Ribston Pippin apple
Famous Yorkshire apple variety, probably the parent of Cox's Orange Pippin.
Also known as the Glory of York, this is the most famous variety from the English county of Yorkshire. Ribston Pippin is a strong-tasting 'aromatic' apple, very popular in Victorian times. The flavour is at its best a month or so after picking, and it can also be used for culinary purposes and for its sweet/sharp juice.
Although a good apple in its own right, the key interest in Ribston Pippin is that it is almost certainly the parent of the world-renowned Cox's Orange Pippin. It has a stronger more robust flavour than its offspring but is arguably less-refined. This robustness can be seen in some of the offspring of Cox's Orange Pippin such as Suntan.
Ribston Pippin gets its name from Ribston Hall in Yorkshire where it was first grown in the 18th century. Given the reverence with which Cox's Orange Pippin was held in late Victorian times, it is not surprising that the Victorian author and pomologist Hogg went to some lengths to trace the ancestry of Ribston Pippin. He found it listed in the well-known Brompton Park Nursery in 1785, but only a handful were being sold per year - however by the 1840s this same nursery was selling 2,500 Ribston Pippin trees. This suggests that the true origins of Ribston Pippin lie back in the early 18th century. Hogg discovered that in 1688 some apple pips were brought from Rouen in France and planted in the grounds of Ribston Hall, and he concluded that one of these pips was the source of a very old Ribston Pipin tree known to be still standing in 1810.
This would make Ribston Pippin contemporary with, and perhaps in some way related to another well-flavoured 18th century variety Margil, which also had links to France. It also suggests the nice irony that England's greatest apple was probably descended from a French variety.
In our opinion, comparing the two apples side by side, the hallmarks of Cox's Orange Pippin are certainly present in the flavour of Ribston Pippin, but more as a signpost of greatness to come - Ribston Pippin is a good apple, but not a great one.
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Parentage: Unknown
- Origin: Ribston Hall, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
- Introduced: Early 18th century
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 105200
Identification
- Fruit colour: Red / Orange flush
- Bultitude apple group: 7. Flushed / striped, some russeting, sweet
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Good for cooking
Growing
- Flowering period: Mid season
- Flowering group: 3
- Fertility: Self-sterile
- Triploid: Yes
- Poor pollinator: Yes
- Vigour: Average growth
Other qualities
- RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993
Relationships to other varieties
Offspring of this variety:
- Cox's Orange Pippin (distant descendant) - Ribston Pippin is generally believed to be one of the parents of Cox
- Reverend W Wilks - Ribston Pippin is probably a parent of Reverend W. Wilks.
- Sturmer Pippin
See also:
- Margil - Margil and Ribston Pippin both originate from England in the mid 18th century but with strong links to France.
Ribston Pippin identification photos from official fruit collections
Ribston Pippin 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 Ribston 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
- Dan Spratlen in CAMANO ISLAND, WASHINGTON
- Stephen Mynhier in Fort Mill, SC
- Terry Graham in Tumwater, WA
- Thomas Griffith in COTTAGE GROVE, WI
United Kingdom
- Alison Underwood in COLWYN BAY, NORTH WALES
- Andrew Auld in Matlock, Derbyshire
- Bobthomlinson in WHALEY BRIDGE, DERBYSHIRE
- Chris Brown in KIDDERMINSTER, SHROPSHIRE
- Gaurab Mukherjee in Cambridge, Cambs.
- Graham Charles Schofield in NEWMARKET, Sufflok
- Hans Butler in LOUGHBOROUGH, LEIESTERSHIRE
- Karen Guthrie in CONISTON, CUMBRIA
- Kevinincornwall in LISKEARD, UNITED KINGDOM
- Malcolm Whitmore in loughborough, leics
- Meadowcopse in CHESTER, CHESHIRE
- Melanie in Leicester, LEICESTERSHIRE
- Melanie in LEICESTERSHIRE
- Nick Burrows in STUBBS WALDEN, North Yorkshire
- Stuart Logan in Newbury, Berkshire
Netherlands
- Nynke Zijlstra in Eastermar, Friesland
Australia
- David Hughes in EMERALD, VICTORIA
- Jenny in MELBOURNE, VICTORIA,
New Zealand
- Trevor Courtney in CHRISTCHURCH, CANTERBURY
Latest Spring blossom records for this variety
2011 season
- September 2011 - tree owned by David in EMERALD, Australia
- 26th April 2011 - tree owned by Malcolm in loughborough, United Kingdom
2010 season
- 3rd May 2010 - tree owned by Stuart in Newbury, United Kingdom
- April 2010 - tree owned by Malcolm in loughborough, United Kingdom
- April 2010 - tree owned by Chris in KIDDERMINSTER, United Kingdom
2009 season
- April 2009 - tree owned by Malcolm in loughborough, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Latest harvest records for this variety
2011 season
2010 season
- 1st week November 2010 - tree owned by Chris in KIDDERMINSTER, United Kingdom
- 2nd week October 2010 - tree owned by Malcolm in loughborough, United Kingdom
2009 season
- September 2009 - tree owned by Malcolm in loughborough, United Kingdom
Mature heights for Ribston Pippin trees
This table shows the likely mature height for a Ribston 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 | 2.5 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 Ribston Pippin apple trees for sale:
Where to buy apples
The following orchards and suppliers offer Ribston Pippin apples for sale. map >
United Statesmap >
-
Massachusettsmap >
- Greenwood Farm, Northfield
-
Michiganmap >
- Alber's Orchard & Cider Mill, Manchester
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Washingtonmap >
- Hockinson Hill Orchard, Brush Prairie
-
Wisconsinmap >
- Door Creek Orchard, Cottage Grove
United Kingdommap >
-
England - south-westmap >
- Charlton Orchards, Taunton
Canadamap >
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British Columbiamap >
- Dragonfly Farm, Salt Spring Island
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