Laxton's Fortune apple
A popular English Cox-style variety, with a sweeter flavour and easier to grow, raised by the famous Laxton Bros. nursery in Bedford, UK.
One of a number of new varieties developed by the Laxton Brothers Nursery in the UK in the early 1900s and grown commercially on a small scale. It remains a popular garden variety in the UK, but is a noted biennial bearer. It is a useful substitute for Cox's Orange Pippin (one of its parents), having some of the aromatic flavour of that variety but much easier to grow.
Whilst most apple varieties are not self-fertile (they cannot pollinate themselves and need a nearby apple tree of a different variety to set fruit) it is interesting that there is a streak of self-fertility running through Cox's Orange Pippin and its offspring, and Laxton's Fortune is partially self-fertile. This means it will probably set light crops even if there is no pollination partner nearby - but cropping will be better with another variety to cross-pollinate the blossom.
Fortune is often referred to as Laxton's Fortune - do not confuse with the 1995 variety also called Fortune, released by Cornell University in the USA, a cross of Empire and Schoharie Spy.
Also known as
- Fortune
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Parentage: Cox's Orange Pippin x Wealthy
- Origin: Bedford, England, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1904
- Developed by: Laxton Brothers Nursery
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 118300
Identification
- Fruit colour: Red / Orange flush
- Flesh colour: Cream
- Fruit size: Small
- Bultitude apple group: 7. Flushed / striped, some russeting, sweet
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Good for juice
- Flavour quality: Good
- Flavour style: Sweeter
Growing
- Flowering period: Mid season
- Flowering group: 3
- Fertility: Partially self-fertile
- Triploid: No
- Vigour: Slightly small
- General disease resistance: Good
Other qualities
- RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993
Relationships to other varieties
Parents and other ancestors of this variety:
- Cox's Orange Pippin (parent)
Laxton's Fortune identification photos from official fruit collections
ARS GRIN
©Copyright
Laxton's Fortune identification photos from website visitors
Copyright: Zed Zapasnik
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 Laxton's Fortune 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
- Peter in CROOM, MD
United Kingdom
- Celia Cropper in MANCHESTER, LANCASHIRE
- Clare Burrows in BODORGAN, Anglesey
- Dougas Wilson in Perth,
- Hamish Ross in ELY, Cambridgeshire
- Helen Parker in SOUTHAMPTON, HANTS
- Jean Lippett in Martock, Somerset
- John Meager in READING, Berkshire
- Martin Timms in Baldock, Hertfordshire
- Paul Freeborough in West Bridgford, Nottingham
- Paul Smith in CHATTERIS, CAMBRIDGESHIRE
- Pete High in Cumbria
- Steve Halliwell in POOLE, DORSET
- Steve Webster in TRURO, CORNWALL
- Tim Hucker in LONDON,
- Zed Zapasnik in Harrow, Middlesex
Latest Spring blossom records for this variety
2012 season
- 8th April 2012 - tree owned by Zed in Harrow, United Kingdom
2011 season
- 5th April 2011 - tree owned by Zed in Harrow, United Kingdom
2010 season
- 8th May 2010 - tree owned by John in READING, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Latest harvest records for this variety
2012 season
2011 season
- 1st week September 2011 - tree owned by Helen in SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom
- 1st week August 2011 - tree owned by Zed in Harrow, United Kingdom
2010 season
Mature heights for Laxton's Fortune trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Laxton's Fortune 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 | 2.1 ft 0.6 m |
2.6 ft 0.8 m |
3.2 ft 1.0 m |
3.9 ft 1.2 m |
4.7 ft 1.5 m |
| M27 | 2.4 ft 0.7 m |
3.0 ft 0.9 m |
3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
| M9 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
| Bud.9 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
| Geneva 11 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
| Geneva 16 | 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 |
| M26 | 4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.6 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
10.1 ft 3.1 m |
| Geneva 30 | 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 |
| MM102 | 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 |
| M7 | 5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
10.1 ft 3.1 m |
12.2 ft 3.7 m |
| M116 | 5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
10.1 ft 3.1 m |
12.2 ft 3.7 m |
| MM106 | 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 |
| MM111 | 6.9 ft 2.1 m |
8.6 ft 2.6 m |
10.4 ft 3.2 m |
12.9 ft 4.0 m |
15.5 ft 4.8 m |
| Bud.118 | 7.8 ft 2.4 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.7 ft 3.6 m |
14.6 ft 4.5 m |
17.6 ft 5.4 m |
| M25 | 8.7 ft 2.7 m |
10.9 ft 3.3 m |
13.1 ft 4.0 m |
16.3 ft 5.0 m |
19.6 ft 6.0 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
Where to buy apples
United Kingdommap >
-
England - midlandsmap >
-
England - northmap >
- Lockwood Hey Orchard, Saddleworth
-
England - south-eastmap >
- Lavenham Brook Vineyard and Orchard, Sudbury
- Home Cottage Farm, Iver
- Crapes Fruit Farm, Colchester
- Holton Orchards, Halesworth
-
England - south-westmap >
- Charlton Orchards, Taunton
Canadamap >
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British Columbiamap >
- Salt Spring Apple Company, Salt Spring Island
Rate this variety for flavor