Ribston Pippin apple
Malus domestica
Famous Yorkshire apple variety, probably the parent of Cox's Orange Pippin.
Parentage: French ?
Origin: Yorkshire
Introduced: 1707
Season: Oct-Jan
Apple cultivar ID: 105200
Some historical details taken with kind permission from 'The New Book of Apples' by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards , illustrated by Elisabeth Dowle, published by Ebury Press, 2002.
Also known as the Glory of York, this is the most famous variety from the Yorkshire region of the UK. It's a strong-tasting 'aromatic' traditional apple, and was very popular in Victorian times. It gets its name from Ribston Hall in Yorkshire where it was first grown, but it was almost certainly a seedling or pip imported from Rouen in Normandy, France. This makes it contemporary with, and perhaps in some way related to another well-flavoured 18th century variety Margil, which also has French ancestry.
Ribston Pippin 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. In our opinion, comparing the two apples side by side, the ancestry of Cox's Orange Pippin is 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.
However if you like a classic old-English dessert apple, then this is one to try.
Relationships to other apple varieties
Offspring of this variety
- Cox's Orange Pippin (distant descendant) - Ribston Pippin is generally believed to be one of the parents of Cox
See also
- Margil - Margil and Ribston Pippin both originate from England in the mid 18th century but with strong links to France
Where to buy apple trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Ribston Pippin apple trees for sale:
-
Keepers Nursery
, Kent, United Kingdom (Deliver nationally)
Available November - March
More supplier details
Where to buy fruit and related products
No fruit suppliers listed for this variety.
Apple tree register
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register here and contribute to our international register of apple trees.
Variety request
Is your favourite variety not listed here? We are constantly adding new variety details, so please use our contact form to suggest new varieties.
Articles
-
Your top 10 apple varieties
The top 10 most popular apple descriptions on this website. -
Top 10 apple varieties for the garden
Hamid Habibi of Keepers Nursery to recommend 10 apple varieties which are easy to grow in the northern European garden. -
Top 10 dessert apple varieties for flavour
Our list of the best apple varieties for flavor. -
Supermarket apples
Helps you compare some of the apple varieties listed on this website with popular supermarket apple varieties. -
Book reviews
We hope the following book reviews will help you to find out more about apples, orchards, and growing your own trees. -
Apples for Christmas
An old article fromby Dr. W. E. Shewell-Cooper, reproduced from Hertfordshire Countryside magazine, December 1973. -
Fruit trees on their own roots
Hugh Ermen, one of the top modern UK apple breeders, discusses the techniques and advantages of growing fruit trees without rootstocks - on their own roots. -
Apple breeding at East Malling Research
East Malling Research (EMR) is the principal UK provider of top-class basic, strategic and applied horticultural research and development for the perennial crops sector. Launched in 2004, EMR builds on a 90-year history and world-class reputation for revolutionary research in this field. -
Yorkshire apples
Apples, gardening and orchards in Yorkshire, UK -
Orchard marketing
The potential for marketing produce from local orchards in Yorkshire and Humberside in the UK - a report on the viability of establishing supply chains to link local consumers and local orchards in the UK Countryside Stewardship Scheme.