Isaac Newton's Tree apple trees
- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
- Flowering group: 5
Every school pupil knows that Sir Isaac Newton had the inspiration for his theory of gravity whilst sitting under an apple tree and pondering why apples fall. This lovely story, which was related by Newton himself to several correspondents, occurred in the summer of 1666 - about 350 years ago.
What is perhaps less well-known is that the variety of apple which the famous scientist saw falling from the tree has been positively identified. The incident is known to have taken place in his garden at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire - and fortunately there was only one apple tree in the garden. It was subsequently identified as a very old English variety (not surprisingly) called Flower of Kent. It is a large sharp-tasting cooking apple with a juicy crisp flesh, which cooks to a smooth puree.
Even more remarkably, this apple tree, which must surely be the most important in the history of science, is still alive. It appears to have blown over several times in its life, but each time has re-grown from the roots. Many cuttings have been taken from the original tree, and it has become a popular variety in the grounds of university physics departments around the world.
Isaac Newton's Tree apple trees for sale
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root treeM26 rootstock£34.95
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
BR21-year bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£34.95
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
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Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.
Tree specification
Photos of trees as supplied |
Tree sizes and forms
Delivery charges
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
Growing and Training
Sir Isaac Newton's tree - Flower of Kent - is unusually late-flowering, so is a useful variety in areas subject to late spring frosts. Most late-flowering apple varieties will pollinate it, as well as late-flowering white-flowered crab-apples.
Recommended pollinators for Isaac Newton's Tree apple trees
Isaac Newton's Tree is not self-fertile, so you will need another different but compatible variety planted nearby in order to produce fruit.
The following varieties are good pollinators for Isaac Newton's Tree.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
More pollinators >
BraeburnBraeburn is one of the best-flavoured supermarket apple varieties.
Brown's AppleBrown's Apple is a traditional English cider apple variety producing a sharp juice.
Comtesse de ParisComtesse de Paris can be considered as an improved Golden Hornet. It features the same white blossom and persistent yellow fruitlets, but grows with a better form.
Yarlington MillYarlington Mill is a traditional English cider apple variety producing a bittersweet juice.
Somerset RedstreakAn English cider apple variety producing a very high-quality bittersweet juice.
DabinettDabinett is a traditional English cider apple variety, producing a bittersweet juice.
Golden HornetMalus Golden Hornet is a traditional white blossom crab apple, with persistent yellow fruits.
Tremlett's BitterTremlett's Bitter is a traditional English cider apple variety producing a bittersweet juice.
Isaac Newton's Tree characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
- Flowering group5
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Fruit bearingPartial tip-bearer
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climates
- Picking seasonLate
- CroppingGood
- Keeping (of fruit)1-2 months
- Food usesCulinaryTraditional cooker
- Disease resistanceAverage
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1600 - 1649
- Blossom colourWhite
British-grown trees 
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.
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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.
More about apple trees
There is no doubt that the famous Bramley's Seedling still rightly reigns supreme. Characterised by its copious rich juicy acidity it quickly renders to stiff puree in the kitchen, and is the benchmark for English apple cookery. However we have noticed a real resurgence in interest in the humble cooking apple in recent years, with cooks looking beyond Bramley for other qualities and textures.
Look out for cooking apples which ripen earlier than Bramley, such as Grenadier or Keswick Codlin.
Scotland also has a strong tradition of cooking apples - Galloway Pippin, Scotch Bridget, Scotch Dumpling for example. This also illustrates another useful quality of cooking apples - they can be productive even in climates where grey skies and rain are more frequent than sun and blue skies.
Many cooking apples are also great for juicing, especially if you like your apple juice to have a bit of an acidic kick.
