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

Nonpareil apple

Nonpareil is one of the oldest of all apple varieties.  The Victorian pomologist Robert Hogg believed it came from France to England in the 16th century, and noted that its aromatic qualities were apparently better appreciated in England than in the land of its birth.  Hogg noted that Nonpareil grew best in the south of England (closest to France), and the flavour was less successful when grown in the north of England.

Nonpareil belongs to a small group of apples which have the flavour of pear-drops.  This flavour component is fairly unusual, but is also found in one of Nonpareil's probable descendants, Ashmead's Kernel.

Visually, Nonpareil's dull russet colouring is not that attractive - the appeal of this apple is its unique strong pear-drop flavour.

Nonpareil identification images

USDA identification images for Nonpareil

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


  • Year: 1902

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

Offspring of this variety


Visitor reviews

  • 24 Dec 2011  OREGON, United States
    I have a tree that was sold to me as a Ross Nonpareil. This tree has never done much as far as growth or cropping, but it produces a few small apples every year. The apples have a tough, rough, russeted skin, flesh like a weak sponge, and modest juice. However, one in five fruits has an ambrosial aftertaste, a combination of honey and pear, that is unlike any other apple. The majority of fruits are very acid with little redeeming value - "spitters". This winter I am heavily liming my orchard, mulching, and fertilizing with potassium, magnesium., sulfur, and nitrogen. We shall see whether this particular tree is happier next season.
  • 01 Feb 2011  ANNAPOLIS, Canada
    We use Non Pareil from the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens (Nova Scotia, Canada) as a key ingredient in sweet cider. We call it the ugly apple. It is not a great eating apple, and does not appear juicy, but has an incredible amount of juice.

Tree register

United States

United Kingdom

Canada

Spring blossom records for this variety

2010 season

  • 15th May  2010  - tree owned by Clare in Congleton, United Kingdom

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


Harvest records for this variety

2010 season

  • 2nd week October  2010  - tree owned by Clare in Congleton, United Kingdom

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Unknown
  • Introduced: 16th century

Using

  • Picking season: Late
  • Cropping: Good
  • Keeping (of fruit): 3 months or more
  • Flavor style (apples): Pear drop
  • Food uses: Eating fresh
  • Food uses: Juice

Growing

  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

Identification

  • Country of origin: France

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Nonpareil:

United Kingdom




References

  • Apples of England (1948)
    Author: Taylor

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