London Pippin
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
London Pippin
Origin/History
A very old English apple, known under the alternate names Five-Crowned Pippin, New London Pippin, and Royal Somerset. Mostly valued for cooking or drying. Much cultivated in Northern Virginia, where its large size and handsome appearance made it a strong seller in the Washington market.
Tree
A moderate grower, productive.
Fruit
Size: Large, or very large.
Form: Roundish, slightly flattened at the base. Downing describes it as slightly conical; Thomas as obtuse-conical.
Stem: Very short (Thomas).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Conflicting accounts. Downing describes the calyx as small and closed. Thomas describes it as large, set in a smooth, even basin.
Basin: Smooth and even (Thomas).
Skin: Downing describes the color as yellow with a tinge of red in the sun. Thomas describes it as greenish yellow.
Flesh/Flavor: White (Downing), rather firm (Downing). Subacid. Quality rated "Good" by Downing; "good second-rate flavor" by Thomas.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Downing gives November to February. Thomas gives early winter.
Uses
Cooking, drying; marketed fresh on account of large size and handsome appearance.
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)London Pippin. Five-Crowned Pippin. New London Pippin. Royal Somerset A very old English Apple, mostly valued for cooking or drying. Tree a moderate grower, productive. Fruit large, roundish, slightly conical, flattened at base, yellow, with a tinge of red in the sun. Calyx small, closed. Flesh white, rather firm, subacid. Good. November to February.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)London Pippin. Large or very large, roundish, slightly flattened, obtuse-conical; greenish yellow; stalk very short; calyx large, in a smooth even basin; flesh sub-acid, of a good second-rate flavor. Early winter. Much cultivated in Northern Virginia; and from its large size and handsome appearance sells well in the Washington market. Productive.