The comprehensive resource for apples and orchards

Newtown Pippin apple

Also known as Albermarle Pippin. Made famous by none other than Thomas Jefferson, who grew them in his orchard at Monticello. One of the first US apple exports to the UK.

Newtown Pippin photo tape

Newtown Pippin is one of the oldest American apple varieties, being well-known in the 18th century and probably raised as a seedling by early settlers on Long Island.  To get a sense of how unusually old it is, it was introduced from the USA to England in the mid 1750s - making it an old variety even by English standards.  Newtown Pippin was popularised by such well-known figures such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, and was very much an apple of its time.  It is also often called Albemarle Pippin.

By the 19th century Newtown Pippins were an important commercial variety in the USA, both for domestic use and exported in large quantities to London markets, where the Victorian author Hogg commented on their arrival in January each year.  The appreciation of the flavors of apples reached a peak in Victorian England, and the popularity of Newtown Pippins in Victorian England is a sure sign that this is very high quality apple with the rich aromatic flavor most sought after at that time.  Hogg also commented that the Newtown Pippin could not be grown successfully in England - it needs a hot summer and autumn, and will not ripen properly most years in the cool temperate climate of England.

Newtown Pippin is best regarded as a "winter" apple.  It is picked quite late in the season - late October in the eastern USA.  It is hard and unappetising if eaten straight from the tree, instead it should be stored for 1-2 months, before being used over the winter period.  Newtown Pippin is a notably versatile apple, being excellent for eating fresh, cooking, and for juicing and hard cider.  When cooked Newtown Pippin retains some of its shape, and produces a textured puree with a very good rich flavor - definitely a very high quality culinary apple.

It was noticed by the 19th century that there are two variants or "sports" of Newtown Pippin - green and yellow.  Many apple varieties have produced sports, and growers often favour the more highly colored ones for further development.  However green and yellow Newtown Pippins are not easily distinguished, they are both a greenish-yellow color depending on the location and exposure to sunlight - neither of them is particularly attractive by modern standards.  It is thought that the green version might be the original with the yellow being the sport.

Newtown Pippin remains a popular garden apple in the United States.  It is not without its difficulties - it takes many years to start bearing apples even on dwarfing precocious rootstocks, and it is susceptible to most of the usual apple diseases, as well as having a tendency to become a biennial-bearer if allowed to over-crop.  However its natural vigour usually helps it to overcome these difficulties and its great versatility and excellent flavor make it a worthwhile addition to the home orchard.

Last updated 18 Jun 2011.

Also known as

  • Albermarle Pippin
  • Yellow Newtown Pippin

Summary

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Unknown
  • Origin: Newtown, Long Island, United States
  • Introduced: mid 18th century
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 119800

Identification

  • Fruit colour: Green
  • Flesh colour: Cream
  • Fruit size: Medium
  • Bultitude apple group: 2. Green, smooth, sweet

Using

  • Good for eating fresh
  • Good for cooking
  • Good for juice
  • Good for hard cider
  • Cooking result: Textured puree
  • Flavour quality: Very good
  • Flavour style: Aromatic
  • Ripening period: Late season
  • Use / keeping: 3 months or more

Growing

  • Cropping: Heavy
  • Flowering period: Mid season
  • Flowering group: 3
  • Fertility: Self-sterile
  • Triploid: No
  • Vigour: Slightly large
  • Biennial tendency
  • Gardening skill: Average
  • Precocity: Slow to start bearing
  • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer

Climate

  • Suitable for warm climates
  • Suitable for temperate climates
  • Low-chill requirement

Disease resistance

  • Bacterial canker  Pseudomonas syringae  - Some susceptibility
  • Scab  - Some susceptibility
  • Mildew  - Some susceptibility
  • Fireblight  - Some susceptibility
  • Bitter pit  - Some susceptibility

Newtown Pippin identification photos from official fruit collections


UK National Fruit Collection

©Crown Copyright more >
UK National Fruit Collection

Newtown Pippin identification photos from website visitors



Rate this variety for flavor

Current rating: 4 out of 5. Total votes cast: 4
 

Visitor comments

(Use the form at the bottom to add your own comments about this variety)

12 Nov 2011 TerryVANCOUVER ISLAND, Canada
I'm looking for a good reason to keep this tree in my orchard. I've had it for 18 years and the fruit has never ripened, even when picked late and stored until March. We're at the 50th parallel and tend to get cool summers and autumns on the coast. Even the local bear spit the apples out. It is, however, a handsome tree and a good climber. If I replace the tree with another pippin, what would a good variety be for the cool, wet, North?
15 Nov 2010 Gary HansenCALIFORNIA, United States
I have a single Newton Pippin apple tree that I planted 20 years ago. Every year a larger proportion of the fruit is infested with Apple Worm. I have sought and taken advise from nurseries and growers but none of their suggestions have deterred the little guys. Help!
23 Oct 2010 JulieVA, United States
I grew up in California eating juicy pippin apples fresh and in my mother's pies. It is the best pie apple and I'm on the hunt for a source. I live in Virginia now. Any help? Thanks. An aside - I have many fond memories of the Pleasanton County Fair.
06 Feb 2010 ChalaineCA, United States
Near Mountain View, California? You are in luck. The Milk Pail store/fruit market (2585 California Street in MTV) has an incredible variety of apples. I've been trying something of everything and am currently hooked on Pippins. I've never before lived near a store like this and had no idea there were so many varieties of apples. Many of the apples are organic and many grown locally. Prices are great too! I just sampled my first Spitzenberg. They have a little website - www.milkpail.com.
04 Nov 2009 Nicole BeaumontPLEASANTON, United States
I was just searching for where I can find pippen apples. Interesting to find a fellow Pleasantonian, lol. Pippens make the BEST pies. Any tips on where I can buy some?
17 Oct 2009 Rob DrewPLEASANTON, ALAMEDA/CALIFORNIA, United States
Always liked Newton Pippins as a kid - fresh or in pies. Planted one here in inland from San Francisco a few years back. It was slow to bear, but now delivers crisp, delicious apples yearly. We pick in late September.
08 Nov 2008 Edna M. BerginesLANCASTER, LOS ANGELES, CA, United States
It was so difficult to find Pippin apples and this year has proven that I cannot find them anywhere. Could you please tell me where within a 50 mile radius I could purchasee them, or can I order them from this site.
25 Oct 2008 MaryELKHART, ELKHART, INDIANA, United States
i grew up with eating this apple. it went out of favor in the mid 70's, and i couldn't find it again. i have found it, and now trying to buy a tree for my back yard. i never want to be with out this apple. it makes the best pies, and just to eat it is heaven. nothing bets a newtown pippin
24 Sep 2008 MaryBOSTON, United States
As an apple fanatic, I am very happy to say it is a favorite of mine. I first tasted it in New York City (Many farmers from farther north sell their wares in Union Square on weekends) and the lady in the booth told me to wait a week or two before trying to eat it (she told me that it needs to "stew" before it attains full flavor.) I did so, and all I can say is WOW-nice and lively taste! It is a bit tart, but I cut it up and used it in a pie and the only thing I can say to UK readers is if you should come across this in a grower's catalogue or just as an available fruit, NAB IT! It may russet a little sometimes but it tastes lovely, and I am told has few pests (this variety would do nicely roasted over a bonfire come November 5th!)

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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 Newtown Pippin 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

Switzerland



Latest Spring blossom records for this variety

2011 season

  • 15th May  2011  - tree owned by Anne in LYME, United States

2010 season

  • May  2010  - tree owned by Anne in LYME, United States

2009 season

  • May  2009  - tree owned by Anne in LYME, United States

Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.

Latest harvest records for this variety

2011 season

  • October  2011  - tree owned by Anne in LYME, United States

2010 season

  • October  2010  - tree owned by Anne in LYME, United States

2009 season

Mature heights for Newtown Pippin trees

This table shows the likely mature height for a Newtown Pippin 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 2.8 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
M27 3.2 ft
1.0 m		 4.0 ft
1.2 m		 4.8 ft
1.5 m		 5.6 ft
1.7 m		 6.4 ft
2.0 m
M9 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
Bud.9 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 16 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 11 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
M26 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
Geneva 30 6.4 ft
2.0 m		 8.0 ft
2.5 m		 9.6 ft
2.9 m		 11.2 ft
3.4 m		 12.8 ft
3.9 m
MM102 6.4 ft
2.0 m		 8.0 ft
2.5 m		 9.6 ft
2.9 m		 11.2 ft
3.4 m		 12.8 ft
3.9 m
M7 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
M116 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
MM106 8.0 ft
2.5 m		 10.0 ft
3.1 m		 12.0 ft
3.7 m		 14.0 ft
4.3 m		 16.0 ft
4.9 m
MM111 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
Bud.118 10.4 ft
3.2 m		 13.0 ft
4.0 m		 15.6 ft
4.8 m		 18.2 ft
5.6 m		 20.8 ft
6.4 m
M25 12.0 ft
3.7 m		 15.0 ft
4.6 m		 18.0 ft
5.5 m		 21.0 ft
6.4 m		 24.0 ft
7.4 m

From an idea by N. Buck - more details.

Where to buy apple trees

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