Grimes' Golden Pippin
Apple
Grimes' Golden Pippin
Origin/History
Originated many years since on the farm of Thomas Grimes, Brooke County, Virginia. In its native locality the variety is highly prized for the peculiar hardihood of the tree, which withstands the most severe winters uninjured and never breaks in its limbs, as well as for its uniform regular annual productiveness.
Tree
Vigorous, hardy, upright spreading, very productive. Branches characterized by peculiar knobs at the base of each, connecting them with the main limbs. Young wood dark dull red brown, grayish.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: The two sources conflict on form. Downing describes the fruit as roundish oblate, slightly conical; Elliott describes it as oblong flattened.
Stem: Rather short and slender.
Cavity: Rather deep, sometimes slightly russeted.
Calyx: Closed, or partially open.
Basin: Abrupt, uneven.
Skin: Uneven. Color rich golden yellow, sprinkled moderately with small gray and bright dots.
Flesh/Flavor: The two sources conflict slightly on flesh color. Downing describes the flesh as yellow; Elliott as yellowish white. Both agree it is subacid. Downing further characterizes the flesh as compact, crisp, tender, juicy, rich, sprightly, and spicy, with a peculiar aroma. Quality rated very good to best.
Core/Seeds: Core rather small.
Season
December to March.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Grimes' Golden Pippin.
Grimes Golden.
This valuable Apple originated many years since, on the farm of Thomas Grimes, Brooke Co., Va. In its native locality it is highly prized for the peculiar hardihood of the tree, withstanding uninjured the most severe winters, and never breaking in its limbs. Also for its uniform regular annual productiveness.
Grimes' Golden Pippin.
Tree vigorous, hardy, upright spreading, very productive, branches with peculiar knobs at the base of each, connecting it with the main limbs. Young wood dark dull red brown, grayish.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate, slightly conical. Skin uneven. Color rich golden yellow, sprinkled moderately with small gray and bright dots. Stalk rather short and slender. Cavity rather deep, sometimes slightly russeted. Calyx closed, or partially open. Basin abrupt, uneven. Flesh yellow, compact, crisp, tender, juicy, rich, sprightly, spicy subacid, peculiar aroma. Core rather small. Very good to best. December to March.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Grimes' Golden Pippin.
From Brooke Co., Va. Fruit, medium, oblong flattened, golden yellow; flesh, yellowish white, sub-acid; "very good." December to March.