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

Queen Cox apple

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Queen Cox

Queen Cox is a self-fertile sport (or possibly self-fertile seedling) of Cox's Orange Pippin.  It has a slightly improved coloration, and the flavour is just as good as the original.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that it is a bit more reliable than Cox's Orange Pippin - though this is still a very challenging variety to grow.

There appear to be two forms of Cox going under the name Queen Cox, although they may be related.  The first form, which is referenced at the UK National Fruit Collection, comes from a natural bud-sport of Cox's Orange Pippin which was found in an orchard in Berkshire, England, in the 1950s.  This form is not self-fertile.

The second form was developed at the Long Ashton research station near Bristol, England, in the 1970s and sometimes known as Cox SF18 - presumably the 18th seedling in the development programme  The focus of this development was to raise an improved self-fertile Cox - and this form is indeed self-fertile.  It is possible that the Long Ashton development used scion material derived from the Berkshire form.

Queen Cox apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Queen Cox
  • Queen Cox
  • Queen Cox

USDA identification images for Queen Cox

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

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

    Sport

    This variety is a sport (natural genetic mutation) of: Cox's Orange Pippin

    Visitor reviews

    • 08 Sep 2022 
      Quite tart with a wonderful crunch! My tree has now been in the ground for 5 years and is producing a good crop of this delicious apple. Very happy with it.
    • 09 Mar 2022  GEORGIA, United States
      I HAVE IT! and a lot of others.
    • 18 Sep 2018  WA, United States
      Will have to seek this in a congenial climate, because so many rave about it (COP and this bud sport). The tree dies in the extreme heat and arid situation here. I refrained from rating its flavor, because those tried here were dreadful, but this is far from England!
    • 22 Oct 2013  KENT, United Kingdom
      There's not much I like more than a Queens Cox in my mouth!

    Tree register

    United States

    United Kingdom

    Canada

    • Clive Rose in SALT SPRING ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2022 season

    • 12th May  2022  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States

    2021 season

    • 7th May  2021  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States

    2020 season

    • 20th May  2020  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States

    2019 season

    • 14th May  2019  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States

    2014 season

    • 12th May  2014  - tree owned by Mark in Leyburn, United Kingdom
    • April  2014  - tree owned by Jim in Trinidad, United States

    2013 season

    • 24th May  2013  - tree owned by Jeff in Leicester, United Kingdom
    • 24th May  2013  - tree owned by Jean in Martock, United Kingdom

    2012 season

    • 20th May  2012  - tree owned by Jeff in Leicester, United Kingdom
    • May  2012  - tree owned by Graham in Coldstream, United Kingdom
    • 23rd April  2012  - tree owned by Keat in Bristol, United Kingdom

    2011 season

    • 24th April  2011  - tree owned by Jeff in Leicester, United Kingdom
    • 17th April  2011  - tree owned by Jon in Keelby, United Kingdom

    2010 season

    • 16th May  2010  - tree owned by Jon in Keelby, United Kingdom

    Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.


    Harvest records for this variety

    2022 season

    • 2nd week September  2022  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States

    2021 season

    • 4th week September  2021  - tree owned by Jim in Hallstead, United States

    2016 season

    • 2nd week October  2016  - tree owned by Dan in Ilkley, United Kingdom

    2015 season

    • 3rd week September  2015  - tree owned by Jim in Trinidad, United States

    2014 season

    • 4th week August  2014  - tree owned by Jim in Trinidad, United States

    2012 season

    • 2nd week October  2012  - tree owned by Jean in Martock, United Kingdom
    • October  2012  - tree owned by Graham in Coldstream, United Kingdom
    • 4th week September  2012  - tree owned by Jim in Trinidad, United States

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Parentage: A sport of Cox's Orange Pippin
    • Originates from: Bristol, England, United Kingdom
    • Introduced: 1975
    • Developed by: Long Ashton Research Station
    • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1976-148

    Identification

    • Country of origin: United Kingdom
    • Period of origin: 1950 - 1999
    • Fruit colour: Orange / Red
    • Flower colour: White
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Popularity: Under-rated
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous
    • Alleles: 5
    • Alleles: 9

    Using

    • Picking season: Mid
    • Keeping (of fruit): 1-2 months
    • Flavour quality: Exceptional
    • Flavour style (apples): Aromatic
    • Discoloration of fruit: Slightly oxidising (browns slowly)
    • Vitamin C content: Medium
    • Cropping: Light
    • Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Food uses: Culinary
    • Food uses: Juice
    • Picking period: mid-September
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Experienced
    • Flowering group: 3
    • Pollinating others: Poor
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Weak growing
    • Precocity: Precocious
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
    • Self-fertility: Self-fertile

    Climate

    • Frost resistance of blossom: Susceptible
    • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)

    Other qualities

    • Disease resistance: Poor
    • Canker: Some susceptibility
    • Scab (Apple and Pear): Some susceptibility
    • Powdery mildew: Some susceptibility
    • Cedar apple rust: Some susceptibility

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Queen Cox apple trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Queen Cox:

    United States


    United Kingdom


    Canada




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