An interesting high quality English dual-purpose apple. It can be used initially as a baking apple (it keeps its shape when cooked) but after a few months in store the flavour mellows to an intense fruit drop or pineapple flavour.
Allington Pippin was developed by in the 1870s by Thomas Laxton, a nurseryman from south Lincolnshire. (He later moved to establish his main nursery in Bedfordshire). It was originally known as South Lincoln Beauty. In 1894 it was taken on by George Bunyard, the owner of the Allington Nusery, which is now a suburb of Maidstone. He renamed it Allington Pippin, after his own nursery. Ironically there is also a village in Lincolnshire of the same name.
USDA identification images for Allington Pippin
The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.
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
- Cox's Orange Pippin (parent)
- King of the Pippins (parent)
Visitor reviews
- 22 Apr 2020 CAMBS, United KingdomI have a very old Allington Pippin tree. It was identified by the RHS in their identification scheme. My house was built in 1901 on an old orchard and several very old trees remain in our garden. It has a wonderful flavour when cooked, people often ask if it is a pear. It keeps very well, often until April. One problem is that it tends to bear biennially.
- 07 Oct 2018 LINCOLNSHIRE, United KingdomHave six of these trees found under several metres of brambles; the farm had been abandoned for decades,. One blew over in the wind. The others, very old and spindly from years starved of sunshine, have brightened up and produce very good quantities of the most delicious apples I have ever tasted.
- 27 Oct 2012 LINCOLNSHIRE, United KingdomPlanted tree (M111 rootstock) four years ago and this year have had first apples. Good crop stays well on tree to end of Oct. Generally clean fruit of good size. Really interesting flavour once stored for few weeks - fresh aciditiy (not sour) with satisfying fruity notes after. Cooks well and is storing well so far
- 02 Nov 2009 SwedenIn a danish test made ca 1939 Allington pippin was the best apple for making applejuice. The second best was Filippa.
- 20 Oct 2009 FARLEY, SALISBURY, WILTS, United KingdomI have an old tree producing prolific fruit well into the Autumn. It has been neglected but the frit still has a good flavour. The aples are usually covered in a black (sooty) covering of unkown sources - no neareby bonfires of chimneys - which washes off with a brush in water.
Tree register
United States
- Dan Whitney in Yakima, WASHINGTON
- Jo Elsmore in BLOORS,
United Kingdom
- Alex Webb in Cumbria, KENDAL
- Andrew Collins in NEWMACHAR, ABERDEENSHIRE
- Carol in Lincoln, LINCS
- Graham Bell in Coldstream, BERWICKSHIRE
- Graham Bell in Coldstream, BERWICKSHIRE
- James Brigden in Chippenham, WILTSHIRE
- John Ellis in Salisbury, WILTSHIRE
- Kay in Leeds, W YORKS
- Lindy Brett in MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE
- Margaret Pollock in Stirling, STIRLINGSHIRE
- Mark in Chippenham, WILTS
- Mark Glover in Lincoln, LINCOLNSHIRE
- Mark Glover in Lincoln, LINCOLNSHIRE
- Martin Timms in Baldock, HERTFORDSHIRE
- Mary Frew in NORFOLK
- Penny Kitching in Melling, LANCASHIRE
- Rachael Boughton in Bridport, DORSET
- Robin Homewood in Peterborough,
- Sam Paechter in Leeds, WEST YORKSHIRE
- sgdandbrd@gmail.com in Swanton Morley, NORFOLK
- Simon Kidner in Swanage, DORSET
- Spencer Allsop in BRIDGNORTH,
- Tim Stevens in York, EAST YORKSHIRE
- Wayne Seagate in Watlington, NORFOLK
Ireland
- Lars Christoffersen in TRIM,
Switzerland
- Helmut Mueller in Neukirch, THURGAU
Spring blossom records for this variety
2025 season
- 20th April 2025 - tree owned by Wayne in Watlington, United Kingdom
2012 season
- May 2012 - tree owned by Graham in Coldstream, United Kingdom
- May 2012 - tree owned by Graham in Coldstream, United Kingdom
2011 season
- 24th April 2011 - tree owned by Mary in , United Kingdom
- 17th April 2011 - tree owned by Simon in Swanage, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Harvest records for this variety
Origins
- Species: Malus domestica - Apple
- Parentage: Cox's Orange Pippin x King of the Pippins
- Originates from: Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1884
- Developed by: Thomas Laxton
- UK National Fruit Collection accession: 2000-016
Identification
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Period of origin: 1850 - 1899
- Fruit colour: Orange flush
- Flower colour: White
- Leaf colour: Green
- Annual cycle: Deciduous
Using
- Picking season: Late
- Keeping (of fruit): 3 months or more
- Flavour quality: Good
- Flavour style (apples): Aromatic
- Cooking result: Keeps shape
- Vitamin C content: Medium
- Cropping: Good
- Food uses: Eating fresh
- Food uses: Culinary
- Food uses: Dual purpose
- Picking period: late September
- Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators
Growing
- Gardening skill: Average
- Flowering group: 3
- Pollinating others: Average
- Ploidy: Diploid
- Vigour: Average vigour
- Bearing regularity: Biennial tendency
- Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
- Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
Climate
- Frost resistance of blossom: Susceptible
- Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 5 (-29C)
- Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 6 (-23C)
- Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 7 (-18C)
- Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 8 (-12C)
- Climate suitability: Temperate climates
- Climate suitability: Mild damp climates
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Cold (< 20C / 67F)
Other qualities
- Disease resistance: Average
- Scab (Apple and Pear): Some resistance
- Brown rot: Some susceptibility
Where to buy trees
The following tree nurseries offer Allington Pippin apple trees for sale:
Where to buy fresh fruit
The following orchards grow Allington Pippin:
United Kingdom
England - midlands
References
- Apples of England (1948)
Author: Taylor