The comprehensive resource for apples and orchards

Winter Banana apple

Named for the alleged banana-like flavour.

Winter Banana photo tape
Last updated 09 Jan 2011.

Summary

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Unknown
  • Origin: Indiana, United States
  • Introduced: 1870s
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 120400
  • We are grateful to Brogdale Farm - home of the UK National Fruit Collection - for providing samples of this variety.

Identification

  • Bultitude apple group: 5. Yellow, smooth, sweet or acidic

Growing

  • Flowering period: Mid-Late season
  • Flowering group: 4
  • Fertility: Self-sterile
  • Triploid: No

Climate

  • Suitable for temperate climates
  • Low-chill requirement

Winter Banana identification photos from official fruit collections


UK National Fruit Collection

©Crown Copyright more >
UK National Fruit Collection

Winter Banana identification photos from website visitors


Winter Banana apples tape


Winter Banana apples

Winter Banana tape


Winter Banana


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)

05 Oct 2011 JuliaMAINE, United States
These are the best apples. The flavor--weather they taste like bananas or not--is fabulous. They're big, they're great for fresh eating or cooking, and they keep if kept cold. Love them. My neighbor has a beautiful old tree and I hope to add one to my orchard this year.
22 Sep 2011 Ann ClementsPENNSYLVANIA, United States
Rauchtown, PA has the winter banana apple ... if were close
24 Jul 2011 MikePA, United States
As a child living in Massachusetts, I remember my family would pack up and head off to apple orchards during the colder months of the year. One time we ended up at this apple orchard in New Hampshire and I tried an apple I never heard of. It was named "Winter Banana: but I do not remember it tasting like banana. To me it was more like pineapple and was a favorite of mine (only found this one time). I would be interested in knowing if it is available within a 100 mile radius of S. PA (near York, PA). Maybe I will grow it if I have room after my 2012 order is planted. Thanks!
21 Jan 2011 SarahUnited States
You can find Winter Banana Apples (for shipment within the continental US only) at www.starkbros.com
21 Jan 2011 Christine GonzalesNM, United States
where can I buy a winter banana apple tree?
28 Oct 2010 Ben Gariglio:PA, United States
Where can I purchase a Winter Banana Tree?
24 Sep 2010 SueUnited States
I have worked at an apple orchard for many years, I always thought it was a "ficticious" name for an apple that is used here for pollinating only.
14 Sep 2010 Sherry TygerPA, United States
I've been eating this apple since I was a child. I don't know where the banana comes from , maybe the color? They keep till spring if refrigerated. My very favorite!
15 May 2010 Nigel DeaconUnited Kingdom
Certain pear varieties can be grafted onto this. Apple-and-pear trees were available at one time from Deacon's nursery, i.o.w.
17 Aug 2009 Larry SaltzmanCALIFORNIA, United States
I find winter banana to be a much better cooking than eating apple. The flesh is very dense. I think it is one of the most beautiful apples in our orchard, but not the best eating apple.
06 May 2009 Lauri AllenCANAAN, NH, United States
I have tasted this tree in the 60's and 70's till the tree had been taken down. It was very old. We had 4 different types of apple trees. Our family house had been built in 1790, and there was an orchard with over 500 apple trees just above our house during that same time period. It truly tasted like a banana, and was yellow in color. I wish to taste one once again.
14 Nov 2008 Keith ParkWOODSIDE, CA., United States
This is one of my favorite apples in our orchard, for its sweetness and unique flavor. Although I wouldn't necessarily peg the flavor as "banana" these apples do have an aromatic perfume that is unlike most others. I have been rehabilitating several 80 year old trees of this cultivar after decades of neglect, and they are beginning to bear nicely on renewed fruit spurs. The fruit itself is very attractive, a warm yellow color with red blemishes on one side. Crisp and never mealy, this is an apple to eat right off the tree! Perhaps the connotation of 'Banana' also comes from its yellowish color?

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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 Winter Banana 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

United Kingdom

Belgium



Latest Spring blossom records for this variety

2011 season

  • May  2011  - tree owned by Kris in HOLDEN, United States

2010 season

  • 10th May  2010  - tree owned by Johan in GENT, Belgium

2009 season

  • September  2009  - tree owned by Pip in RYE, United Kingdom
  • 18th April  2009  - tree owned by Dave in Camas, 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 Kris in HOLDEN, United States

2010 season

    2009 season

    • 2nd week September  2009  - tree owned by Dave in Camas, United States

Where to buy apple trees

The following fruit tree nurseries offer Winter Banana apple trees for sale:

  • Cummins Nursery
    United States  More >>

Where to buy apples

The following orchards and suppliers offer Winter Banana apples for sale. map >

United Statesmap >


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