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Rosemary Russet apple trees

Malus domestica
Rosemary Russet apples
Rosemary Russet has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritRosemary Russet is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Late
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1993

Rosemary Russet is highly-regarded classic English dessert apple.

Although considered a "russet", the extent of russeting is usually quite limited, and the skin is predominantly a pale green largely covered with an attractive orange flush.

The cream-coloured flesh is firm rather than crisp, with a well-balanced sharp-sweet flavour.

Rosemary Russet apple trees for sale

Bare-root

  • BR11-year bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£34.95
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)

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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

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

Rosemary Russet is easy to grow and generally problem-free. It is heavy-cropping but left un-checked it tends to produce very small apples, so this is a variety that repays active thinning of the fruitlets in May, to increase the size of the remaining ones.

Recommended pollinators for Rosemary Russet apple trees

Rosemary Russet 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 Rosemary Russet. 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 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.
  • Pollinator Greensleeves
    Greensleeves
    Greensleeves is a reliable and popular mid-season green/yellow apple, easy to grow and productive.

History

Rosemary Russet was first mentioned in 1831 by a nursery in Middlesex, however it is certainly somewhat older than this. DNA testing in 2022 by Reading University established that Rosemary Russet was a parent of Cox's Orange Pippin - in hindsight the similarities are quite obvious.


Rosemary Russet characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climates

Using

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

Problems

  • Disease resistanceGood
  • CankerSome resistance
  • Scab (Apple and Pear)Some resistance

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1800 - 1849
  • Blossom colourPink - dark
  • Fruit colourRusset
  • AwardsRHS AGM (current)

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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