Norfolk Royal apple

Tasting notes
Characteristics
Photos
Reviews
Tree Register
Tree heights
Where to Buy

A sweet old-fashioned apple, with a delicate melon flavour - very likeable

Last updated 10 Jun 2010.

Summary

Species: Malus domestica
Parentage: Unknown
Origin: England, United Kingdom
Introduced: 1905
Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 117000

Identification

Bultitude apple group: 6. Red flushed, smooth, sweet

Growing

Flowering period: Mid-Late season
Flowering group: 4
Fertility: Self-sterile
Triploid: No
Vigour: Average growth

Relationships to other varieties

Sports (natural genetic mutations) of this variety:

Norfolk Royal Russet

Norfolk Royal identification photos from official fruit collections

ARS GRIN

©Copyright

UK National Fruit Collection

©Crown Copyright more >

Norfolk Royal identification photos from website visitors

Rate this variety for flavor

Visitor comments

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

10 Jan 2012		YvonneNORTH WALES, United Kingdom
	I don't like apples very much - but this one is the exception. It has an amazingly sweet and aromatic flavour and the apple itself is huge, crisp (but without hurting your teeth) and very picturesque. The only drawback is that our tree is now cropping alternate years and doesn't have a heavy crop when it does produce - even though there are lots of pollinators all around it. And it doesn't keep.
06 Dec 2011		Julie StevensLONDON, United Kingdom
	Julie jm.stevens28@yahoo.co.uk Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Have just had mine identified. Best picked just before pips turn brown. Flesh mainly greeny-white, but where sun catches the skin it turns red, and the red blush seeps through. Sweet, sharp, so juicy. Keeps better if unpicked
23 Nov 2011		Penelope BorovikovHAMPSHIRE, United Kingdom
	I have just had my two apple trees identified as Norfolk Royal. They were in the garden when I moved here 26 years ago. They are the best eating apple I know. The skins look like they have been polished on the tree before turning sticky.
09 Mar 2011		Carol TarrFRODSHAM CHESHIRE, United Kingdom
	The 4 grafts we had done at the local horticultural college last year, from our neighbour's Norfolk Royal all flourished, and have now had their maiden pruning. Had another 4 done this year. Lovely apple to eat and cook. Carol Tarr
24 Oct 2010		m WardHANTS, United Kingdom
	Just had an apple identified as Norfolk Royal and wanted to check if people might agree. The skin is very greasy, the flesh is crisp but not overly so. Occassionaly the flesh can taste a little 'soapy'. Mid-Oct seems to be the latest harvesting date. Appearance seems to differ from deep red to almost stripey red/yellow. Last year the flesh has a slight 'fizzy' feel when harvested in early Nov. Does this sound consistent with Norfolk Royal?
18 Oct 2009		Sheena CarmichaelEAST SUSSEX, United Kingdom
	I tried this at the Apple Festival at Brogdale (National Fruit Collection) - in my opinion, the nicest apple there. Really tasty but also crisp and juicy. Definitely a top apple for taste, although no great shakes to look at.
28 Sep 2009		Doug RatcliffeNORFOLK, United Kingdom
	I have one in the garden - about 23 years old. Very prolific and beautiful flavour. Agree that they don't store well but freshly picked off the tree they are delicious!
24 May 2008		B.C.RobertsTENBURY WELLS, WORCESTERSHIRE, United Kingdom
	I have a norfolk royal, approx 80 years old, that produces an enormous amount of excellent fruit every year. They are rather greasy on the skin but the flesh is very tasty, and they don't keep very long after picking.

Add your comments about this variety

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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 Norfolk Royal trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree.

You can also view these trees on a map.

United Kingdom

Adrian Hodge in DEREHAM, NORFOLK
Andy Marczewski in DEREHAM, NORFOLK
Anne Maclachlan in BISHOP'S CASTLE, SHROPSHIRE
Carol Tarr in Frodsham, CHESHIRE
Chris Vines in South Wales,
Doug Ratcliffe in YELVERTON, NORFOLK
Graham Hinchliffe in EASTBOURNE, EAST SUSSEX
Julie Stevens in LONDON, LONDON
Owen Roberts in REEPHAM, NORFOLK
Penelope Borovikov in ANDOVER, HAMPSHIRE

Latest harvest records for this variety

Mature heights for Norfolk Royal trees

This table shows the likely mature height for a Norfolk Royal tree taking into account the vigor of the variety, the rootstock, and soil conditions.

Rootstock	Soil quality
Rootstock	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 apples

The following orchards and suppliers offer Norfolk Royal apples for sale. map >

United Kingdommap >

England - south-eastmap >
- The Hop Shop, Sevenoaks