Duchess of Oldenburg apple
An attractive early-season apple, originating from Russia in the 18th century, and now quite widely grown in northern Europe and the USA. In North America it is sometimes known simply as "Duchess".
Duchess of Oldenburg is a very attractive early-season apple, originating from Russia in the early 18th century. It is primarily used as a cooking apple.
As might be expected, Duchess of Oldenburg is a very hardy apple tree. Although not a commercial variety, it became popular across northern Europe and was introduced to North America in the early 19th century.
Duchess of Oldenburg is possibly an ancestor of the well-known Northern Spy apple of North America.
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Origin: Russia
- Introduced: 18th century
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 158800
- 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.
- We are grateful to Brogdale Farm - home of the UK National Fruit Collection - for providing samples of this variety.
Identification
- Fruit colour: Red / Orange flush
- Fruit size: Large
- Bultitude apple group: 4. Flushed / striped, smooth, dessert / dual-purpose
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Good for cooking
- Cooking result: Puree
- Flavour quality: Average
- Flavour style: Sharper
- Ripening period: Early season
Growing
- Cropping: Good
- Flowering period: Early-Mid season
- Flowering group: 2
- Fertility: Self-sterile
- Vigour: Slightly large
- Gardening skill: Very easy
- Attractive fruit
- General disease resistance: Good
Climate
- Suitable for temperate climates
- Tolerates cold winters
Relationships to other varieties
Offspring of this variety:
- Alkmene
- Hazen
- Northern Spy (distant descendant)
- Pinova (distant descendant)
- Red Windsor
Duchess of Oldenburg identification photos from official fruit collections
Duchess of Oldenburg identification photos from website visitors
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 Duchess of Oldenburg 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
- David H. Daugherty, Jr. in ROCHESTER, MN,OLMSTED
- David H. Daugherty, Jr. in ROCHESTER, MN,OLMSTED
- Jesse in KERNERSVILLE, NC
- Kent Montgomery in BRAINERD, MINNESOTA / CROW WING
- Mark A. Rock in COLUMBIA STATION, OHIO
- Thomas Griffith in COTTAGE GROVE, WI
Mature heights for Duchess of Oldenburg trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Duchess of Oldenburg tree taking into account the vigor of the variety, the rootstock, and soil conditions.
| Rootstock | Soil quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | Below average | Average | Above average | Very good | |
| P22 | 2.8 ft 0.9 m |
3.5 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
| M27 | 3.2 ft 1.0 m |
4.0 ft 1.2 m |
4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| M9 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| Bud.9 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| Geneva 11 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| Geneva 16 | 5.6 ft 1.7 m |
7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
| M26 | 6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.5 ft 2.3 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
11.3 ft 3.5 m |
13.5 ft 4.1 m |
| Geneva 30 | 6.4 ft 2.0 m |
8.0 ft 2.5 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
14.4 ft 4.4 m |
| MM102 | 6.4 ft 2.0 m |
8.0 ft 2.5 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
14.4 ft 4.4 m |
| M7 | 7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
13.5 ft 4.1 m |
16.2 ft 5.0 m |
| M116 | 7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
13.5 ft 4.1 m |
16.2 ft 5.0 m |
| MM106 | 8.0 ft 2.5 m |
10.0 ft 3.1 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
15.0 ft 4.6 m |
18.0 ft 5.5 m |
| MM111 | 9.2 ft 2.8 m |
11.5 ft 3.5 m |
13.8 ft 4.2 m |
17.3 ft 5.3 m |
20.7 ft 6.3 m |
| Bud.118 | 10.4 ft 3.2 m |
13.0 ft 4.0 m |
15.6 ft 4.8 m |
19.5 ft 6.0 m |
23.4 ft 7.2 m |
| M25 | 11.6 ft 3.6 m |
14.5 ft 4.4 m |
17.4 ft 5.3 m |
21.8 ft 6.7 m |
26.1 ft 8.0 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
Where to buy apple trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Duchess of Oldenburg apple trees for sale:
-
Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA)
United States Supplier's website >>
Where to buy apples
United Statesmap >
-
Illinoismap >
- Homestead Orchard, Woodstock
-
Iowamap >
- Deal's Orchard, Jefferson
- East View Orchard, Fredericksburg
-
Mainemap >
- North Chester Orchard, Chester
- Sweetser's Apple Barrel and Orchards, Cumberland Center
-
Massachusettsmap >
- Brook Farm Orchard, Ashfield
- Clarkdale Fruit Farms, Deerfield
- Red Apple Farm, Phillipston
-
Minnesotamap >
- Aamodt's Apple Farm and Bakery, Stillwater
- Dassel Hillside Farm, Dassel
- Sweetland Orchard, Webster
- Two Fruit's Fruits, Hinckley
-
Montanamap >
- Bluewater Orchard, Fromberg
-
New Hampshiremap >
- Alyson's Apple Orchard, Walpole
-
North Carolinamap >
- Big Horse Creek Farm, Lansing
-
Ohiomap >
- Ochs Fruit Farm, Lancaster
-
Wisconsinmap >
- Door Creek Orchard, Cottage Grove
Canadamap >
-
British Columbiamap >
- Apple Luscious Organic Orchards, Salt Spring Island
- Salt Spring Apple Company, Salt Spring Island
-
Ontariomap >
- O'Keefe Grange, Dobbinton
Rate this variety for flavor