King of the Pippins
AppleKing of the Pippins
Origin / History
The variety is generally attributed to England, though Bunyard notes that the history of this apple and the Reine des Reinettes of France "is a tangle which I have not yet been able to unravel." The name "King of the Pippins" was given by Kirke early in the nineteenth century. Bunyard identifies this as the Golden Winter Pearmain of Hogg, noting that the original King was an earlier fruit; it cannot be the King apple of Rea (as Hogg suggests), as that variety ripens at the end of June. Elliott notes the variety is often grown in the western United States under the name "Gravenstein." Downing characterizes it as an English fruit.
Tree
Growth moderate, upright (Bunyard). Leaf rather small, slightly upfolded, finely serrate (Bunyard).
Fruit
Size: Medium (Elliott, Downing, Bunyard); Veitch describes it as "medium size, very handsome."
Form: Roundish oblate (Elliott, Downing); Bunyard describes it as round, oblong.
Stem / Cavity: Stem moderately long, set in an even russet cavity (Bunyard).
Calyx / Basin: Eye open, in a shallow even basin (Bunyard).
Skin / Color: Sources describe the coloring somewhat differently. Elliott: yellow and red, splashed. Downing: pale yellow, washed and striped with red. Bunyard: golden yellow, shaded reddish-brown. Veitch: golden-yellow with patches of red and gold.
Flesh / Flavor: Sources differ markedly on flesh and flavor. Elliott describes the flesh as white, slightly sweet, "not agreeable." Downing describes it as very firm, sharp subacid, and rates the quality as "Good," but characterizes it overall as "an English fruit of poor quality." Bunyard describes the flesh as creamy-yellow, firm, juicy, with a distinct slightly bitter flavor. Veitch describes it as crisp, tender, and juicy, and calls the variety "a great favourite." Bunyard classes it as a dessert apple.
Core / Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October to November (Elliott, Downing). Bunyard gives the dessert season as October to December.
Uses
Dessert (Bunyard).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Bunyard cites Herefordshire Pomona, plate 14, and gives the French name as Reinette d'Orée and the German name as Winter Gold Parmane, with "Shropshire Pippin" noted parenthetically. Elliott additionally lists "Hampshire Yellow," as does Downing.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 7 catalogs (1897–1917) from England
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (4)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)King of the Pippins. Hampshire Yellow. Often grown West as Gravenstein. Medium, roundish oblate, yellow and red splashed; flesh, white, slightly sweet, not agreeable. October, November.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)King of the Pippins. Hampshire Yellow. An English fruit of poor quality, medium size, roundish oblate, pale yellow, washed and striped with red. Flesh very firm, sharp subacid. Good. October, November.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)KING OF THE PIPPINS. Her. Pom., 14. F., Reinette d Orée ; G., Winter Gold Parmane. (Shropshire Pippin.) Dessert, October to December, medium, round, oblong, Colour, golden yellow, shaded reddish-brown. Flesh, creamy-yellow, firm, juicy with a distinct slightly bitter flavour. Eye, open, in a shallow even basin. Stem, moderately long in an even russet cavity. Growth, moderate, upright. Leaf, rather small, slightly upfolded, finely serrate. Origin, this apple is generally attributed to England, but the history of this variety and the Reine des Reinettes of France, is a tangle which I have not yet been able to unravel. The name of King of the Pippins was given by Kirke early in the nineteenth century. This is the Golden Winter Pearmain of Hogg, the original King being an earlier fruit. It cannot be the King apple of Rea, as Hogg suggests as this ripens at the end of June.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)medium size, very handsome, golden-yellow with patches of red and gold, flesh crisp, tender and juicy. A great favourite.