Blenheim Orange apple
Malus domestica
An 18th century English dual-purpose apple which remains very popular as a garden variety.
A popular old English apple variety, primarily a cooker. Good for making 'Apple Charlotte' as it cooks to a stiff puree. Lovely eaten with cheese, having a nutty, quite sweet taste and a crumbly texture.
Our photo shows a redder-sport called Blenheim Red which was found in 1966.
Summary
- Parentage: Unknown
- Origin: England, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1740
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 100600
- Some historical details taken with kind permission from 'The New Book of Apples' by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards , illustrated by Elisabeth Dowle, published by Ebury Press, 2002.
Identification
- Bultitude apple group: 7. Flushed / striped, some russeting, sweet
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Good for cooking
- Cooking result: Puree
- Flavour quality: Good
- Ripening period: Late season
- Use / keeping: 1-2 months
Growing
- Cropping: Good
- Flowering group: 3
- Fertility: Self-sterile
- Triploid: Yes
- Poor pollinator
- Vigour: Very large
- Biennial tendency
- Gardening skill: Requires a bit of effort
- Attractive tree
- Attractive fruit
- General disease resistance: Average
Climate
- Suitable for temperate climates
- Suitable for N. England?: Yes
Other qualities
- RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993
Mature tree heights for this variety (approximate)
| Rootstock | Soil quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | Below average | Average | Above average | Very good | |
| P22 | 3.0 ft 0.9 m |
3.8 ft 1.2 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
| M27 | 4.0 ft 1.2 m |
5.0 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.0 ft 2.5 m |
| M9 | 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 |
| Bud.9 | 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 |
| Geneva 16 | 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 |
| Geneva 11 | 7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.8 ft 2.7 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.3 ft 3.8 m |
14.0 ft 4.3 m |
| M26 | 8.0 ft 2.5 m |
10.0 ft 3.1 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
14.0 ft 4.3 m |
16.0 ft 4.9 m |
| Geneva 30 | 8.0 ft 2.5 m |
10.0 ft 3.1 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
14.0 ft 4.3 m |
16.0 ft 4.9 m |
| MM102 | 8.0 ft 2.5 m |
10.0 ft 3.1 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
14.0 ft 4.3 m |
16.0 ft 4.9 m |
| M7 | 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 |
| M116 | 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 |
| MM106 | 10.0 ft 3.1 m |
12.5 ft 3.8 m |
15.0 ft 4.6 m |
17.5 ft 5.4 m |
20.0 ft 6.1 m |
| MM111 | 12.0 ft 3.7 m |
15.0 ft 4.6 m |
18.0 ft 5.5 m |
21.0 ft 6.4 m |
24.0 ft 7.4 m |
| Bud.118 | 14.0 ft 4.3 m |
17.5 ft 5.4 m |
21.0 ft 6.4 m |
24.5 ft 7.5 m |
28.0 ft 8.6 m |
| M25 | 16.0 ft 4.9 m |
20.0 ft 6.1 m |
24.0 ft 7.4 m |
28.0 ft 8.6 m |
32.0 ft 9.8 m |
Relationships to other varieties
Offspring of this variety:
- Annie Elizabeth - Annie Elizabeth is believed to be a seedling of Blenheim Orange
- Golden Reinette - Golden Reinette is possibly a child of Blenheim Orange
- Howgate Wonder
See also:
- Orleans Reinette - Some authorities believe Blenheim Orange and Orleans Reinette are the same variety
