James Grieve apple

Malus domestica

A versatile cooking apple, excellent for juice, and widely used in breeding programmes.

James Grieve apple photo tape

Parentage: Potts Seedling ?
Origin: Scotland
Introduced: 1893
Season: Sep-Oct
Apple cultivar ID: 114100


James Grieve is a justifiably popular dual-purpose apple variety, raised in Scotland at the end of the 19th century, the height of the Victorian period of apple development in the UK.  James Grieve is a mid-season variety that is picked in early-mid September.  At this stage it is pleasantly acidic and refreshing and if it is too sharp for eating it can be used for cooking (cut it into small chunks, it keeps its shape when cooked).  After a few weeks the flavour sweetens and becomes quite mild, and it is then an excellent apple to eat in slices along with a cheese course.  The flesh is soft, somewhat like a firm pear in texture.

Our photo shows a 'sport' known as Red James Grieve which was discovered in the 1920s.  This is a natural genetic mutation of James Grieve - the shape and size are identical to the parent James Grieve but the red flush is more solid.  There are a number of sports of James Grieve, a reflection of how widely it has been grown and the commercial interest shown in the variety in the early part of the 20th century.  The photo also makes clear that James Grieve is a very handsome apple, and the skin has a slight satin sheen to it.

James Grieve has been used as the basis of a number of newer varieties, some of which have become successful as garden apple trees or in small-scale commercial plantings.  One reason why you might want to use James Grieve in a new variety breeding programme is that it invariably passes on its inherent acidity, which can be an excellent way to stiffen the flavour of a new variety whose other parentage is sweet or bland.  Varieties such as Greensleeves, Lord Lambourne, Elton Beauty, and Katy all inherit the acid kick from James Grieve which helps make them so refreshing.  Lord Lambourne has also in turn proved popular in breeding programmes so James Grieve is one of a relatively small number of varieties which has 'grand-children'  - Topaz is probably the most well-known of these.  Like James Grieve these are all early to mid-season varieties.

Another important James Grieve characteristic is its juiciness - bite into one and the flesh glistens with juice.  This makes it a great apple variety if you want to make your own apple juice - a feature also inherited by Katy.

Interestingly the parentage of James Grieve itself has not been fully established.  Cox's Orange Pippin is a possible candidate, as it was a popular apple for amateur breeders at the time (as it still is).  James Grieve has a very similar shape, which is a good indication, but it appears to have none of the aromatic sweetness of Cox.  This is not necessarily a reason to reject Cox as a parent, since we do not know the other parent, and Ribston Pippin (the likely parent of Cox) has a robust flavour which is not dissimilar to James Grieve.  The other possible candidate is Pott's Seedling, a popular commercial cooking apple of the period.





Relationships to other apple varieties

Offspring of this variety

Parents and other ancestors of this variety


Visitor comments

(Use the form at the bottom to add your own comments, or reply to one of the existing comments)

24 Sep 2008 20:33   gordon from salsburgh shotts lanarkshire
i have a james grieves at one end of my garden and a orange cox pippin at the outher end, will they complement each outher? The James Grieve has just started to bear fruit this year and so has the Cox although sparse, how do i know when to harvest and what can i do to get the best from my apples as my wife and i can,not eat them all.Reply to this comment
13 Aug 2008 10:37   H Sherwood from Worcester
I inheriated a james grieve tree with my house, and have yet to try the apples but i have a bumper load on it, so this website has been good for me to find out what it can be used for.Reply to this comment
27 Jul 2008 12:21   M J Green from Devon, UK
My Grandfather planted a Grieve during the war, my greatest memories as a two year old was my grandmothe scraping the flesh with a spoon to give to me. I have just planted one last autumn and have wo to eat this year. I am getting very exited about re-living my childhood.Reply to this comment
14 Apr 2008 12:46   b rudlin from essex, england
i have had conflicting comments as to whether James Grieve is self pollinating. Can someone please advise me. Answer: it is partially self-fertile.Reply to this comment
05 Apr 2008 00:19   John Cossham from York, UK
This is my favourite apple. We have a good shaped tree in our garden. The apples are early and do not store very well. Wonderful flavour for eating straight from the tree. They also dry well and make a fantastic dried apple ring (I make these on my woodstove) and these store well in an airtight jar.... and really make my muesli lovely!Reply to this comment
04 Mar 2008 09:37   PJ Wooldridge from Jersey CI
So.. J.Grieve needs a pollinator....what is the best? we have a couple of non descript apples close by and a Crab .. q2 how close need the pollinator be? all comments appreciated.Reply to this comment
30 Jan 2008 14:48   Mike from Sussex, UK
Does James Grieve need a pollinator? OP: Yes - it is partially self-fertile so a separate pollinator is best.Reply to this comment
27 Sep 2007 16:58   Lucy from Scotland
Thats my great grandads appleReply to this comment
14 Sep 2007 15:50   Steve from Hampshire, UK
We inherited two James Grieve when we moved into our house a year or so ago. We have enjoyed two bumper seasons and picked the apples early and late. This year we crushed and pressed about half of them and found that the earlies were slightly dry and produced an aromatic slightly acidic juice that is extremely light and refreshing. We hope the juice freezes well but cannot tell as yet. There is evidence of fire blight on the trees, which will be cut away hard this year after the last of the apples are used. Let's hope the trees are as resistant to disease as you indicate.Reply to this comment
12 Sep 2007 20:19   mary from Devon, UK
We inherited this apple which we have just identified. Agree totally. Vey sharp when just ripe but quickly yellows and softens. Have stewed loads to freeze( yes they keep their shape) and eaten loads with cheese. going to try juicing next year.Reply to this comment

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