Stirling Castle is a large green/yellow Scottish cooking apple, with a good flavour, raised near the town of Stirling in the 1830s by John Christie.
The variety became quite popular, and was rated by the Victorian writer Hogg as "an excellent early culinary apple, in use in August and September". Hogg also noted the tree to be "an immense bearer" and commented on its similarity to Hawthornden, another popular Scottish culinary apple variety already in use at the time. It is possible that Stirling Castle is related to Hawthornden.
It remains a popular garden apple variety in the UK and tolerates damp climates.
Stirling Castle apple identification images
All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.
USDA identification images for Stirling Castle
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
- 21 Sep 2012 HERTFORD, United Kingdomwe inherited a stirling castle, planted in 1948, and it still bears prodigiously. benefits from thinning or fruit is small. pick in september and it only keeps for about 6 weeks. a good frothy cooker.
- 01 Jan 2010 United KingdomStarter post
Tree register
United Kingdom
- Andrew Auld in Matlock, DERBYSHIRE
- Christopher Davidson in Badrallach, HIGHLANDS
- Dougas Wilson in Perth,
- Sally in Richmond, NORTH YORKSHIRE
Spring blossom records for this variety
2009 season
- May 2009 - tree owned by Sally in Richmond, United Kingdom
Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.
Origins
- Species: Malus domestica - Apple
- Parentage: Unknown
- Originates from: Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1830s
- UK National Fruit Collection accession: 2000-090
Identification
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Period of origin: 1800 - 1849
- Fruit colour: Green
- Annual cycle: Deciduous
- Flesh colour: White
- Fruit size: Large
- Fruit shape: Round
Using
- Picking season: Mid
- Keeping (of fruit): 2-3 weeks
- Flavour quality: Good
- Flavour style (apples): Sharper
- Cooking result: Puree
- Juice style: Sharper
- Cropping: Heavy
- Food uses: Culinary
- Food uses: Traditional cooker
- Picking month: September
- Picking period: mid-September
- Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators
Growing
- Gardening skill: Beginner
- Flowering group: 2
- Pollinating others: Average
- Ploidy: Diploid
- Vigour: Slightly small
- Bearing regularity: Regular
- Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
- Attractive features: Attractive flowers
- Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
- Growth habit: Upright-spreading / Vase
Climate
- Climate suitability: Temperate climates
- Climate suitability: Mild damp climates
- Cold-hardiness: Cold-hardy
- Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
Other qualities
- Disease resistance: Good
- Scab (Apple and Pear): Very resistant
- Powdery mildew: Some susceptibility
Where to buy trees
The following tree nurseries offer Stirling Castle apple trees for sale:
- Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (UK) United Kingdom
Stirling Castle 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.
References
- Apples of England (1948)
Author: Taylor