Malus domestica 'Norfolk Royal Russet' (D)

Plants for pollinators
Fruit Edible Trees

A mid-season dessert apple with a russet-textured yellow and red skin with soft but firm and chewy flesh and a rich, sweet, nutty pear-like flavour. The pale, white-green early foliage, white spring blossom and neat habit make this ideal as a garden specimen and for smaller gardens. It is self sterile, pollination group 3, crops in September and stores to December and sometimes even January

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

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

Position

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

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, 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
Dessert apples are sweet and juicy and are best eaten fresh and raw

How to Grow

Cultivation

Prefers a deep, fertile, moist but well-drained, neutral soil in a sheltered, sunny position. Will not thrive on very acid soils, shallow chalk soils or with shade for more than half the day. See apple cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by grafting in midwinter or chip budding in late summer on clonal rootstock for fruit. The rootstock will largely determine the vigour of the tree. Fruit grown from pips will not resemble the parent

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Edible fruit
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Prune according to chosen training method. See apple pruning. Thin fruit in late spring or early summer to improve size and quality. See fruit thinning

Pests

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