Autumn 2024Order now for delivery from week commencing 25th November for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
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Sunset apple trees

Check pollinators >
Sunset has received the RHS Award of Garden MeritSunset is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Late
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1993

Sunset is a popular Cox-style apple, which we recommend as one of the best alternatives to Cox's Orange Pippin as it is much easier to grow. The parentage is not known but it is almost certainly a seedling of Cox. Disease resistance is far better, cropping is good and reliable, and it is self-fertile.

The flavour is balanced and sweet, with many of the aromatic qualities of Cox's Orange Pippin. Sunset also has the attractive orange-flush so characteristic of Cox and other traditional English apples.

Sunset ripens in mid-September.

Sunset 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

  • BR11-year bare-root tree M9 rootstock £38.25
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season
  • BR2Cordon-trained bare-root tree M9 rootstock £46.25
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  • BR32-year bush-trained bare-root tree M9 rootstock £44.75< 5 in stock
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  • BR41-year bare-root tree M26 rootstock £34.95
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR52-year bush-trained bare-root tree M26 rootstock £43.00
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR61-year bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £34.95
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR72-year bush-trained bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £43.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR82-year bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £43.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
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

The main horticultural problem with Sunset is that the apples tend to be quite small, but this is easily corrected by thinning the fruitlets thoroughly in May and early June.

Sunset can be grown reliably throughout much of the UK. It is one of the most disease-resistant of Cox-style varieties.

It is a neat and compact tree, and a good variety for growing in a patio container.

History

Introduced in 1918, unknown parentage but assumed to be a seedling of Cox's Orange Pippin.


Sunset characteristics

Growing

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

Using

  • Picking seasonLate
  • CroppingHeavy
  • Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
  • Food usesEating freshJuice

Problems

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

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1900 - 1949
  • Blossom colourWhite
  • Fruit colourOrange flush
  • 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
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.