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All about apples, pears, plums, and cherries - and orchards where they are grown

Newton Wonder apple

Newton Wonder

Unlike other apple-growing nations, the English have always liked to grow apple varieties specifically for culinary purposes. These "cookers" are typically large, acidic apples with good keeping qualities.  Newton Wonder is typical of this style of apple - very large, with a sharp acidic flavour, which cooks down to a puree.  The apples also store very well.  It complements that other famous English cooker - Bramley - very well, having a slightly sweeter flavour.

The original Newton Wonder tree was found as a seedling growing out of the thatched roof of a pub in King's Newton, Derbyshire, England, in the 1870s - presumably the result of a pip dropped by a bird. It was transplanted to the garden, where the value of the large cooking apples was quickly realised. It was subsequently propagated by a local nursery, and has become a popular garden apple variety in the UK.

Newton Wonder apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Newton Wonder
  • Newton Wonder

USDA identification images for Newton Wonder

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

  • USDA watercolor image of Malus domestica: Newton Wonder
  • USDA watercolor image of Malus domestica: Newton Wonder

Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

Parents and other ancestors of this variety


Offspring of this variety


Visitor reviews

  • 21 May 2023 
    Grown at home on one of the larger rootstocks in permanent partial shade of a very large sycamore. Crops reliability and heavily with healthy classic cooking apples which slowly sweeten after picking and can (slight stretch) be used as an eating apple after some time (weeks in cool storage). Seems very disease resistant and has done well in a heavy clay soil. Excellent overall cooking apple.
  • 12 May 2023 
    I have seen this cultivar in the north east of Scotland
  • 30 Aug 2022 
    We had one in Duffield when we moved there in 1953 which must have been 40 years old or more as it was huge and I spent half my childhood up in the branches. Lasted another 50 years and collapsed . Excellent apples very other year.
  • 30 Jun 2022 
    My great grandad was one of the couple of men who found the seedling on the roof of the pub in King’s Newton. The seedling was then planted into the pub garden where it still stands. He didn’t actually get it off the roof, I don’t imagine, as he had a wooden leg, having lost his in a thrashing machine in his early teans. He lived in Melbourne all his life where he was a tailor, until retirement in Chellaston. He died in the very early ‘50s.
  • 14 Oct 2013  ENGLAND, United Kingdom
    We have had an amazing crop this year, and have been eating straight from the tree since mid/late September. They are exceptional by all accounts. Looking forward to storing them and seeing how they develop in taste over the coming months.
  • 01 Sep 2013  WEST YORKS, United Kingdom
    Have a tree approx 30 years old, still crops reliably and the apples also keep really well, until March at least.
  • 21 Jul 2013  DERBYSHIRE, United Kingdom
    I have two Newton Wonders,but only recently planted.The first planted about 4 years ago. 2011 produced an excellent crop and very tasty.Very poor crop last year. The second tree planted last year and this years crop looks good.
  • 22 Mar 2012  NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, United Kingdom
    The Newton Wonder was 'found' as a seedling on the edge of the roof of the Hardings Arms, public house, at Kings Newton in Derbyshire and was grown on to become a tree. The man responsible was Mr Taylor; my great great grandfather. The Taylors went on to become market gardeners in Stanton by bridge, not too far away; where my great grandad had an orchard in a stone masons quarry. and raised his children.
  • 17 Dec 2010  WORCS, United Kingdom
    My family held a Glos CC small holding from 1945 until 1985,and we had a mixed orchard of apple and pear trees. The apples were about 50/50 Newtons and Bramleys, with ONE Blenheim. Mum stored them all, after their careful picking. She kept them, well strawed, on the floor of our attic. Picking them over regularly to weed out bad ones, of which there were not that many. The Newtons kept until Christmas, by which time they were matured and wonderful to eat. Still pretty crisp, but with that softer texture that comes with keeping them. My brother and I, now 75 and 70, respectively always new we'd have a good Newton in the toes of our Christmas stockings. Incidentally the pears were Williams and Conference. The Williams kept well too, and were also better, I feel, by the time Christmas came round. However, having passed the old orchard of late, the Newtons need a good pruning and a little TLC. Shame!
  • 10 Oct 2010  SUFFOLK, United Kingdom
    I have a very old Newton Wonder apple tree in my garden and the fruit really is amazing. I have to agree with the fact that it is delicious to eat and wonderful to cook with. The amount of fruit that is produced every year is astounding. . a really worthwhile apple tree
  • 29 Nov 2009  BERKSHIRE, United Kingdom
    Beautiful Apple, I have one planted in the late 1850's. Orchards were here well before the victorians put up our homes (victorian villa's). So I know it is that age. Knocks a bramley into a cocked hat. Mine has different coloured friuts and slightly different bloom and textured. The colour on one bow is a deep blood red ! Very juicy and crisp when picked, good keeper, and sweet when stored - totally unlike a bitter green and boring bramley bought in a supermarket ! The trunk is huge and hollow, with some port holes. A mini twister has recently damaged the tree very badly, the climate has changed here, the tree had been an old girl 40 years ago, but in the last 5 years the weird winds have damaged more than 40% of the tree. The tree use to throw a huge crop every other year, and 5% crop in between. The best bows have been bought down by the wind when bald and not carrying any weight.. Do not cut large branches off near the trunk, this varienty hates having its limbs cut, and dies back to a port hole eventually when it is unable to push sap to subsidiary branches. Wonderfull flavour - you cant buy this kind of quality, apple vary in size and are round, not flat like a bramley. The king apple on a spur can be huge if thinning is done
  • 25 Oct 2009  GLOUCESTERSHIRE, United Kingdom
    We have a small orchard, planted with Bramleys newton Wonder, Cox, Blenheim and Worcesters. the newton Wonder are the best for juicing and make delicious juice and lots of it. I agree this is a better apple than a Bramley
  • 11 Oct 2009  DERBY, United Kingdom
    Im sorry Sue, but it was found , not produced in King`s Newton, Melbourne, Derbyshire. The orginal seedling is still in the garden where it was found which is now a pub beer garden. This has been well documented in the Derby Evening Telegraph.
  • 03 Sep 2009  NR SWINDON, United Kingdom
    Mine is 35 yrs old and has regular heavy crops. They keep well into the new year. Very vigorous grower and not for the smaller garden.
  • 29 Aug 2009  LEICESTERSHIRE, United Kingdom
    As I understand it my gt gt uncle, Newton Fowkes, (c1853) was responsible for producing the Newton Wonder. He had a smallholding at Swannington and Orchard in Bakewells Lane. He was also a local preacher.
  • 20 Nov 2008  LUTON, BEDFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom
    My friend has a Newton Wonder in her garden dating back to the 1930's. They are a lovely apple and what a crop she has had this year, fantastic.
  • 19 Nov 2008  DERBY, United Kingdom
    Just to inform ... The Newton Wonder was discovered in a garden at King`s Newton, Melbourne, Derbyshire
  • 27 Oct 2008  STAMFORD, United States
    Hi eddie I think your apple could be a Yarling Mills and that would be a Cider apple.
  • 22 Oct 2008  LONGPARISH HAMPSHIRE, United Kingdom
    I have just discovered that the "unknown" apple tree in our garden is a Newton Wonder, and I have to agree with Edward Buckle- this is a dual purpose apple. We've had it picked straight off the tree as a crisp and sweet eater, as well as a fabulous cooker. We have Bramleys Seedlings too, and in my book the Newton Wonder is better. This year's crop was astoundingly large and heavy individual apples, and lots of them- our best crop in fifteen years.
  • 17 Oct 2008  HALESWORTH SUFFOLK UK, United Kingdom
    Fabulous prolific apple - more a cooker/eater than a straight cooker as I eat them every day from the tree until they're gone - last well in cool store if they survive my appetite. In passing do you know the apple Yarling as i was given one and I can't find the history or any acknowledgement - small conical apple with pale pink blush - taste OK but texture mealy - but my plant young may improve with age or in a better season - thanks Yours Eddie Buckle

Tree register

United States

United Kingdom

Spring blossom records for this variety

2022 season

  • 9th May  2022  - tree owned by Hugh in Kingsbridge, United Kingdom

2017 season

  • 13th May  2017  - tree owned by Hugh in Kingsbridge, United Kingdom
  • May  2017  - tree owned by Andrew in Alnwick, United Kingdom

2013 season

  • 31st May  2013  - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom
  • 18th April  2013  - tree owned by Chaughton in Tiverton, United Kingdom

2012 season

  • 27th May  2012  - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom
  • May  2012  - tree owned by Victor in Huddersfield, United Kingdom

2011 season

  • 26th April  2011  - tree owned by James in Melbourne, United Kingdom
  • 23rd April  2011  - tree owned by Roger in Burton Latimer, United Kingdom
  • 22nd April  2011  - tree owned by Roger in Burton Latimer, United Kingdom
  • March  2011  - tree owned by Warren in London, United Kingdom

2010 season

  • 18th May  2010  - tree owned by Roger in Burton Latimer, United Kingdom
  • 14th May  2010  - tree owned by Roger in Burton Latimer, United Kingdom
  • 20th April  2010  - tree owned by Jordan in Notts, United Kingdom

Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.


Harvest records for this variety

2017 season

  • October  2017  - tree owned by Andrew in Alnwick, United Kingdom

2016 season

  • 2nd week November  2016  - tree owned by Hugh in Kingsbridge, United Kingdom
  • 2nd week October  2016  - tree owned by Jsansell@Hotmail.Com in Chalford, United Kingdom

2015 season

  • 2nd week October  2015  - tree owned by Peter in Hexham, United Kingdom

2014 season

  • 1st week October  2014  - tree owned by Dick in Whittlesey, United Kingdom

2013 season

  • 1st week October  2013  - tree owned by Chaughton in Tiverton, United Kingdom

2012 season

  • 3rd week October  2012  - tree owned by Victor in Huddersfield, United Kingdom

2011 season

  • 3rd week October  2011  - tree owned by Huw in Stamford, United Kingdom
  • 2nd week October  2011  - tree owned by Victor in Huddersfield, United Kingdom
  • October  2011  - tree owned by Warren in London, United Kingdom

2010 season

  • 1st week October  2010  - tree owned by Freyja in Kings Meaburn/ Penrith, United Kingdom
  • September  2010  - tree owned by Babs in Stonehouse, United Kingdom

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
  • Parentage: Possibly Dumelow's Seedling and Blenheim Orange
  • Originates from: Derby, England, United Kingdom
  • Introduced: 1870s
  • Developed by: Found by an innkeeper, Mr Taylor
  • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1973-140
  • 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.

Identification

  • Country of origin: United Kingdom
  • Period of origin: 1850 - 1899
  • Flower colour: White
  • Leaf colour: Green
  • Popularity: Best sellers
  • Annual cycle: Deciduous
  • Awards: RHS AGM (former)

Using

  • Picking season: Late
  • Keeping (of fruit): 3 months or more
  • Flavour quality: Very good
  • Flavour style (apples): Sharper
  • Cooking result: Puree
  • Discoloration of fruit: Oxidising
  • Cropping: Heavy
  • Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
  • Food uses: Culinary
  • Food uses: Traditional cooker
  • Picking period: mid-October
  • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

Growing

  • Gardening skill: Average
  • Flowering group: 4
  • Pollinating others: Average
  • Ploidy: Diploid
  • Vigour: Vigorous
  • Bearing regularity: Biennial tendency
  • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
  • Organic culture: Suitable
  • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile

Climate

  • Frost resistance of blossom: Good resistance
  • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
  • Climate suitability: Mild damp climates
  • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
  • Cold hardiness (RHS): H6 (to -20C)
  • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cold (< 20C / 67F)

Other qualities

  • Disease resistance: Average
  • Canker: Some resistance
  • Scab (Apple and Pear): Some resistance
  • Powdery mildew: Some susceptibility

Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Newton Wonder apple trees for sale:


Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Newton Wonder:

United Kingdom




References

  • Apples of England (1948)
    Author: Taylor
  • Fruit Expert
    Author: Hessayon

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