Kidd's Orange Red apple
Marries the complex aromatic qualities of English Cox apples with the scented flavour of American Delicious. A good apple for the gardener as well.
Kidd's Orange Red is named after James Hutton Kidd, an orchard owner living in New Zealand in the early 20th century who had a passion for raising new varieties. Kidd might have been living in the New World, but he was clearly a fan of the complex aromatic flavours of the "English" style of apple. Like many before and since, he experimented with crossing Cox's Orange Pippin, the temperamental but definitive English apple variety. In Kidd's Orange Red he achieved that something special which marks the great from the ordinary, and set a benchmark that has rarely been matched - this is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding "English" style apples available.
The skin colour is yellow but with an extensive orange-red flush. The irregular light patches of russet give it a strongly marbled appearance - more interesting to look at than the super-smooth glossy red skins of the more modern varieties. As it ripens Kidd's Orange Red sometimes has a distinctive pink blush, but by the time it is ready to pick this has usually disappeared. The shape is slightly flattened and can be somewhat lumpy.
The visual appeal is matched by the taste. The skin is thin and the flesh is a light yellow-cream colour, and quite dense. It bites cleanly, but is firm rather than crunchy. The flavour is sweet and honeyed, noticeably sweeter than Cox's Orange Pippin. The aromatic complexity of its parent is still there, but rich sweetness is the predominant impression. Like many "English" style apples it is also pleasantly chewy, and each bite seems to release yet more juice and flavour. It's in some ways reminiscent of a good French dessert wine - sweet, but with a good kick to it.
Kidd's Orange Red's other parent is Delicious a seedling variety found in the USA in the 1870s (not to be confused with Golden Delicious) and by Kidd's time already a major commercial apple variety, and therefore a natural choice for experimentation. This is where Kidd's Orange Red gets its sweetness from.
Kidd's Orange Red is a late season variety, ripening around mid-October in the northern hemisphere. It is best eaten before the New Year.
Kidd's Orange Red is often available from farmers' markets but has never really achieved commercial success because it does not crop especially heavily. However it is a good choice for the gardener because it is easier to grow than Cox's Orange Pippin, and unlike Delicious can also be grown in more temperate climates. Once the tree comes into bearing it tends to be a fairly reliable if unspectacular cropper. Cropping can be improved by gently bending branches towards the horizontal and then tying them into position when they are still young and pliable - left un-trained Kidd's Orange Red trees tend to put out long vertical branches which are less fruitful.
Kidd developed several other apples, the most famous being Gala. More details on the life of James Hutton Kidd.
If you are looking for a top quality apple tree for the garden, Kidd's Orange Red deserves serious consideration.
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Parentage: Delicious x Cox's Orange Pippin
- Origin: Greytown, New Zealand
- Introduced: 1924
- Developed by: James Hutton Kidd
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 103800
Identification
- Fruit colour: Red / Orange flush
- Flesh colour: White
- Fruit size: Medium
- Bultitude apple group: 7. Flushed / striped, some russeting, sweet
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Good for juice
- Flavour quality: Exceptional
- Flavour style: Aromatic
- Ripening period: Late season
- Use / keeping: 1-2 months Will keep in a cold store until Christmas
Growing
- Cropping: Light
- Flowering group: 3
- Fertility: Self-sterile
- Triploid: No
- Vigour: Average growth
- Gardening skill: Very easy
- Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
- Attractive blossom
- General disease resistance: Average Not usually troubled by scab or mildew
Climate
- Suitable for temperate climates
- Tolerates cold winters
- Suitable for N. England?: Yes
Other qualities
- RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993
Relationships to other varieties
Parents and other ancestors of this variety:
- Cox's Orange Pippin (parent) - Noticeably sweeter than Cox's Orange Pippin, a great apple in its own right
- Delicious (parent)
Offspring of this variety:
Siblings of this variety (same parentage):
- Jupiter - Kidd's Orange Red and Jupiter are both offspring of Cox's Orange Pippin crossed with Delicious sports
See also:
- Freyberg - Developed by same breeder - J.H. Kidd of New Zealand
Kidd's Orange Red identification photos from official fruit collections
ARS GRIN
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Kidd's Orange Red 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 Kidd's Orange Red 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
- Dan Fitzpatrick in Paw Paw, lee / IL
- Glenda in Gold Hill, OR
- Jarad Giese in LONGMONT, CO
- John Horrell in PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA
- Peter in CROOM, MD
United Kingdom
- Angus Gordon Basil in BARNSTAPLE, DEVON
- Dominique in CHRISTCHURCH, UNITED KIN
- Graham Charles Schofield in NEWMARKET, Sufflok
- Jean Lippett in Martock, Somerset
- John Coggin in WALTON LE DALE, LANCS
- John Dench in ETCHINGHAM, EAST SUSSEX
- Marian Fitch in STREET, SOMERSET
- Peter Hatton in CAMBERLEY, SURREY
- Reb and Mark Deacon in GLOUCESTER, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
- Richard Borrie in YORK, Yorkshire
- Roger Drage in BURTON LATIMER, Northamptonshire
- Stc in REDDITCH, WORCESTERESHIRE
- Stuart Logan in Newbury, Berkshire
Spain
- Angie in JALON, ALICANTE
Australia
- Brett Matthews in CAULFIELD SOUTH, VICTORIA
New Zealand
- Mark Kingston in Rangiora, Canterbury
- Trevor Courtney in Christchurch, Canterbury
Switzerland
- Helmut Mueller in NEUKIRCH, Thurgau
Latest Spring blossom records for this variety
2011 season
- 20th April 2011 - tree owned by Stc in REDDITCH, United Kingdom
- 19th April 2011 - tree owned by Richard in YORK, United Kingdom
- 16th April 2011 - tree owned by Roger in BURTON LATIMER, United Kingdom
- 16th April 2011 - tree owned by Reb in GLOUCESTER, United Kingdom
2010 season
- 15th October 2010 - tree owned by Mark in Rangiora, New Zealand
- 10th May 2010 - tree owned by Richard in YORK, United Kingdom
- 3rd May 2010 - tree owned by Stuart in Newbury, United Kingdom
- 1st May 2010 - tree owned by Roger in BURTON LATIMER, United Kingdom
- 29th April 2010 - tree owned by Marian in STREET, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Latest harvest records for this variety
2011 season
- 2nd week October 2011 - tree owned by Stc in REDDITCH, United Kingdom
- 1st week October 2011 - tree owned by Richard in YORK, United Kingdom
2010 season
Mature heights for Kidd's Orange Red trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Kidd's Orange Red 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 |
4.3 ft 1.3 m |
4.9 ft 1.5 m |
| M27 | 2.8 ft 0.9 m |
3.5 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
4.9 ft 1.5 m |
5.6 ft 1.7 m |
| M9 | 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 |
| Bud.9 | 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 |
| Geneva 16 | 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 |
| Geneva 11 | 4.9 ft 1.5 m |
6.1 ft 1.9 m |
7.4 ft 2.3 m |
8.6 ft 2.6 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
| M26 | 5.3 ft 1.6 m |
6.6 ft 2.0 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.2 ft 2.8 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
| Geneva 30 | 5.6 ft 1.7 m |
7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.2 ft 3.4 m |
| MM102 | 5.6 ft 1.7 m |
7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.4 ft 2.6 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.2 ft 3.4 m |
| M7 | 6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
11.0 ft 3.4 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
| M116 | 6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
11.0 ft 3.4 m |
12.6 ft 3.9 m |
| MM106 | 7.0 ft 2.1 m |
8.8 ft 2.7 m |
10.5 ft 3.2 m |
12.3 ft 3.8 m |
14.0 ft 4.3 m |
| MM111 | 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 |
| Bud.118 | 9.1 ft 2.8 m |
11.4 ft 3.5 m |
13.7 ft 4.2 m |
15.9 ft 4.9 m |
18.2 ft 5.6 m |
| M25 | 10.5 ft 3.2 m |
13.1 ft 4.0 m |
15.8 ft 4.8 m |
18.4 ft 5.6 m |
21.0 ft 6.4 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
Where to buy apple trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Kidd's Orange Red apple trees for sale:
-
Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA)
United States Supplier's website >> -
Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK)
United Kingdom Supplier's website >>
Where to buy apples
The following orchards and suppliers offer Kidd's Orange Red apples for sale. map >
United Statesmap >
-
Californiamap >
- Arroyo Community Garden, Petaluma
-
Mainemap >
- Lamb Abbey Orchards, Union
-
New Yorkmap >
- Black Diamond Farm, Trumansburg
-
Washingtonmap >
- Hockinson Hill Orchard, Brush Prairie
United Kingdommap >
-
England - south-eastmap >
- Crapes Fruit Farm, Colchester
-
England - south-westmap >
- Charlton Orchards, Taunton
- West Bradley Orchards, Glastonbury
Canadamap >
-
British Columbiamap >
- Apple Luscious Organic Orchards, Salt Spring Island
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