Malus domestica 'Golly Knapp' (Cider)

Plants for pollinators
Fruit Edible Trees

A Dorset variety of late season apple, with hard tannins. Pink-white blossom appears in spring, followed by green, orange and yellow fruit in the autumn. Ideal for blending with other varieties to make a bitter-sweet flavoured cider

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
4-8 metres
Max Height
4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright, Spreading branched
Genus
Malus are small to medium-sized deciduous trees with showy flowers in spring and ornamental or edible fruit in autumn; some have good autumn foliage colour
Name Status
Accepted
Horticultural Group
Cider apples are acidic and have a high tannin content, making them suitable for cider production rather than eating fresh

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position. Will not thrive on very acid soils, shallow chalk soils or with shade for more than half the day. Tree height will depend on the rootstock and training method. May require fruit thinning to improve fruit size and quality. See apple cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by chip budding in late summer, or grafting in mid-winter. Plants grown from pips are unlikely to resemble the parent

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Edible fruit

Pruning

Prune according to chosen training method. See apple pruning

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, including rosy apple aphid and woolly aphid, apple sawfly, fruit tree red spider mite, codling moth, apple leaf-mining moth and other caterpillars