Adam's Pearmain apple
Classic Victorian 'pearmain' shape apple with a nutty sweet flavour.
Adams Pearmain is a an old-fashioned late dessert apple, one of the
most popular varieties in Victorian England, probably originating from
Norfolk. It has an attractive 'pearmain' shape.
This is a fairly dry apple - which is perhaps not regarded as a desirable attribute today. Inspite of this it is actually a very enjoyable apple, with a rich aromatic flavour which in apple terms is usually described as 'nutty' - a quality it shares with another popular Victorian apple, the Egremont Russet.
Although it had 'shelf appeal' for the Victorian housewife, its autumnal colouring is probably too subdued to compete with the bright young things of the modern supermarket shelves. Perhaps this is part of its appeal; it recalls a bygone era where subtlety of flavour was appreciated - a lovely apple to savour in front of an open fire on a cold winter's day.
This is a fairly dry apple - which is perhaps not regarded as a desirable attribute today. Inspite of this it is actually a very enjoyable apple, with a rich aromatic flavour which in apple terms is usually described as 'nutty' - a quality it shares with another popular Victorian apple, the Egremont Russet.
Although it had 'shelf appeal' for the Victorian housewife, its autumnal colouring is probably too subdued to compete with the bright young things of the modern supermarket shelves. Perhaps this is part of its appeal; it recalls a bygone era where subtlety of flavour was appreciated - a lovely apple to savour in front of an open fire on a cold winter's day.
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Parentage: Unknown
- Origin: England, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1826
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 100100
Identification
- Bultitude apple group: 7. Flushed / striped, some russeting, sweet
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Flavour quality: Very good
- Flavour style: Aromatic
- Ripening period: Late season
- Use / keeping: 1-2 months
Growing
- Flowering period: Mid season
- Flowering group: 3
- Fertility: Self-sterile
- Triploid: No
- Vigour: Slightly small
- Fruit bearing: Partial tip-bearer
Adam's Pearmain identification photos from official fruit collections
Adam's Pearmain identification photos from website visitors
Apple - possibly Adams Pearmain
Copyright: Paul Thoroughgood
Copyright: Paul Thoroughgood
Main view - possible Adams Pearmain
Copyright: Terry Broughton
Copyright: Terry Broughton
Sliced view
Fruit tree register
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register the details here and contribute to our international register of fruit trees.
The following Adam's Pearmain trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree.
You can also view these trees on a map.
United States
- Karen In Wa in QUILCENE, WA
United Kingdom
- Adam Savage in ALLOA, CLACKMANNANSHIRE
- Adrian Hodge in DEREHAM, NORFOLK
- Barry Mcnamara in SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE
- Clifford Cain in Doncaster, South Yorkshire
- Eirene Hunter in Ballachulish,
- Graham Charles Schofield in NEWMARKET, Sufflok
- Henry Sears in NEWPORT (PEMBS), PEMBROKESHIRE
- Jim in EXETER, DEVON
- John Dench in ETCHINGHAM, EAST SUSSEX
- John Throssell in PLYMOUTH, DEVON
- Lynn Ireson in EAST DEREHAM, NORFOLK
- Mrs Hilary Ward in Malvern, Worcestershire
- nigel@purchon.com in SHEPTON MALLET, SOMERSET
- Peter Barnard in DONCASTER, LINCOLNSHIRE
- Rhiannon Harrington in READING, BERKSHIRE
- Sally in DERBYSHIRE
- Sue Carter in CHIPPENHAM, WILTSHIRE
- Victoria Birkett in ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
Switzerland
- Helmut Mueller in NEUKIRCH, Thurgau
Latest harvest records for this variety
Mature heights for Adam's Pearmain trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Adam's Pearmain tree taking into account the vigor of the variety, the rootstock, and soil conditions.
| Rootstock | Soil quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | Below average | Average | Above average | Very good | |
| P22 | 2.1 ft 0.6 m |
2.6 ft 0.8 m |
3.2 ft 1.0 m |
3.7 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
| M27 | 2.4 ft 0.7 m |
3.0 ft 0.9 m |
3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
4.8 ft 1.5 m |
| M9 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| Bud.9 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| Geneva 16 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| Geneva 11 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
| M26 | 4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.6 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
| Geneva 30 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
| MM102 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
| M7 | 5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| M116 | 5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| MM106 | 6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.5 ft 2.3 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
| MM111 | 7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
14.4 ft 4.4 m |
| Bud.118 | 7.8 ft 2.4 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.7 ft 3.6 m |
13.7 ft 4.2 m |
15.6 ft 4.8 m |
| M25 | 9.0 ft 2.8 m |
11.3 ft 3.5 m |
13.5 ft 4.1 m |
15.8 ft 4.8 m |
18.0 ft 5.5 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
Rate this variety for flavor