Autumn 2024Order now for delivery from week commencing 25th November for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
Orange Pippin Trees UK logo

James Grieve apple trees

Check pollinators >
James Grieve has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritJames Grieve is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Mid
  • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1993

James Grieve is a justifiably popular dual-purpose apple variety, raised in Scotland at the end of the 19th century, the height of the Victorian period of apple development in the UK. It is a very juicy apple, producing plenty of sharp-tasting apple juice.

James Grieve is a mid-season variety that is picked in early-mid September. At this stage it is pleasantly acidic and refreshing and if it is too sharp for eating it can be used for cooking (cut it into small chunks, it keeps its shape when cooked). After a few weeks the flavour sweetens and becomes quite mild, and it is then an excellent apple to eat in slices along with a cheese course. The flesh is soft, somewhat like a firm pear in texture.

James Grieve is an excellent pollinator for many other apple varieties.

James Grieve apple trees for sale

Pot-grown

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

  • PG12-year bush-trained 11.5L pot-grown tree M27 rootstock £60.50
    Very small tree (< 1.7m after 10 years)
  • PG2Premium cordon 12L pot-grown tree M9 rootstock £60.50
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  • PG32-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree M26 rootstock £56.50
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • PG42-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock £56.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • PG5Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock £61.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)

Bare-root

  • BR1Cordon-trained bare-root tree M9 rootstock £46.25
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  • BR22-year bush-trained bare-root tree M9 rootstock £44.75< 5 in stock
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  • BR31-year bare-root tree M26 rootstock £34.95
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR42-year bush-trained bare-root tree M26 rootstock £43.00
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR51-year bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £34.95
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR62-year bush-trained bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £43.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR72-year half-standard bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £46.50
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR81-year bare-root tree M25 rootstock £35.75< 5 in stock
    Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)
  • BR92-year (1.75m) bare-root tree M25 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.

Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 25th November for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.

Delivery charges

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

Growing and Training

James Grieve is well-suited to the UK climate but does better in drier areas. In Scotland it does better on the east than the west. It is prone to premature fruit drop if grown in climates that are warmer than southern England.

James Grieve is a very useful pollinator of many other apple varieties. Not only does it produce far more pollen than most other apples, but the pollen is viable at lower temperatures than is usually the case (down to around 10C as opposed to the 15C-20C range which is most desirable for apple pollination).

History

Edinburgh, Scotland 1893, probably descended from an old Scottish culinary variety Pott's Seedling.


James Grieve characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersGood
  • Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climates

Using

  • Picking seasonMid
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)1-2 months
  • Food usesEating freshCulinaryJuiceHard ciderDual purpose

Problems

  • Disease resistanceAverage
  • CankerSome resistance
  • Scab (Apple and Pear)Some susceptibility
  • Fire blightSome susceptibility

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1850 - 1899
  • Blossom colourWhite
  • Fruit colourOrange flush
  • AwardsRHS AGM (current)

Similar varieties

  • Prince William
    James Grieve is one of the parents of this new bittersweet cider variety.
  • See also Three Counties
    Three Counties
    James Grieve is one of the parents of this new bittersweet cider variety.

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
Planth Healthy scheme logo

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.

This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2024.