red-fleshed apples, DIVERSITY website, pictures of apples

			Red-Fleshed Apples
			This group of apples has the distinction of red flesh under an apple skin of regular appearance. I have been a collector of redflesh apples for several years, but please note this page is just an index to more authoritative sources. I am not an expert. Pictures below. There is a wealth of experience below. Visit their sites. There's also an interesting 8-minute talk on 'Youtube' by Richard Espley, a plant molecular biologist working in Auckland, New Zealand, on the development of a red-fleshed apple. Greenmantle Nursery, Garberville, California. www.greenmantlenursery.com/fruit/rosetta-apples.htm (Ram Fishman, the authority on Albert Etter, breeder of a line of redfleshed apples from the variety "Surprise". Ram's website has some amazing photographs and tells the story of how he rescued genetically valuable apple varieties from Etter's abandoned experimental orchard many years later. Make sure you visit this site. The seven red-fleshed apples he propogates and sells are known as the Rosetta apples and are indicated below "Property of Greenmantle Nursery"). Four Seasons Cabins, Hocking Hills Nursery, Logan, Ohio, USA. www.fourseasonscabinrental.com/redfleshedapples.html (Derek Mills, apple collector, grower of forty-five varieties of red-fleshed apple) Tree-Mendus Orchards, Eau Claire, Michigan, USA. www.tree-mendus.com/articles/red_fleshed_apples.html (article by Theo Grootendorst, 30-year owner of Southmeadow Nursery. Tree-Mendus sell five red-fleshed apple trees: Hidden Rose, Pink Pearl, Surprise, Almata and Pink Sparkle, and the Tree-Mendus Orchards are owned by Herb & Liz Teichman.) Siloam Orchards, Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada. www.siloamorchards.com/apple_tr.html (comprehensive fruit catalogue and information) Deacon's Fruit Nursery, Godshill, IOW, England. www.deaconsnurseryfruits.co.uk (comprehensive apple catalogue; more information than most textbooks) THE VARIETIES My sources of information are numbered 1-8 after each apple. These numbers refer to: 1. Siloam's online fruit catalogue, from Ontario 2. Joan Morgan and Alison Richards: The book of Apples, 1993, Ebury Press. 3. Own remarks, based on my limited experience (N.D, Leicestershire, UK) 4. Remarks by an apple collector friend living in Pennsylvania. 5. Graham Deacon, Deacon's Nurseries, IOW. 6. Derek Mills' website, Four Seasons Cabins, Ohio. 7. Ram Fishman's website, Greenmantle Nurseries, California . 8. Tree-Mendus website, article by Theo Grootendorst, Michigan. PICTURES The pictures below are mine. As more trees blossom and fruit, or people send photos, more will be added. The Greenmantle nursery has spectacular pictures of its seven Rosetta apples. I am responsible for any errors in the list which follows. Corrections and additions - and pictures - are welcome - please email. All contributions will be credited. So... the varieties:- AIRLIE RED FLESH Also known as Hidden Rose (see below). ALMATA 1942 South Dakota, USA .(Beautiful Arcade x Fluke 38) x Redflesh cross. Medium size; solid red skin covered with a greying bloom. Striking watermelon red flesh, tart flavor. Makes excellent apple sauce and can be used for pickling. Ripens in late July to August. (6) Pink cortex wood, red-green leaves. Sweet, pleasant favour, reminiscent of strawberry and raspberry; hint of pomegranate. Mine do not have a tart flavour; the tree is extremely healthy and not readily attacked by pests. (3) Vigorous, healthy grower. (4) ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... The red pigment is pervasive in the fruit, flowers, the leaf and the wood under the bark. Solid purplish-red skin with striking red flesh. (8) APRICOT APPLE Orange flesh, large, round orange-red apple. Flesh is very crisp. Sweet tart flavour; ripens in late October. (6) BALDWIN RED FLESH No information. BELLE FLEUR KRASNY Russian; raised by Michurin; sweet, red-stained white flesh. Part descendant of Niedzwetzkyana. (4) Tania Scully (Syracuse, New York) tells me that Krasny is Russian for "red". BILL'S RED FLESH Also known as Scarlet Surprise. (4) BLUSH ROSETTE Property of Greenmantle Nursery, Garberville, CA. Ripens Sept. Can suffer heat damage in some years. Pink flesh through cream background. Aromatic, rich flavour high in acids and sugar. (7) BREUNDSDORF Variety from East Germany almost lost when the orchards containing it disappeared under opencast coal mines. A lady visiting the area took an apple home to England before the bulldozers moved in and planted the seeds. One seedling produced apples true to type. The lady contacted the site, and the tree was re-grafted. BROWN'S APPLE Early Devon sharp cider apple. Pictures from Mark Shirley of Rockinghamforest Cider. Produces pink juice. ... ... ... BURFORD'S RED FLESH Discovered by Tom Burford, U.S. Cortex wood is red stained. Pretty red blossom. As for the fruit - grey bloom on skin which marks on handling. Browns rapidly when cut. Not to be confused with Burford Red, English apple from Oxfordshire. Mine ripened fully on about 1st October and although the appearance was spectacular the taste was not good. Juice flavour pleasant, little acidity, flesh texture rather dry and unpleasant; a bitter high-tannin aftertaste, though better than wisley crab. The bitterness disappears entirely on cooking though the flavour is bland. However the spectacular colour makes this worth mixing with Bramley etc. Stays on tree until early Nov. ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... BURGUNDY Mentioned on one U.S. site (Bob Sorenson, Native Wines, Mt. Pleasant, Utah) as a cider variety. CLIFFORD American. Medium size fruit; solid red skin with light russeting. Red flesh, juicy, very tart flavor. Ripens mid September. (6) Relative of "Doctor Clifford" (England) ? (3) CHRISTMAS PINK Property of Greenmantle Nursery, Garberville, CA. (7) Deep pink flesh; creamy translucent skin. Brisk, tart. Stored fruit mellow into rich flavour, melting flesh by Christmas, hence the name. (7) DEVONSHIRE QUARRENDEN Not a red-fleshed apple unless the year is warm and sunny, when there's a distinct pink colouration. Probable ancestor of DISCOVERY (q.v.); parent of Worcester Pearmain. .... .... .... DIRLETON RED This is listed by Derek and Judy Tolman ( www.bernwodeplants.co.uk), located and propagated by them. It is an redfleshed variety, introduced to them by Bill Anderson of Dirleton, East Lothian, Scotland, and very hardy. The apples show some similarity to the redfleshed crab Niedzwetzkyana, but the fruit is larger and less bitter. The young foliage is copper tinted and the wood red stained. The apples are translucent deep red over deep pink, usually flattened round but occasionally conical. The blossom is deep carmine pink. The flesh is quite tart, stained to the core deep pink. (details taken from the Bernwode Plants catalogue). I would be interested to hear from anyone who has grown it. DISCOVERY (1949 Essex, England, UK) (JRHS) Worcester Pearmain x Beauty of Bath (?) cross Medium to large size, skin greenish yellow flushed bright red, light dots, fine scattered russet, solid russet at base. Flesh crisp, yellowish white tinged pink. (6) ..... This isn't usually a red fleshed apple, but some pink staining is found just under the skin if the weather conditions are right. The picture above, sent by Andy Brown, is a spectacular example of what can happen. Merton Knave, Devonshire Quarrenden (q.v) and Laxton's Fortune also show this trait. Discovery is quite acidic at the start of the season. Early apple; not worth keeping more than a day or two.(3) FIRECRACKER Remarks by "Dave", Airlie, Oregon: "I found your site while looking for information on the Airlie Red apple - I live about 15 miles SE of Airlie, became interested in it when researching what types of apple to plant. Jim Gilbert of Northwood's Nursery (www.onegreenworld.com) stocks this apple and other red-fleshed types". His picture shows bright red skin and crimson flesh....C.P. tells me that this apple is the same as "Bill's Redflesh" / Scarlet Surprise. ND. GENEVA Seedling of Niedzweckyana. Medium size fruit. Red skin, dark red foliage. Red flesh, very tart flavor. Can be used for cider, ripens late August to early September. (6) GEORGE'S RED Similar to Red Devil in appearance but pre-dating it by about 100 years. Original tree located by George Humphrey, Roundbush, Essex, where it is growing on an ancient parish boundary. The tree has been propogated. Cortex wood is pink, leaves have a stronger reddish tint than most other redfleshed apples. Flavour similar to Red Devil but but more delicate; less hints of strawberry and the flesh is less vividly coloured. Keeps a few days. Ripe early to mid Sept. (3) This variety (or one extremely similar to it) has also been located in Croydon by J.M; two very old trees. .... .... .... GIANT RUSSIAN Small to medium size fruit. Red skin, dark red foliage. Red flesh, very tart flavor. Ripens late August to early September. (6) GLOWING HEART One of Fred Jansen's selections, described as looking like a beet inside and out due to its very deep purple / red colouring. Ripens September, quite tart.(1) Very cold hardy. (4) GRENADINE This Albert Etter apple ( 1940 ) has the deepest and darkest purplish red flesh, dull grayish transparent skin and has been compared to a pomegranate. Late ripening, brisk at harvest, mellowing after a few weeks in storage. (1) California, USA, medium to large size fruit. Solid red skin, medium pink flesh, tart flavour. Developed by Greenmantle Nursery. (6) Property of Greenmantle Nursery, Garberville, CA. (7) Ripens mid-Nov on tree at Greenmantle nursery, but probably best picked Oct and stored. Very heavily pigmented flesh; darkest of the Rosetta group. (7) HALL'S PINK Cortex wood is green. Fruit has a pink tinge where the skin is bright red. Beautiful delicate flavour, a little like Mott's pink, with very thin paper-like skin which can often be removed without a knife. Flesh soft but firm, very juicy. Some resemblance to Laxton's Fortune in shape, size and colour but flavour far more delicate. (3) .... .... .... .... .... .... HANSEN'S RED FLESH No information. HARRY BAKER Rosy blooms, large red fruit, dark red flesh. Good for crab apple jelly. (4) HIDDEN ROSE Also known as Airlie Redflesh. (4) Airlie, Oregon, USA. Medium size conical fruit. Dark red flesh with a crisp texture and sweet tart flavor. Ripens in late September. (6) .... .... .... .... .... .... Green cortex wood; leaves green. Sweet-tart flavour with thick mottled skin. Possibly the richest-flavoured red-fleshed apple I have grown. Remarkable appearance - vivid red flesh under greenish skin. In UK this is not ripe until early Nov, when it has an excellent flavour and is sweet rather than tart. (3) LAURA Hugh Ermen variety. Dwarf columnar crab, pink/white flowers, dark green leaves, medium size maroon fruits with dark red flesh. Good for jelly. (4) LAXTON'S FORTUNE Occasional red flesh seen with this variety when the weather is right.(3) .... MAYPOLE Ballerina apple; grows with very few side breaks. Large dark redfleshed crab apples a little over an inch in diameter. Blossom is reddish pink along the main stem; the apple is self fertile. MERTON KNAVE Not really a red fleshed variety, but flesh has a pink hue in some years. Early apple; good flavour, but not worth storing for more than 1-2 days. White flesh in dull years. ..... MOTT'S PINK Cortex wood green. One of the better-flavoured redfleshed apples. Almost luminous orange-pink in sunshine; smooth translucent skin; slightly sticky when fully ripe. Very similar in flavour and texture to Laxton's fortune, but slightly more tart; firm, crisp, very juicy. The apple is pleasantly scented. Prone to scab. Very prone to mites; attracts them like a magnet. .... .... .... .... .... .... NIEDZWECKYANA Small to medium size fruit. Solid red skin, dark red flesh, tart flavour. Ripens in October. (6) NORFOLK RATTLEBOX A very rare Norfolk variety. Presumably the pips rattle when the apple is ripe. Apple with pink rather than red flesh. No other details at present. Pictures supplied by Danny Cotgrove - many thanks. (3) .... .... .... PENDRAGON Red-fleshed cider variety available (I think) in Devon. (3) PEACH MELBA Medium to large size fruit. Yellowish orange skin with red blush and some russeting. Orange flesh, tart flavor. Ripens late September. (6) PINK BEAUTY No information PINK BOUQUET No information PINK PARFAIT Property of Greenmantle Nursery, Garberville, CA. (7) Large fruit; best flavoured and latest of the Rosetta apples. Flesh is mottled pink and cream. Ripens end-Nov. Needs long growing season. (7) PINK PEARL From the noted California plant breeder Alfred Etter in 1944. Bright pink flesh and crimson pink blossoms. The fruit is crisp with a sweet/tart flavor, conical shape; skin is a creamy pale green. Parent is red-fleshed Surprise.(1) This apple was the Etter Surprise hybrid singled out for patenting and official introduction in the mid 1940s. (7) 1944 Humboldt County, California, USA. Medium size fruit. Cream and light green skin blushed with a red cheek. Rich flavor. Excellent dessert quality and for making apple sauce and pies. Ripens late August to September. (6) My own impressions - the flavour is crisp; fruit texture is good. Skin not too coarse. Ripens end-Oct. in Midlands. The flavour is slightly better than Hidden Rose but more tart. The flesh is an attractive light pink and white. The apple is to my taste but if it was put in a child's lunch box it would probably be only half eaten. It is very acidic for a dessert apple. It would dry well (apple rings - superb flavour and colour) and would probably cook well, given its acidity. (3) .... .... .... Cortex wood is green. (3) PINK PEARMAIN Found growing in an old orchard near Whale Gulch, California, USA by Ram and Marissa Fishman of Greenmantle Nursery. Thought to be one of Albert Etter's apples. Medium to large size. Red with red stripes when ripe. Flesh color deep pink. Tart, mildly sweet, aromatic flavor. Ripens late September.(6) Distinctly sticky when ripe; England - ripens at end of October / beginning of November. (3) Property of Greenmantle Nursery, Garberville, CA. (7) Also known as Pink Sparkle. (4) Must be fully ripe for maximum sweetness and colour. Ripens early September. Late blossom. Does better if climate not too hot. (7) ....Picture emailed to me from U.S.A. by unknown apple grower, Aug 08. Many thanks. Another grower in England reports that this apple ripens mid October to early November and that this is an apple of the MM106 / Sturmer Pippin type, with hard, firm flesh. Sweet, pleasant aromatic flavour, slightly richer and denser texture than Mott's Pink. ........ ....... ....... ....... ....... PINK PRINCESS Fred Janson of Ontario developed this pink fleshed variety, originally named Pink Lady. He did not patent the name, as he did not believe in fruit patents, and an Australian variety was subsequently patented as Pink Lady, which is the one now available commercially. In 1997, Mr. Janson changed the name of his apple to Pink Princess which has pastel to dark pink flesh, is sweet/tart and aromatic, medium sized, skin color is carmine striping over pink. The parentage is Pink Pearl x King of the Pippins. (1) PINK SPARKLE aka Pink Permain (see above). RAVEN Waldren Island, Washington, USA. Small to medium sized apple. In full sun the skin is dark burgundy, almost black. Yields bright red juice with excellent flavor. Makes good dried fruit, wine and cider. Ripens late October. (6) RED DEVIL Mid season dessert apple, scarlet flushed skin with pronounced bloom on skin. Keeps quite well - for several weeks. Good decorative tree; slender, good cropper; somewhat prone to scab in Leicestershire. Pink blossom. Cortex wood is pink; young leaves dark reddish-green going to green as they mature.(3) Raised 1975 by Hugh Ermen, Faversham, Kent. Discovery x Kent. Strong fruity taste, some strawberry flavour; crisp, juicy, pink stained flesh. Produces pink juice. Pick late Sept. Store until Oct-Dec.(2) Ideal garden cultivar, superb flavour, with pink juice. Tip and spur bearing. (5) RED FLESH Niedzweckyana x Malus Ioensis cross. Medium to large size deep red fruit with russeting on crown. Makes a clear red jelly. (6) REDFIELD 1938 Geneva, New York, USA. Wolf River x Niedzweckyana cross. Medium to large, waxy pink to red fruit with russeting. Deep red flesh is slightly dry making it excellent for baking. Produces an exceptional jelly or blood red cider or vinegar. Ripens in October. (6) REDFORD 1938 Geneva, New York, USA. Wolf River x Niedzweckyana. Medium to large size fruit, flesh red. (6) RED HOOK (1938 US) McIntosh x Carlton cross. Medium to large light red fruit blushed with dark red. Pink flesh that is firm, coarse, juicy and subacid. Ripens in September. (6) RED MOON (ROTER MOND) German red-fleshed variety. Red cast to the leaves. (3) RED MILLER'S SEEDLING An old market favourite variety. Striking red stripes. Very early season; self-fertile. Compact tree. Worcester type flesh: crisp and tangy. Flesh tinged pink. (5) RUBAIYAT California, USA. Developed by Ram and Marissa Fishman of Greenmantle Nursery. (6) Property of Greenmantle Nursery. (7) "Gem" of the Rosetta-Apple collection. Radiant red inside and out.Ripens late - Oct. (7) SCARLET SURPRISE Also known as Bill's Redflesh / Firecracker. (4) Cortex wood is dark red; leaves predominantly red. (3) Bright red blossom; reluctant to set fruit. .... SCUGOG Seedling of Niedzweckyana. Red flesh. (6) SOPS IN WINE ??? A person in Suffolk sent these apples and suggested they are the ancient variety "Sops in Wine". They certainly fit the name; their colouring is as if they had been soused in red wine. If anyone recognises them, I would appreciate an email. They are highly scented, season August to November, and, as you can see, of spectacular appearance. These apples are from an ancient tree (100 years+, rather spindly and slow growing) in a Suffolk village. There cannot be many varieties looking like this. ..... ..... Sops in Wine is a reputedly pink-fleshed apple from the18th century. Brogdale's trees, however, are not red fleshed. SURFLEET SOUR Seedling found in Surfleet, Norfolk. Ready Oct. Acidic, reddish flesh some years; other years no trace of colour. Cooker with dessert character later in the season. The tree has been propogated. (3) .... .... SURPRISE The name refers to its startling red flesh that lies under a pale yellow skin. Listed in USA nursery catalogues as early as 1824. European origin, unknown parentage. (1) Predominantly yellow, smooth skinned, midseason cooker and dessert; received 1905 RHS Wisley. Cooked, keeps shape or makes stiff puree; brightyellow; sweet, rich flavour. Culinary flavour fades by New Year, by which time it serves as a pleasant eating apple.(2) no mention of red colour, surprisingly- N.D. One of the parents of Pink Pearl. (6) First noted in 1831 catalogue of fruits, garden of Horticultural Soc. of London, Chiswick. (8) THORNBERRY One of Albert Etter's red fleshed varieties, found growing in an abandoned orchard near Whitehorn California. The skin is translucent yellow that when fully ripe reveals a hint of the raspberry pink flesh inside. The flavor is spright, refreshing and berry-like. Ripens late season, in October and hangs well on the tree. (1) Thornberry is a registered trademark of Greenmantle nursery. (6)(7) Similar appearance to Pink Pearl but smaller and less translucent skin. Flesh is colour of raspberry ice cream. Some susceptibility to scab.(7) WATERMELON Medium size fruit, light red skin. Crisp, juicy, medium pink flesh. (6) WEBSTER'S PINKMEAT Medium Sized fruit. Greenish yellow skin with red blush. Crisp, juicy, medium pink flesh. (6) Red-stained wood. My tree is extremely young and to date has set no fruit (3) ..... Cortex wood pink. Leaves red - bronze.(3) WEIROUGE Registered redfleshed German commercial variety. Does not brown on cutting. WINTER REDFLESH A winter hardy red fleshed variety with purple flowers and bronze-red foliage. Sasha x Redflesh cross. (1) Medium size fruit, red skin, red flesh. Purple blossoms and bronze red leaves. Ripens mid October. (6) WISLEY CRAB Very large-fruited crab apple, conical; red stained throughout. (4) Flavour average to poor; sometimes like juiceless watermelon; can be sweet and slightly sickly. (3). Photo from Deacon's Nursery, Isle of Wight. Beautiful red blossom; highly decorative. ...... ...... UNIDENTIFIED, possibly seedlings Two varieties of apple growing wild in Whetstone, Leicestershire, England. Both have a hint of strawberry in their flavour. The darker one (left of both pictures) has a much firmer, denser texture and produces red juice. ...... SOURCES 1. Siloam Orchards' Fruit Catalogue, Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada. www.siloamorchards.com/apple_tr.html 2. The Book of Apples, by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards, Ebury Press, 1993. 3. Own remarks (N.D.) 4. Remarks by C.P., an apple enthusiast and collector in Pennsylvania, who has kindly written some comments on growing red-fleshed apples for us. 5. Remarks from Deacon's Fruit Nursery, Godshill, IOW, England. www.deaconsnurseryfruits.co.uk 6. Remarks by Derek Mills, Four Seasons Cabins, Hocking Hills Nursery, Ohio . www.fourseasonscabinrental.com/redfleshedapples.html 7. Notes from Greenmantle Nursery, Garberville, California. www.greenmantlenursery.com/fruit/rosetta-apples.htm 8. Article by Theo Grootendorst, 30-year ex-owner of Southmeadow Nursery, writing for "Tree-Mendus" website, Michigan. www.tree-mendus.com/articles/red_fleshed_apples.html compiled by Nigel Deacon / Diversity website Back to top
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Red-Fleshed Apples