Lancaster Greening

Origin/History

Originated in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Known under the synonym Lancaster Pippin (Downing) and abbreviated to Lancaster (Elliott).

Tree

Hardy, vigorous, and spreading in habit. Young wood is smooth and reddish brown. Buds are prominent and flattened. Elliott notes the tree is productive.

Fruit

Size and Form

Medium in size. Downing describes the shape as roundish oblate, approaching conic; Elliott describes it as roundish conical. Both sources agree on a generally roundish form with a conic tendency.

Stem

Slender (Downing). Short (Elliott).

Cavity

Deep; sometimes russeted (Downing). Deep (Elliott).

Calyx

Small, closed (Downing). Small (Elliott).

Basin

Very shallow, corrugated (Downing). Not described in source (Elliott).

Skin

Color is greenish, becoming quite yellow when fully mature, with an occasional blush of crimson in the sun, and pretty thickly sprinkled with russet and crimson dots and patches of russet (Downing). Elliott describes the color as greenish yellow with brown dots and blotches.

Flesh and Flavor

Yellowish, compact, moderately juicy, pleasant, mild subacid. Very good (Downing). Elliott describes the flesh as greenish white, juicy, and subacid.

Core and Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

December to May (Downing). Elliott notes it keeps until April.

Uses

Highly valued as a long keeper (Downing).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.