Fiesta (Red Pippin) apple
Malus domestica
One of the best Cox-style apples, and much easier to grow. Often marketed as Red Pippin.
Fiesta is a modern (1970s) English variety from the East Malling Research Station in Kent, sometimes known as Red Pippin. Like many modern apples one of the parents is the classic English Cox's Orange Pippin. Perhaps the unique feature of Fiesta is that in almost every respect it comes closer to matching its illustrious parent than any other Cox offspring, and the flavour is very close albeit without all the depth and subtlety of Cox's Orange Pippin.
The key to the flavour of most modern varieties that have been developed from Cox's Orange Pippin is often in the other parent, which is often a Golden Delicious or James Grieve style apple. As a result they often end up being very nice apples - but not necessarily Cox-style. In the case of Fiesta the other parent is Idared, a 1940s American variety which is in some ways quite similar to Cox. Perhaps it is this similarity which allows the Cox flavour to come through so faithfully in Fiesta.
Fiesta is a medium-sized apple, with the characteristic flecked red and orange flush over yellow - a very attractive autumnal colouring. The flavour is fundamentally sweet, but with much of the rich complexity of Cox. It is crisper than Cox, and in some ways a more accessible easier-eating apple than its parent. It is also quite juicy and is a very good variety for making your own apple juice from. All in all a very nice apple.
Cox is not a great apple for storing, but Idared stores extremely well and can easily last into the following spring in a basic cold store. The longevity of Idared is inherent in Fiesta as well, but although it remains firm, the appealing sweetness seems to disappear after a while.
Fiesta is also an excellent variety for growing in the garden in most parts of the UK, as (unlike Cox) it is easy to grow and crops well. The only disadvantage is that it tends to grow in a rather ungainly fashion, so it is best grown for the excellent apples it will produce rather than for the appearance of the tree !
Summary
- Parentage: Cox's Orange Pippin and Idared
- Origin: Kent, England, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1972
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 102200
Growing
- Vigour: Slightly small
Other qualities
- RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993
Mature tree heights for this variety (approximate)
| Rootstock | Soil quality | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poor | Below average | Average | Above average | Very good | |
| P22 | 1.8 ft 0.6 m |
2.3 ft 0.7 m |
2.7 ft 0.8 m |
3.2 ft 1.0 m |
3.6 ft 1.1 m |
| M27 | 2.4 ft 0.7 m |
3.0 ft 0.9 m |
3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
4.8 ft 1.5 m |
| M9 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| Bud.9 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| Geneva 16 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| Geneva 11 | 4.2 ft 1.3 m |
5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
| M26 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
| Geneva 30 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
| MM102 | 4.8 ft 1.5 m |
6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.6 ft 2.9 m |
| M7 | 5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| M116 | 5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| MM106 | 6.0 ft 1.8 m |
7.5 ft 2.3 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
| MM111 | 7.2 ft 2.2 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
14.4 ft 4.4 m |
| Bud.118 | 8.4 ft 2.6 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
14.7 ft 4.5 m |
16.8 ft 5.2 m |
| M25 | 9.6 ft 2.9 m |
12.0 ft 3.7 m |
14.4 ft 4.4 m |
16.8 ft 5.2 m |
19.2 ft 5.9 m |
Relationships to other varieties
Parents and other ancestors of this variety:
- Cox's Orange Pippin (parent)
- Idared (parent)
