Heritage Apples

 

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How you can help save heritage apples

Explore our apple-growing heritage

Discover the fascinating history of apples with the Royal Horticultural Society

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Heritage apples
Heritage apples

Over the centuries ‘pomologists’ (fruit experts) studied and developed an enormous range of apples. The Victorians in particular loved apples and discussed them like fine wines, perfecting apples for cooking and eating in different ways at different times of the year.

Each region had its own distinctive apples. Sadly over the decades many varieties have gone out of cultivation and become extinct. However there still are ways that you can discover, enjoy and protect this rich heritage.
 

Visit an orchard at one of our gardens
At the Hyde Hall's heritage apple orchard you can see Essex varieties such as ‘Chelmsford Wonder’ and ‘Braintree Seedling’ apples.   

Hyde Hall

At the Hyde Hall's heritage apple orchard you can see Essex varieties such as ‘Chelmsford Wonder’ and ‘Braintree Seedling’ apples. 
 

Visit Hyde Hall

A number of old-fashioned apples thrive in Harlow Carr’s Kitchen Garden. Varieties like Red Falstaff grow well on cordons and espaliers  

Harlow Carr

A number of old-fashioned apples thrive in Harlow Carr’s Kitchen Garden. Varieties like Red Falstaff grow well on cordons and espaliers
 

Visit Harlow Carr

Our largest orchard, today the Wisley Orchard holds around 700 apple cultivars. Many of the beautifully trained apple trees were planted in the 1950s and are grouped into eating and cooking apples, arranged according to their season of ripening. There are collections of cider apples and disease-resistant apple cultivars – these are managed organically and interplanted with cornfield annuals to attract beneficial insects.  

Wisley

Our largest orchard, today the Wisley Orchard holds around 700 apple cultivars. Many of the beautifully trained apple trees were planted in the 1950s and are grouped into eating and cooking apples, arranged according to their season of ripening. There are collections of cider apples and disease-resistant apple cultivars – these are managed organically and interplanted with cornfield annuals to attract beneficial insects.
 

Visit Wisley

RHS Garden Rosemoor has an exciting new orchard of heritage Devon apples, incorporating a mix of eaters, cookers and cider apples. 45 apples will be planted initially, with more cultivars added over time. Many of the apples are not in any other collections and are listed as threatened in cultivation. Cultivars include ‘Poltimore Seedling’, which originated in Honiton, sweet dessert apple ‘Devon Crimson Queen’ and ‘Totnes Apple', which keeps well.  

Rosemoor

RHS Garden Rosemoor has an exciting new orchard of heritage Devon apples, incorporating a mix of eaters, cookers and cider apples. 45 apples will be planted initially, with more cultivars added over time. Many of the apples are not in any other collections and are listed as threatened in cultivation. Cultivars include ‘Poltimore Seedling’, which originated in Honiton, sweet dessert apple ‘Devon Crimson Queen’ and ‘Totnes Apple', which keeps well.
 

Visit Rosemoor

At the Hyde Hall's heritage apple orchard you can see Essex varieties such as ‘Chelmsford Wonder’ and ‘Braintree Seedling’ apples.   

Hyde Hall

At the Hyde Hall's heritage apple orchard you can see Essex varieties such as ‘Chelmsford Wonder’ and ‘Braintree Seedling’ apples. 
 

Visit Hyde Hall

A number of old-fashioned apples thrive in Harlow Carr’s Kitchen Garden. Varieties like Red Falstaff grow well on cordons and espaliers  

Harlow Carr

A number of old-fashioned apples thrive in Harlow Carr’s Kitchen Garden. Varieties like Red Falstaff grow well on cordons and espaliers
 

Visit Harlow Carr

Our largest orchard, today the Wisley Orchard holds around 700 apple cultivars. Many of the beautifully trained apple trees were planted in the 1950s and are grouped into eating and cooking apples, arranged according to their season of ripening. There are collections of cider apples and disease-resistant apple cultivars – these are managed organically and interplanted with cornfield annuals to attract beneficial insects.  

Wisley

Our largest orchard, today the Wisley Orchard holds around 700 apple cultivars. Many of the beautifully trained apple trees were planted in the 1950s and are grouped into eating and cooking apples, arranged according to their season of ripening. There are collections of cider apples and disease-resistant apple cultivars – these are managed organically and interplanted with cornfield annuals to attract beneficial insects.
 

Visit Wisley

RHS Garden Rosemoor has an exciting new orchard of heritage Devon apples, incorporating a mix of eaters, cookers and cider apples. 45 apples will be planted initially, with more cultivars added over time. Many of the apples are not in any other collections and are listed as threatened in cultivation. Cultivars include ‘Poltimore Seedling’, which originated in Honiton, sweet dessert apple ‘Devon Crimson Queen’ and ‘Totnes Apple', which keeps well.  

Rosemoor

RHS Garden Rosemoor has an exciting new orchard of heritage Devon apples, incorporating a mix of eaters, cookers and cider apples. 45 apples will be planted initially, with more cultivars added over time. Many of the apples are not in any other collections and are listed as threatened in cultivation. Cultivars include ‘Poltimore Seedling’, which originated in Honiton, sweet dessert apple ‘Devon Crimson Queen’ and ‘Totnes Apple', which keeps well.
 

Visit Rosemoor

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Grow heritage apples

Why restrict yourself to eating the same old supermarket apples when you can grow something more unusual? There are apple trees to suit all types of garden and with a bit of research you can find a variety that has a strong connection to your local area or dates back hundreds of years. Just because a variety is old, it does not have to be hard to grow. Some old varieties like ‘Ashmead’s Kernel’ (1700) or ‘Dummellor’s Seedling’ (1819) have the RHS Award of Garden Merit – so you know they are plants that perform. You will be helping to make sure that your chosen variety survives for future generations to enjoy.

Image: Apple varieties from ‘Pyrus malus Brentfordiensis’, 1831

  Advice on heritage apples

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Taste and buy heritage apples

Community orchards often run open days where you can try a wide variety of apples. Your local farmers' market may feature an apple supplier or stall selling locally-produced apple juice or cider. By seeking out and buying local varieties, you help to create demand that keeps suppliers growing them. Don’t forget to check out our RHS events calendars for apple tasting opportunities like RHS Garden Wisley’s famous Taste of Autumn event.

  Apple events

Further reading

Browse all our apple advice

Browse all our apple advice »

Why are heritage apples important?

Why are heritage apples important? »

Learn more at our libraries

Learn more at our libraries »

See our historical apple paintings

See our historical apple paintings »

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.