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

Blue Pearmain apple

Blue Pearmain
An heirloom American apple variety, commonly found in New York state. Named for the blue-colored bloom.

Blue Pearmain apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Blue Pearmain
  • Blue Pearmain
  • Blue Pearmain

USDA identification images for Blue Pearmain

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

  • USDA watercolor image of Malus domestica: Blue Pearmain
  • USDA watercolor image of Malus domestica: Blue Pearmain

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

Visitor reviews

  • 06 Nov 2018  QUEBEC, Canada
    I've crossed this heirloom apple at an orchard store this fall, so I decided to buy a 5 lbs bag. These are huge apples with a very dense flesh. Very filling, not the kind of apple to wake a hunger. I find this apple has a nice pear taste with just enough acidity to taste it properly. Not a juicy apple, but quite moist. The last ones I have feel rubbery when I press them. Good apple but only a "3" note.
  • 22 Oct 2016  MAINE, United States
    I have just grafted 5 blue pearmain trees for my orchard in Maine
  • 15 Oct 2016  NM, United States
    complex flavor, dense yellowish flesh, aromatic, sweet, a heavy producer. Very large apples with a purplish/blue blush.
  • 09 Oct 2016  NORFOLK, United Kingdom
    40 years ago I moved house. There was one old apple tree in the garden, that had been grafted with 2 different varieties (a 'family tree' I think the Victorians called them). One was not very interesting - a Codlin I think. The other, after many years of trying to identify, I decided was a Blue Pearmain. It was large, with a wonderful taste, and it kept well. Looked like the photos here. Since moving, I've had a lot of trouble finding another - finally planted a young tree 2 years ago. It hasn't fruited yet ... in anticipation!
  • 16 Oct 2015  MA, United States
    I just found an abandoned Blue Pearmain tree at the beginning of my road in an old field. I have been driving by it now for 29 years and never noticed the red apples on it. I stopped and collected a few. I crunched into one and thought: "This is a really nice apple. I wonder what it is?" It was sweet and crunchy then came a zing of tartness. It had a conical shape similar to a Red Delicious but way beyond the flavor of a red delicious ( a misnomer if there ever was one). There used to be a lot of orchards here in central Massachusetts and I have found other abandoned tress also. I am taking it upon myself to prune this tree. I will also take scions and even try to graft a new tree for my orchard. It is a very striking looking apple. It is a deep red-purple with yellow specks and smells great. The tree must be very disease tolerant as it is healthy and has not one whit of care for the last 29 years and probably longer than that. I am very excited about finding this heirloom tree.
  • 24 May 2015  OREGON, United States
    "Are those apples really blue?" people would ask when first seeing my Blue Pearmain tree. Of course, the only answer is "yes". Beyond that, Blue Pearmain is a sweet apple with aromatic overtones, little acid, very fine-grained flesh, a little crunch but no snap, and overall, a wonderful apple to eat out of hand. This small tree is healthy on dwarfing rootstock, not demanding, and regularly productive, though not a heavy producer. This should be the ideal backyard tree on a good dwarfing rootstock.
  • 11 Mar 2014  INDIANA, United States
    This apple has a complex flavor that would be unforgettable if it weren't so amazingly mind-blowing.
  • 12 Oct 2011  NY, United States
    great for sauce and juice and just to eat.
  • 16 Sep 2011  MASSACHUSETTS/PLYMOUTH, United States
    The waxy skin yields an ivory, medium textured, juicy flesh with a sweet and acid balance and a tartness that lingers. The apple makes a fine cider and keeps well in cold storage.
  • 01 Jan 2010  United Kingdom
    Starter post

Tree register

United States

United Kingdom

Netherlands

Canada

Australia

Spring blossom records for this variety

2017 season

  • 16th October  2017  - tree owned by Neville in Tea Tree Gully, Australia

2016 season

  • 2nd November  2016  - tree owned by Neville in Tea Tree Gully, Australia

2013 season

  • 21st April  2013  - tree owned by Barbara in Seattle, United States

2012 season

  • 21st April  2012  - tree owned by Barbara in Seattle, United States

2011 season

  • 26th April  2011  - tree owned by Barbara in Seattle, United States

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


Harvest records for this variety

2019 season

  • 2nd week October  2019  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States

2015 season

  • 2nd week October  2015  - tree owned by Fred in Hubbardston, United States

2013 season

  • 2nd week October  2013  - tree owned by Alison in Albion, United States

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
  • Originates from: United States
  • Introduced: 19th century
  • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1957-210

Identification

  • Country of origin: United States
  • Period of origin: 1800 - 1849
  • Fruit colour: Red - dark
  • Annual cycle: Deciduous
  • Flowering duration: Average (2-3 weeks)
  • Flesh colour: Cream
  • Fruit size: Average
  • Fruit size: Variable

Using

  • Picking season: Late
  • Keeping (of fruit): 3 months or more
  • Flavour quality: Good
  • Flavour style (apples): Sweet/Sharp
  • Cropping: Good
  • Food uses: Eating fresh
  • Picking month: October
  • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

Growing

  • Flowering group: 3
  • Pollinating others: Average
  • Ploidy: Diploid
  • Vigour: Average vigour
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

Climate

  • Cold hardiness (USDA): Zone 3 (-40C)
  • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
  • Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)

Other qualities

  • Disease resistance: Good

Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Blue Pearmain apple trees for sale:


Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Blue Pearmain:

United States


Australia




References


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