Christmas Pippin is a modern Cox-style apple discovered the old-fashioned way - growing as a seedling tree beside a road.
The parentage is unknown but the flavour is similar to Cox-substitutes such as Sunset. The leaf-shape has a resemblance to Gala - a popular supermarket variety and therefore a likely candidate for being the source of the discarded apple core from which the original tree grew.
Christmas Pippin apple identification images
All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.
USDA identification images for Christmas 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.
Visitor reviews
Tree register
United States
- g Joseph Jordan in WEST CHESTER, PA
United Kingdom
- Andrew Guille in St Saviour, GUERNSEY
- Caroline Ward And Erinma Ochu in Manchester, GREATER MANCHESTER
- Chris Brotherton in Wolverhampton, WEST MIDLANDS
- David Goodall in Wetherby,
- Derek Lidbury in Burnham On Crouch, ESSEX
- Des Kelly in Inverness,
- Gaynor Murray in Newton Stewart, DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
- Ian Dimery in Ripon, NORTH YORKSHIRE
- Irina Pertsel in Durham, COUNTY DURHAM
- John s m Roberts, O.B.E. in Seaford, EAST SUSSEX
- Julia Nelki in Prenton, MERSEYSIDE
- Julie Quantrill in INVERURIE, ABERDEENSHIRE
- Lydia Guy in DARTMOUTH, DEVON
- Mr Alistair Higgins in Leamington Spa, WARWICKSHIRE
- P Venner in WORTHING, WEST SUSSEX
- Pamela in Holsworthy, DEVON
- Penny Stevenson in REDBOURNE, LINCOLNSHIRE
- Penny Stevenson in REDBOURNE, LINCOLNSHIRE
- Pete in Glasgow, LANARKSHIRE
- Philip in
- Phyllyp Sparowe in LONDON,
- Richard Borrie in York, YORKSHIRE
- Sidonie in London,
- Simon Shearburn in Worcester, WORCESTERSHIRE
- Stuart Sullivan in Worcester, WIRCESTERSHIRE
Italy
- Sarah in Fiesole, TUSCANY
Spring blossom records for this variety
2016 season
- 10th May 2016 - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom
2015 season
- 6th May 2015 - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom
2014 season
- 10th April 2014 - tree owned by Sarah in Fiesole, Italy
2013 season
- 21st May 2013 - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom
- May 2013 - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom
2012 season
- 11th May 2012 - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Harvest records for this variety
Origins
- Species: Malus domestica - Apple
- Parentage: Unknown
- Originates from: Somerset, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 2011
Identification
- Awards: RHS AGM (current)
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Period of origin: 2000
- Fruit colour: Orange flush
- Leaf colour: Green
- Popularity: Best sellers
- Annual cycle: Deciduous
Using
- Picking season: Late
- Keeping (of fruit): 1-2 months
- Flavour quality: Very good
- Flavour style (apples): Sweet/Sharp
- Discoloration of fruit: Oxidising
- Cropping: Heavy
- Fruit persistence: Ripens over a period
- Food uses: Eating fresh
- Picking period: early October
- Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators
Growing
- Gardening skill: Beginner
- Flowering group: 3
- Pollinating others: Average
- Ploidy: Diploid
- Vigour: Average vigour
- Bearing regularity: Regular
- Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
- Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
Climate
- Climate suitability: Temperate climates
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
- Cold hardiness (RHS): H6 (to -20C)
Other qualities
- Disease resistance: Average
- Canker: Some resistance
- Scab (Apple and Pear): Some resistance
Where to buy trees
The following tree nurseries offer Christmas Pippin apple trees for sale:
- Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK) United Kingdom
Christmas Pippin apple trees
Where to buy fresh fruit
No orchards have registered as growing this variety. If you grow this and want to register please go to our Orchard Registration form.