it may develop a pattern of alternate good and bad years. You can either just live with this, or attempt to even it out by over-thinning the fruitlets in the good year.

Recommended pollinators for Adams Pearmain apple trees

Adams Pearmain is not self-fertile and is also a poor pollinator of other varieties. Ideally you need two other different but compatible varieties planted nearby in order to produce fruit, or one compatible self-fertile variety. The following varieties are good pollinators for Adams Pearmain. If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us. More pollinators >

  • Pollinator Scrumptious
    Scrumptious
    Scrumptious is a modern award-winning early-season English dessert apple.
  • Pollinator Red Falstaff
    Red Falstaff
    Red Falstaff is one of the best garden apple trees, heavy crops, easy to grow, and very juicy.
  • Pollinator James Grieve
    James Grieve
    James Grieve is the classic Scottish dual-purpose apple. It can be eaten fresh, and is also excellent for juicing and cooking.
  • Pollinator Red Devil
    Red Devil
    Red Devil is a good apple variety for the UK garden, and produces a sweet red-tinted juice.
  • Pollinator Fiesta
    Fiesta
    Fiesta (or Red Pippin) is one of the best Cox-style apples, easy to grow, with a good aromatic flavour.
  • Pollinator Sunset
    Sunset
    Sunset is a popular garden alternative to Cox, easier to grow, with a sweet aromatic flavour.
  • Pollinator Butterball
    Butterball
    Malus Butterball is named for its bright yellow fruits, which are also good for crab apple jelly.
  • Pollinator Spartan
    Spartan
    Spartan produces lots of crimson maroon apples, crunchy, sweet, easy to grow, delicate "vinous" flavour.

History

This variety originates either from Norfolk or Herefordshire in the UK. It was first taken to the Horticultural Society of London in 1826 by a Mr Adams, under the name Norfolk Pippin, but subsequently became known as Adams' Pearmain (usually shortened to Adams Pearmain).

The parentage is unknown but Hogg (writing in 1884) notes the similarity with the Hanging Pearmain of Herefordshire.

There is some evidence that Adams' Pearmain is a triploid variety (3 sets of chromosomes instead of the usual 2) or perhaps a partial triploid. However it does not have many of the usual characteristics associated with triploid varieties, such as vigorous growth and large thick leaves.


Adams Pearmain characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersPoor
  • Fruit bearingPartial tip-bearer
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climates

Using

  • Picking seasonLate
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)3 months or more
  • Food usesEating fresh

Problems

  • Disease resistanceGood

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1800 - 1849
  • Fruit colourOrange flush

British-grown trees Trees grown in the UK.

Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK. Find out more.

In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance. Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK. Find out more

Guaranteed fruit trees

When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions. Find out more.


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