Duke of Devonshire apple
An important Victorian russeted apple with a distinctive fruity flavour. Continues to be quietly popular.
Duke of Devonshire was raised at Holker Hall in Cumbria, the estate of the Duke of Devonshire in the 19th century. It is not a particularly attractive apple, its beauty is in its flavour.
Duke of Devonshire is a russeted apple, more in the fruity style of Ashmead's Kernel than the sweeter style of Egremont Russet. Although it has never achieved mainstream success, it remains quietly popular amongst enthusiasts who appreciate russets, and like most russet apples it is easy to grow and has good natural disease resistance.
Russet apples, particularly those with strong flavours, are also increasingly sought out by cider enthusiasts.
The pedigree of Duke of Devonshire is unknown, but in appearance and flavour there is clearly some relation to Ashmead's Kernel, a much older russet variety that was well known in England at the time Duke of Devonshire was raised.
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Origin: Cumbria, England, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1835
- Developed by: The Duke of Devonshire's gardener.
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 101700
- 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
- Fruit colour: Yellow / Gold
- Bultitude apple group: 8. Russeted, sweet
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Good for juice
- Flavour quality: Very good
- Flavour style: Pear drop
- Ripening period: Late season
- Use / keeping: 1-2 months
Growing
- Flowering period: Mid season
- Flowering group: 3
- Fertility: Self-sterile
- Triploid: No
- Vigour: Average growth
- Gardening skill: Very easy
- General disease resistance: Good
Climate
- Suitable for temperate climates
Disease resistance
- Scab - Very resistant
Relationships to other varieties
Close relations of this variety (share 1 parent):
- Ashmead's Kernel - It is likely that Duke of Devonshire descends from Ashmeads Kernel or shares a common ancestor.
Duke of Devonshire identification photos from official fruit collections
Duke of Devonshire 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 Duke of Devonshire trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree.
You can also view these trees on a map.
United Kingdom
- Karen Guthrie in CONISTON, CUMBRIA
Mature heights for Duke of Devonshire trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Duke of Devonshire 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 | 2.5 ft 0.8 m |
3.1 ft 0.9 m |
3.7 ft 1.1 m |
4.6 ft 1.4 m |
5.5 ft 1.7 m |
| M27 | 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 |
| M9 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
| Bud.9 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
| Geneva 11 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
| Geneva 16 | 4.9 ft 1.5 m |
6.1 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
9.2 ft 2.8 m |
11.0 ft 3.4 m |
| M26 | 5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.6 ft 2.0 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.8 ft 3.6 m |
| Geneva 30 | 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 |
| MM102 | 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 |
| M7 | 6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
11.8 ft 3.6 m |
14.2 ft 4.3 m |
| M116 | 6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
11.8 ft 3.6 m |
14.2 ft 4.3 m |
| MM106 | 7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.8 ft 2.7 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
13.1 ft 4.0 m |
15.8 ft 4.8 m |
| MM111 | 8.1 ft 2.5 m |
10.1 ft 3.1 m |
12.1 ft 3.7 m |
15.1 ft 4.6 m |
18.1 ft 5.6 m |
| Bud.118 | 9.1 ft 2.8 m |
11.4 ft 3.5 m |
13.7 ft 4.2 m |
17.1 ft 5.2 m |
20.5 ft 6.3 m |
| M25 | 10.2 ft 3.1 m |
12.7 ft 3.9 m |
15.2 ft 4.7 m |
19.0 ft 5.8 m |
22.8 ft 7.0 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
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