Aunt's Apple
AppleAunt's Apple
Origin/History
Origin unknown. Extensively cultivated in several of the Eastern counties of Pennsylvania as of 1817, when Coxe described it. Coxe noted its handsome appearance made it a valuable market fruit.
Tree
Small, with delicate growth habit. Very productive (Coxe, Downing).
Fruit
Size: Large (Coxe; Downing). Elliott describes it as medium to large.
Form: Oblong (Coxe; Downing). Elliott describes the shape differently, as ovate flattened — a conflict across sources. Coxe notes a resemblance to the Priestly apple in shape.
Stem: Short and stout (Elliott).
Cavity: Open, broad, russeted (Elliott).
Calyx: Closed (Elliott).
Basin: Finely folded (Elliott).
Skin: Smooth (Coxe). Yellow ground, streaked with a lively red (Coxe; Downing). Coxe and Downing describe the red as streaking on a yellow ground; Downing specifies the fruit is mostly covered with this red streaking. Elliott describes it as light yellow, streaked with red radiating from the stem — suggesting a somewhat lighter overall impression than Downing's "mostly covered."
Flesh/Flavor: Yellow, breaking, juicy (all three sources agree). Coxe and Downing describe the flavor as agreeable but not rich. Elliott characterizes the flavor as sub-acid with a musky perfume, rating it "very good."
Core/Seeds: Core medium (Elliott).
Season
November (Coxe; Downing). Elliott extends the season through January, suggesting good keeping quality.
Uses
Valued as a market fruit, on account of its handsome appearance (Coxe).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 59. AUNTS APPLE.
This is a beautiful and large apple, of an oblong make, resembling the Priestly in shape—the skin smooth, streaked with a lively red, on a yellow ground : the flesh is yellow, breaking, and juicy; of an agreeable flavour, but not rich—it ripens in November, and from its handsome appearance, is a valuable market fruit: the tree is small, the growth delicate, and its fruitfulness great. It is extensively cultivated in several of the Eastern counties of Pennsylvania.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Aunt's Apple.
Origin unknown. Tree small, delicate, very productive. Fruit large, oblong, yellow, mostly covered and streaked with a lively red. Flesh yellow, breaking, juicy, not rich. November. (Coxe.)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Aunt's Apple. Fruit, medium to large, ovate flattened, light yellow, streaked with red, radiating from stem, which is short, stout ; cavity, open, broad, russeted : calyx, closed; basin, finely folded; flesh, yellow, breaking, sub-acid, musky perfume, juicy ; "very good;" core, medium. November to January.