The comprehensive resource for apples and orchards

Cameo apple

A modern sweet variety, reminscent of Red Delicious.

Cameo is a very new apple variety. The shape is very reminscent of Red Delicious but Cameo does not have the intense red coloration of Red Delicious. The colour does seem to vary quite considerably, from a basically dark red flushed apple to a pale green apple with orange flushes.

Unlike most modern apples Cameo is not the result of a long breeding programme. It originated the old-fashioned way as a chance seedling. Interestingly, it was found in a Red Delicious orchard, so it seems likely, given the shape and colour, that Red Delicious was one of the parents.

The flavour is fairly bland, with a hint of pear - similar to Red Delicious but with less intensity. It is a bit crisper than Red Delicious too, but still fairly soft.

Last updated 18 Nov 2011.

Summary

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Seedling of Red Delicious
  • Origin: United States
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 113400

Using

  • Good for eating fresh
  • Flavour quality: Good

Growing

  • Flowering period: Mid season
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Fertility: Self-sterile
  • Triploid: No

Relationships to other varieties

Parents and other ancestors of this variety:

  • Red Delicious (parent) - Cameo is thought to be a seedling of Red Delicious.

Rate this variety for flavor

Current rating: 4 out of 5. Total votes cast: 4
 

Visitor comments

(Use the form at the bottom to add your own comments about this variety)

10 Jan 2012 JulianKENT, United Kingdom
Locally grown but obtained from the supermarket. Reasonably crisp, juicy but lacking in flavour. I wonder if there is any improvement in flavour if allowed to ripen further before picking from the tree?
06 Dec 2011 JoanneARIZONA, United States
My second favorite apple - favorite being Jazz. These are crisp and have a nice bite, they don't have the multiple flavor levels in Jazz, but they do have a nice and crisp apple flavor. Just as well since finding Jazz is near impossible!
21 Nov 2011 Jim TierneySAN FRANCISCO, United States
For me, this is the best Apple I've tasted. Crisp, juicy, mildly sweet, but tart as well. The crispness is really what sells it. As someone else mentioned, if they're soft they're old. Excellent apple.
19 Sep 2011 SheriCA, United States
Cameos are my new favorite apple! They are crisp and juicy, not too sweet and just enough tartness. I like the dark red stripes. I prefer the green undertone to get the taste I like. Until last year, their season seemed to be too short, only 2 weeks in the stores, but last year their season lasted for months! If the apple is soft, it must be old.
26 May 2011 Nick BallST ALBANS, United Kingdom
I would be interested to find out if Cameo is the same as Caudle. I can't find any reference linking the two varieties, but they have a very similar history. I've just had a French Caudle and it was very good, really crunchy and sweet.
26 Apr 2011 Eric LuckeWA, United States
I first tried this variety a few years ago and love'em. The ones in Washington are not soft. Great crisp taste and they can I stored mine in a cool garage for over a month until I had eaten the entire box of them. I would love to try to grow them.
20 Apr 2011 BeverlyFLORIDA, United States
I love these apples, I tried them a few weeks back and have been able to find them in every grocery store here in Florida. I would like to try growing them in Michigan, as we grow very good Michigan delicious apples.
13 Jan 2011 Kriss MitchellWILTSHIRE, United Kingdom
I have just found the Cameo variety for the first time in my local Co-op store in Amesbury. I've always been a Pink Lady fan but this one makes a lovely change - crisp, juicy and delicately flavoured. If you haven't tried it yet, you really should...
14 Feb 2010 SUnited Kingdom
The description of the Cameo apple appears to be mistaken here. The Cameo apple is very firm, crisp and not nearly as pedestrian as a red delicious. I do agree that it tastes much like a pear, with a bit of pleasant sour acid complementing the mild sweetness.
07 Jan 2010 Dr. Lewis T. Tait, Jr.GA, United States
Cameo is a good apple as well. It seems to be firm, not soft. I enjoy its fresh, light taste. It is a good apple. It is not like red delicious in my estimation.
15 Dec 2008 Stevie KGWENT UK, United Kingdom
I very much enjoy Cameo's, but being uinable to locate them, I've recently purchased some Rubens. There's more about them on this site, but in my view, if you like Cameo's you'll certainly like these. Currently in stock at some Somerfields.
09 Dec 2008 D R CordsSOUTH HAVEN-STEARNS-MN, United States
I also have noticed poor Quality of the Honey Crisp I have a large nuresery one mile from me and the H C I tasted in Nov of this year where of poor quality,Cameo is the apple and todays price was only $.98 LB
08 Dec 2008 Simon FletcherDEVON UK, United Kingdom
Yes, I'm currently enjoying these from Sainsbury's too and the eating qualities are just right for me; very crisp, juicy and kind of heavy ! If I was going to plant apple trees, which one day I will, this apple would be high on the list . . . might like something with a bit more character, say a slightly spicy edge to the taste. Any suggestions ?
10 Nov 2008 DarrenKENT, United Kingdom
Some Kent grown Cameo apples have appeared at Sainsburys. Large fruit, the first one out the bag had a pleasant taste. Firm'ish, sweet, a fraction blander than expected.
04 Jun 2008 NikkiNAPERVILLE, IL USA, United States
Fujis are my favorite, but Cameos are a good substitute at this point in the season where the Fujis at my local store are becoming a little, ah, suspect (starting to be brown in inside, and mushy). It is, of course, an amazing thing how the growers put these up in the Fall, and we have fresh apples in June.
30 May 2008 CarrieWR, GA, United States
I LOVE these apples!!! I first discovered them about a month ago at Wal-Mart and haven't stopped buying them since. I was devastated when I went grocery shopping this past week... there were no Cameos at Wal-mart. I really hope they were just out of them. I ended up buying some Braeburns but they did not taste anywhere near as good as the Cameos. If any of you live in the Middle GA area please let me know if any other grocery stores carry these.
07 May 2008 Patty GrovesSAN DIEGO, CA, United States
I just bought some Cameo apples last night. I had never heard of them before this and was intrigued by the size (very large) and the color. They are WONDERFUL!!! Juicy and very flavorful. I will be buying more of these beauties. And the price was 30 to 40 cents less per pound than some of the delicious and gala varieties!!!
21 Apr 2008 Jeff HoehneKENT WA, United States
tried my first cameo apple about six months ago and am now hooked. consistantly sweet crisp and juicy.apples dont get any better than this
08 Feb 2008 HannahSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, United States
We bought some Cameo apples the other day. It was the first time we had seen them advertised -- so we bought some to try them out. We did not know anything about them but thought they resembled the Red Delicious. The apples were juicy and crisp, but they did not have much taste. We prefer the Honeycrisp, which originated in Minnesota. They are available only in the fall in Minnesota, and they are very good. The Honeycrisp now in our stores come from Washington -- they cost a lot, and they are no good.
23 Oct 2007 Robin PriceELKTON,. MD USA, United States
For the most part I have never liked apples. However, I chaperoned my daughters recent first field trip to an orchard where we got to taste the cameo variety. I used to say, "never will i like apples without caramel." Now, I have learned to never say never and I cannot get enough of these. I love them, the only thing is i should start cutting them to eat them. The arthritis in my jaw is paying the price for these delicious treats.
20 Sep 2007 Mrs BWA, United States
I love apples of nearly all kinds, and Cameo is my absolute favorite fresh-eating apple. They are crisp, juicy, and flavorful, with a good balance of sweet and acid.
03 Aug 2007 TomUnited Kingdom
Bought some cameo apples last season and thought they were similar to Braeburn...crisp juicy and not too sweet..am looking forward to trying them again this year if I can find them." Ann, UK


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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 Cameo 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



Where to buy apple trees

The following fruit tree nurseries offer Cameo apple trees for sale:

  • Cummins Nursery
    United States  More >>

Where to buy apples

The following orchards and suppliers offer Cameo apples for sale. map >

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