Visitor comments

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10 Apr 2009 18:56   Loren from Rising Sun, Indiana, USA

Another source for these trees in the USA is Trees of Antiquity in Paso Robles, CA. Their phone number is: (805) 467-9909. Their web site is: www.treesofantiquity.com. I got my first one from them this year, Spring 2009. They shipped excellent stock with good root systems. Unfortunately, they are now sold out of Cox's Orange Pippin for Spring 2009.Reply to this comment

06 Apr 2009 23:58   EMR from Melbourne, Australia

I would love to be able to graft a branch on to one of my existing apple trees. It was my favurite apple when I was a chld. Any locals able to oblige?Reply to this comment

23 Jan 2009 06:28   chad nichols from marengo, il

We have been growing Cox Orange Pippin at out orchard in Marengo, IL for 25 years now and I agree they are the best apple ever. The density of flavor and flesh makes this one truely stand out. Its not just sweet, but has a complex flavor that words do no justice. Nicholsfarm grows over 170 varieties and this one is my favorite. We also attend 18 Chicago farmers markets so if your in the area you can get them end of August through September fresh off the tree.Reply to this comment

08 Oct 2008 19:32   oddjob from Essex County, Massachusetts (USA)

I have just purchased my first Cox Orange Pippin last night in the grocery store I frequent (a "Whole Foods" store). They had a small number of specialty apples for sale, including this one. I have long wondered about its taste, knowing how popular and famous it was in the UK. My own favorite is an American apple named "Jonathan". I will be most interested in comparing the two! Jonathan has a gently spicy flavor. To bite into a Jonathan apple is to take a bite of apple cider! Unfortunately THAT apple I can't seem to find in this part of the world! :-(Reply to this comment

04 Oct 2008 01:54   brad from New York, NY

In our NYC greenmarkets, varieties abound, there are a number of orchards that have limited amounts of "gourmet" apples. Of note, Rubinette, Calville Blanc, Court Pendu Platt are some that I have come across, but rarely. Finally, I found Cox, and wow, what a treat. I am an apple fanatic, eat 4 a day, and now i see why all the hubbub. Anyone in the UK who knows how I can some shipped, let me know: rolsto@yahoo.com. thanks bradReply to this comment

29 Dec 2008 19:36   marty myles from oshawa, ont. canada

Try this place, it is where I got my Pippin trees, great place to deal with. mail@siloamorchards.com

02 Oct 2008 15:44   Christophe Dri from St Didier, France (84)

La cox orange était une vapeur du passé. Je n'en ai goûté qu'une dans ma vie... mais quelle empreinte elle a laissé sur moi... Pendant des années je n'ai plus mangé de pommes (il est vrai que nos pommes françaises manquent d'esprit), hanté par la chanson acidulée de la cox... la croyant espèce détruite et fantômatique... Je la retrouve aujourd'hui après 20 ans... apprends que vous, mes amis anglais, en êtes blasés... Tout va tout de suite mieux... CDReply to this comment

30 Sep 2008 14:46   James from Eastern Townships Quebec

Growing up on 35 acres of apple trees in the Eastern Townships of Quebec Canada, we were fortunate enough to have a couple of trees of what I believe were true Cox's Orange Pippin, that would even make Bernard from England happy. Complete with rattling seeds, these were and always will be my favourite. When my Dad sold the orchard, the new owner from what I understand, removed the trees. I have not had one since, which is very sad indeed. We are hoping to find and plant one or two of these trees on our property soon.Reply to this comment

16 Sep 2008 15:39   Steve from mission,kansas.

I lived in norfolk england. We had a orhard of 70 cox's and also other apples such as egmont russet,red rome,cordon's just the cox's went to market. I never thought this apple could be grown here in the States!. I had a hand in looking after these tree's from spraying, pruning,picking,gradeing and so on.Reply to this comment

14 Sep 2008 06:33   Barbara Chiari from Burlingame, California

I grew up in England and remember with great pleasure the Cox's Orange Pippin tree in my grandfather's garden. That was in the 1940's, 50's and 60's. I wonder if the tree is still there. I have never since eaten an apple to compare. Absolutely delicious.Reply to this comment

29 Aug 2008 15:07   Sherman C. Runions and Associates from Sapphire Valley, NC

We are looking for a Cox's Orange Pippin apple tree for a special client from the UK. We would like one that is bearing say 7 to 8 feet high. Would appreciate your help.Reply to this comment

12 Aug 2008 15:50   Geoff Seymour from Rugby Warwickshire

I have a cox's orange pippin tree, there is no better tasting apple anywhere in the uk, you can't buy them from supermarkets you can buy cox's (imported) sometimes english but not the orange pippin with its own flavour and crispness, just pick and enjoy.Reply to this comment

19 Jul 2008 14:21   roy from london uk

i agree they are wonderfull apples i have a tree in my garden and think people who cant get them or never tasted them are missing out on such a wonderfull apple i have been told they were started by a gardener in harrow middx 2miles from me but dont now if its true keep eating the best apple in the world regards roy hollis ukReply to this comment

17 Jul 2008 23:45   Lionel Thompson from Orewa, New Zealand

When a young kid my father had a small orchard, and of all the different fruit the taste that sticks in my mind by far the most is that of the Cox's Orange. Though on the wrong side of 80 have just shifted house and since I have the space have planted another one -a bit hard to come by, but still available. Just hoping it is self fertile? and that I live long enough to pick and eat some straight off the tree!Reply to this comment

03 Jun 2008 22:44   Derek from Coal Harbour, BC, Canada

I just planted a dwarf 'Cox Orange Pippin' apple tree in the front yard of my new home. I wanted to plant a tree the day I took possession of the place and this was the tree I selected. I had never heard of this varietal, but found the tree at a garden centre. Now I'm really excited to try one of these apples! I'm wondering if it's too rainy were I live. We'll see what happens. :)Reply to this comment

18 Apr 2008 18:29   Darren from Reno, NV USA

Queen Cox and six of the Cox's progeny are offerd through raintreenursery.com in the U.S. Applesource, a mailorder distributor of numerous apple varieties told me that Cox's Orange Pippin preferred to be sited next to a body of water for the temperature and humidity moderating effects. I ordered a dozen different apples to decide what to plant back of the house, and although Applesource told me the Cox's were past their prime, I insisted on trying them. What a gem! It had real competitors in Ashmead's and others, too.Reply to this comment

26 Mar 2008 22:14   Axel from Santa Cruz, California

Someone had what turns out to be the not so brilliant idea to have the viruses removed from the cox orange pippin (this is often done in the lab by regrowing the wood in vitro). Well, it turns out that the cox's orange pippin that has been cleaned of all viruses is reputed to be rather poor in flavor compared to the old cox. (The virus free version is available from Dave Wilson, who acknowledges it's lack in flavor compared to the regular diseased one.) Yes, cox orange pippin is very disease prone, and apparently, this is desirable in order to get the original, richly flavored and ugly, warty cox orange pippin. Here in California, we have to grow it with afternoon shade, otherwise the fruit gets fried. So it's not all that warm loving after all. Reply to this comment

08 Mar 2008 16:19   John from New York, NY

I lived in England for 8.5 yrs. This is the best apple I ever tasted & will always be my favorite.Reply to this comment

27 Feb 2008 20:55   Peter Copestake from Colne, Lancashire. England

As I've just put on another site I don't think there is any comparison between Cox apples and Cox's Orange Pippins and if they are not the same is there a case for ASA or Trading Standards intervening. I think we are being conned.Reply to this comment

25 Feb 2008 16:13   Lee Mincey from Savannah GA, USA

THIS APPLE ROCKS!!!Reply to this comment

23 Feb 2008 04:33   reece from Australia

cox's orange pippins are da best ya KnowReply to this comment

04 Feb 2008 01:44   Laraine Santagato from Atwater CA, USA

Having called a local nursery I thought may have the Cox's apple and didn't, I decided to browse the internet and found an orchard in Virginia that grafts and stocks old fashioned apples or vintage apples, Cox's orange pipin was among their rootstock. I end up buying it from this orchard, called "Rural ridge orchard" its a 1 year old, so I have no idea when it will bare fruit. Anyone out there know how old they are when they bare fruit?Reply to this comment

02 Jan 2009 05:09   Bill Webster from Central Highlands Victoria Australia

I have an espalierd cox on dwarf rootstock. It produced fruit in its second year, its now 4 years old and is laden with fruit.

03 Feb 2008 22:43   Laraine Santagato from Atwater CA, USA

I just wanted to ask Steve from Orange Vale Ca, where he purchased his Cox's apple tree? I phoned the nursery nearest me that USED TO USE DAVE WILSON'S and she told me she would see what she could do, but that she now uses different suppliers. I was told that I couldn't buy the tree from Wilson's because he's a whole seller. I would gladly buy it through a web page, but haven't found one yet that has them. Anyone with suggestions ?Reply to this comment

03 Feb 2008 09:14   Laraine from Awater CA, USA

I had forgotten that I had left a comment on this board before, because to my delight I received an e-mail today letting me know that a local nursery near me can order a Cox's apple tree. I will definitely pursue this lead, and thank Steve that informed me of this, thanks Steve, I will let you know what I find out, LaraineReply to this comment

03 Feb 2008 07:27   Steve from Orange Vale, California

Laraine- I just bought a Cox's Orange Pippin. Your local nursery can order it from Dave Wilson Nursery, a wholesale nursery in central Cal.Reply to this comment

26 Jan 2008 20:14   frances pologiorgi from athens,greece

I grew up in Sussex, England inthe 50's and always remembered the exquisite Cox's orange pipins my grandfather grew{yes,the seeds rattled] A few years ago in England I bought some so-called Cox's,but there was no comparison,neither in appearance or flavour. There is however a very tasty Greek variety traditionally from Tripolis,with an similar uneven,rough appearance. It seems that the growers who develop "attractive"apples for the supermarkets are unable to combine looks with flavour.Reply to this comment

25 Jan 2008 20:03   Chris Sanford from Long Island, NY, USA

I grew up on a farm in Somerset, England and we had four or five orchards the apples of which were never picked. We also had just three Cox's Orange Pippin trees in the kitchen garden which were always picked bare for the house! One great apple it was, and you never wanted anything else. I'd love to find out if same can be grown in Long Island, NY which lately has had fairly mild Winters but Summers are fairly hot. Does anyone know if this apple tree is wind/soil/temperature sensitive (or a combo?) I had no idea they were prone to disease or tricky to grow. Also where can I get starter trees/cuttings in NE US? Also, any basic growing "do's" and "don'ts would be much appreciated?"Reply to this comment

29 Aug 2008 16:49   Ann Sinclair from Jamaica Plain, MA

Chris from Long Island. In North east MA there is a family run orchard that grows Cox's orange pippins - Greenwood Farm, 265 Millers Falls Road, Rt 63 Northfield, MA 01360 Website: www.greenwoodnursery.com; perhaps they would give you a source for trees. I live in Boston and have a converted urban lot now producing some apples including a Cox's orange pippin tree (I grew up in Scotland and was reared on these great tasting apples). To be honest this is the first year in about seven it has been truly productive. My source was Millernurseries.com but I am not so sure about the quality of their stock; though it may just be that fruit trees are not a breeze to grow. I've heard of a weekend class offered in New Hampshire by a the writer of the book The Apple Grower, Michael Philips (his focus is organic) http://www.herbsandapples.com/classes.php#apple.

21 Jan 2008 23:59   Enid Hughes from Aldershot, UK

Cox's are my favourites,(except for lovely Ashmead's Kernel, which don't come into the equation because they are hardly ever grown commercially) We are lucky, we have a Cox's tree--- Pick your Cox's when they come easily into your hand---if they don't give way at the lightest twist, they're not ready!Reply to this comment

31 Dec 2007 09:59   laraine from california

I'm from England originally and cox's apples were my favourite. I guess we could try and find a nursery that perhaps owns the root stock ? I have never ever heard them called orange pipin's, nor have I ever seen a cox's apple in a supermarket here,or in the midwest where I had lived many years ago, oh well I guess I have to make do with Braeburn and Gala applesReply to this comment

16 Dec 2007 02:21   Eleanor from North of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I have been looking for orange pippens in Ontario. Are they available anywhere near here?Reply to this comment

22 Nov 2007 15:43   Abner J. Schlabach from So. Royalton, Vermont

Steve Parkes asked about Cox apples in Vt. I recently purchased some from Scott Farm who have a Dummerston, Vt address but are, in fact, near Brattleboro. There's a very nice article about them at http://www.theheartofnewengland.com/Heirloom- Apples.html I love old varieties of apples and Scott Farm has a wide range of them. Poverty Lane Orchard just across the river in Lebanon, NH has one tree of Cox. In both cases I would call regarding availability before driving there. If you wish you may contact me directly at AV62@Localnet.com.Reply to this comment

21 Nov 2007 22:35   Steve Parkes from Vermont

Abner. Can you contact me with details on where to find them in Vermont? My family were given a box of them for Christmas in England in the early 70's.Reply to this comment

05 Nov 2007 19:12   Abner J. Schlabach from Vermont, USA

I agree that the flavor of the Cox is unsurpassed, as is the aroma. I have lived in London where I often purchased Cox apples. Also in Pennsylvania USA where I previously lived I had a Cox tree. Now in Vermont I can purchase them from two different specialty orchards. The ones I currently have do indeed have seeds that rattle. I have never heard that with any other apple. The Cox apples we have here may or may not be precisely like the English one but they're very close.Reply to this comment

01 Nov 2007 12:30   James Rose from Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Do you have any info on where I might find this apple in this area?Reply to this comment

20 Oct 2007 12:35   Stewart Hobbs from Nasilsea Somerset

Is the coxs orange pippin the same as a coxs orange. My friend says they are different true or false? [OP: They are the same]Reply to this comment

20 Oct 2007 02:18   Debbie Xochimitl from Provo, Utah, USA

I adore pippin apples but cannot purchase them here. I would like to grow them, but don't know if I can. Is there anywhere that I can go for information?Reply to this comment

18 Oct 2007 20:49   Daffy from Michigan, USA

I remember my father talking about this apple variety and he had looked for it up until his death. Afterwhich I took the task of finding it just by visiting various growers and poking around. After a nearly 40 year quest between us, I finally located it. It is everything my father said it was and more. Wow, so flavorful with wonderful hits of orange. Do anyone know where I can get a tree. I have been saving seeds from the bushel of apples I bought, but know it will take far too long to wait and enjoy this apple variety again! You help is apprecaited. daffyslanding@yahoo.comReply to this comment

18 Oct 2007 19:38   jack Conner from Castro Valley, CA, USA

A friend imported a dwarf Cox's in 1968 and gave me a twig. I have been growing it ever since. The fruit is ugly, often with corking at the stem end, but its flavor is incomparable. Some years ago, coming out of the British Museum, I crossed the street and found the Museum Pub, with a little old lady standing beside a display of her pies, made that morning with apples from her son's orchard in Kent: Cox's Orange Pippin. Best pie I ever ate.Reply to this comment

17 Oct 2007 22:17   julie bezant from West Wales, UK

I'm sure the modern cox isn't the true, traditonal one of my childhood. A proper cox has a superb taste, but the imported, supermarket "cox's" are imposters. They don't look like a cox's orange and they don't taste like one either.Reply to this comment

02 Oct 2007 23:46   Molly from Chicago, IL

Apples on Oak in Joliet, IL is an hobbyist's orchard that has over 100 varieties of apple. You can pick your own, but it is getting late, and they don't have many apples left. The owner sold me an apple he described as "Cox-like," and it is indeed delicious and aromatic. I don't think I've ever had a more flavorful apple.Reply to this comment

01 Oct 2007 02:36   Roslyn Stempel from Illinois, USA

I used to enjoy Cox's orange pippins while living in the state of Michigan, but after moving to Illinois I was unable to find them in any farmer's markets here -- most market apple dealers had never even heard of them. Are they available anywhere here?Reply to this comment

20 Sep 2007 23:43   cornet from Vancouver-Canada

I have a 3yr old tree that is now giving us some super good looking apples. I would love to know When we can start to pick them...my mouth is watering already in anticipation ;)Reply to this comment

16 Sep 2007 17:33   Basil LONGY from Isle of Wight, UK

The above description of the Cox is accurate. I have a tree which is a derivative and has in some years given me delicious aromatic fruit. But I have difficulty knowing when to pick as birds seem to like them too and fruit picked too early is too tart and dense to be edible. How should I know the point of ripeness? Reply to this comment

12 Sep 2007 15:12   Lyn from Hertfordshire, England

I stumbled across some cox's orange pippins, in garden centre in Royston , my husband and i had actually given up trying to locate them .We were immediatley transported back about 20, 30 years , this is what apples should be like , please try to grow more for us .they are the best apple everReply to this comment

03 Aug 2007 08:41   Phil from UK

The Cox's Orange Pippins that I grew up with in England in the 60s and 70s weren't shiny, rosy-cheeked, photogenic, cookie-cutter supermarketapples. They were often deeply orange in patches, yes; but they were just as likely to be brown all over. They were rough, warty, often wrinkled, often lopsided. They were the apples that would be passed by without a second glance by the poor unfortunates who didn't know what they were. Cox's Orange Pippins don't do shiny and photogenic. They weren't just anther variation of picture-perfect Stepford apples. They had personality and individuality. The thought of Cox's Orange Pippins becoming just another apple analogue of the overblown and flavorless American beefsteak tomato, along with Golden Disgustings, even blander Red Disgustings, and Australian Watersaps, is too terrible to contemplate. Some of these supermarket-tuned wonder-varieties haven't the texture of decent sawdust or the flavor of a properly aged plastic bag. It'll be an irretrievable loss if the true Cox's Orange Pippin has been sacrificed, like so many other wonderful heritage varieties of fruit and vegetables, on the altar of picture-perfect produce-department homogeneity.Reply to this comment

13 Jun 2009 16:32   Eileen from West Wales

I agree with comments made about Cox's Orange Pippin (especially Phil's!). Just bought a bag of them with UK stamped on it, but the flavour is not the true Cox's. Other Cox's I've bought I've traced to N.Z. They don't have that unique flavour of those grown in the UK. Must be our weather! I have no room for a tree in my present garden but am trying to locate a good source of a patio one, as there is no apple to beat it!

07 May 2009 15:26   Gillian Burns from London, England

The real cox's orange pippin of my childhood is no more. Where can we buy them now?

03 Aug 2007 08:41   Ian from Quebec, Canada

I now live in Quebec the home of the Mackintosh of which I have become very fond. My wife insists on them though I am also fond of Famous when picked in the cold at the verger. I can remember the Cox's from the uncared trees at Goodmanham Wold Farm (Yorkshire, England) where I stayed with my Uncle about 1953 and I wish that they could be grown here. Like you say not too much to look at but one really great taste."Reply to this comment

03 Aug 2007 08:40   Bernard from England

I agree with your tasting notes about this variety - but I am 60 years old. How does anyone younger know when they are tasting a genuine one? I have the impression that imported ones are not the true variety and should not be allowed to be so named. Am I wrong? It used to be a diagnostic of the Cox's Orange Pippin that the seeds rattle when it is shaken. Those which often appear in the supermarkets labelled "Cox's apples", though English, do not rattle and do not taste like Cox's Orange Pippin. Are we being conned?Reply to this comment

03 Aug 2007 08:33   DLW from England

I dislike the imported Cox’s or for that matter most of the imported apples – to me they are not the same; there is something about our climate that makes our apples the best!!!Reply to this comment

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