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All about apples, pears, plums, and cherries - and orchards where they are grown

Alfriston apple

A well-regarded 19th century English cooking apple, which cooks down to a puree.

USDA identification images for Alfriston

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

  • USDA watercolor image of Malus domestica: Alfriston

Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

Offspring of this variety


Visitor reviews

  • 16 Nov 2011  CAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom
    Yes, Alfriston apples keep for a very long time in simple conditions. So far, my bush-tree has not been as resistant to powdery mildew as I had hoped - resistance to mildew seems to be only about average. No problems with other pests or diseases. My tree is a part-tip bearer, which I have not seen mentioned in literature (part-tip-bearers are arguably the most attractive-looking trees). This tip-bearing tends to pull the branches down - into the slightly more spreading shape mentioned by Bob. Its growth rate is slightly faster than average.
  • 14 Nov 2011  WORCESTERSHIRE, United Kingdom
    Excellent keeper (once used on long voyages by sailing ships for its good keeping qualities) and very good flavour in my opinion. Regular cropper and the apples are very resistant to low temperatures. Should be grown much more than it is as a good garden variety. Fairly upright in growth in its early years but more spreading as the tree develops. Hope this encourages more people to grow it!

Tree register

United Kingdom

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
  • Originates from: Sussex, England, United Kingdom
  • Introduced: Late 1700s
  • Developed by: Mr Shepherd of Uckfield
  • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1957-178

Identification

  • Country of origin: United Kingdom

Using

  • Picking season: Late
  • Keeping (of fruit): 1-2 months
  • Flavour quality: Very good
  • Flavour style (apples): Sharper
  • Cooking result: Puree
  • Cropping: Good
  • Food uses: Culinary
  • Food uses: Juice

Growing

  • Vigour: Slightly large
  • Fruit bearing: Partial tip-bearer

Climate

  • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
  • Cold-hardiness: Cold-hardy

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Alfriston:

Australia




References

  • Apples of England (1948)
    Author: Taylor
    One of the best culinary apples of the 19th century.

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