Red Windsor apple
A red sport of Alkmene, with the same strong Cox-style flavour, but with a distinctly different appearance. Also known as Sweet Lilibet.
This is a red sport (mutation) of Alkmene, and noticeably redder and less Cox-like in appearance than Alkmene, although the characteristic Cox russet striping can be faintly discerned. It is grown commercially on a small-scale in the UK.
Alkmene is sometimes known as Early Windsor, hence the name of this redder sport, Red Windsor. However to further confuse matters, the marketing organisation behind this variety organised a UK-wide schools competition to come up with a new name - and "Sweet Lilibet" was chosen. This is therefore the name you are most likely to see it under in supermarkets, where it appears towards the end of September.
Also known as
- Red Alkmene
- Sweet Lilibet
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Parentage: Sport of Alkmene
- Origin: United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1985
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 105100
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Flavour quality: Good
- Flavour style: Aromatic
- Ripening period: Mid season Early September
- Use / keeping: 1 week
Growing
- Cropping: Heavy
- Flowering group: 2
- Fertility: Self-fertile
- Triploid: No
- Vigour: Slightly small
- Gardening skill: Very easy
- General disease resistance: Good
Climate
- Tolerates cold winters Some frost resistance
- Suitable for N. England?: Yes
Relationships to other varieties
This variety is a sport (natural genetic mutation) of:
Parents and other ancestors of this variety:
- Cox's Orange Pippin (parent)
- Duchess of Oldenburg (parent)
Red Windsor 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 Red Windsor 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
- A Elsbury in CHIPPENHAM, WILTSHIRE
- Ben Alofs in BANGOR, GWYNEDD
- Chris in CAERPHILLY, MID GLAMORGAN
- Gilly in MONMOUTH, MONMOUTHSHIRE
- James in MELBOURNE, DERBYSHIRE
- John Denton in LAVENHAM, SUFFOLK
- M Shipman in NORTHAMPTON, NORTHANTS
- Mr Graeme Fraser in PENICUIK, MIDLOTHIAN
- Mr N Butcher in NORTH CURRY, SOMERSET
- Paul Gaffikin in ASHFORD, KENT
- Paul Knight in EASTLEIGH, HAMPSHIRE
- Victoria Birkett in ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
Latest Spring blossom records for this variety
2011 season
- 12th April 2011 - tree owned by James in MELBOURNE, United Kingdom
- 9th April 2011 - tree owned by M in NORTHAMPTON, United Kingdom
2010 season
- July 2010 - tree owned by John in LAVENHAM, United Kingdom
2009 season
- July 2009 - tree owned by John in LAVENHAM, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Latest harvest records for this variety
2011 season
- August 2011 - tree owned by Gilly in MONMOUTH, United Kingdom
2010 season
- September 2010 - tree owned by John in LAVENHAM, United Kingdom
2009 season
- 1st week September 2009 - tree owned by John in LAVENHAM, United Kingdom
Mature heights for Red Windsor trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Red Windsor 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 |
3.7 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
| M27 | 2.4 ft 0.7 m |
3.0 ft 0.9 m |
3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.2 ft 1.3 m |
4.8 ft 1.5 m |
| M9 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| Bud.9 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| Geneva 16 | 3.6 ft 1.1 m |
4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.3 ft 1.9 m |
7.2 ft 2.2 m |
| Geneva 11 | 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 |
| M26 | 4.5 ft 1.4 m |
5.6 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
7.9 ft 2.4 m |
9.0 ft 2.8 m |
| Geneva 30 | 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 |
| MM102 | 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 |
| M7 | 5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| M116 | 5.4 ft 1.7 m |
6.8 ft 2.1 m |
8.1 ft 2.5 m |
9.5 ft 2.9 m |
10.8 ft 3.3 m |
| MM106 | 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 |
| MM111 | 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 |
| Bud.118 | 7.8 ft 2.4 m |
9.8 ft 3.0 m |
11.7 ft 3.6 m |
13.7 ft 4.2 m |
15.6 ft 4.8 m |
| M25 | 9.0 ft 2.8 m |
11.3 ft 3.5 m |
13.5 ft 4.1 m |
15.8 ft 4.8 m |
18.0 ft 5.5 m |
From an idea by N. Buck - more details.
Where to buy apple trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Red Windsor apple trees for sale:
-
Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK)
United Kingdom Supplier's website >>
Where to buy apples
The following orchards and suppliers offer Red Windsor apples for sale. map >
United Kingdommap >
-
England - midlandsmap >
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