Aunt's Apple
Apple
Aunt's Apple
Origin / History
Origin unknown (Downing). Coxe (1817) calls it "a beautiful and large apple," extensively cultivated in several of the Eastern counties of Pennsylvania.
Tree
Small, growth delicate, fruitfulness great (Coxe).
Fruit
Size: Large (Coxe); medium to large (Elliott).
Form: Oblong, resembling the Priestly in shape (Coxe); ovate flattened (Elliott).
Stem: Short, stout.
Cavity: Open, broad, russeted.
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Finely folded.
Skin: Smooth (Coxe). Light yellow ground, streaked with lively red, the red radiating from the stem (Elliott); the yellow mostly covered and streaked with lively red (Downing). Handsome in appearance.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Yellow, breaking, juicy. Flavor agreeable, "but not rich" (Coxe); subacid, with a musky perfume (Elliott). Quality "very good" (Elliott).
Core and seeds: Core medium.
Season
Ripens in November (Coxe); November to January (Elliott).
Uses
A valuable market fruit from 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.
— 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.
— 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.)