Red Belle-Fleur
AppleRed Belle-Fleur
Origin/History
A French variety (Downing). Elliott lists it simply as "Foreign." Downing judges it "scarcely worth cultivation."
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size
Large (all sources).
Form
Oblong conical (all sources). Downing specifies "regular."
Stem
Not described in sources.
Cavity
Not described in sources.
Calyx
Not described in sources.
Basin
Not described in sources.
Skin
Ground color pale greenish yellow (Downing) or greenish yellow (Elliott), nearly covered with red and striped with dark red (Downing) or striped with red (Elliott).
Flesh and Flavor
Flesh white (Elliott, Downing). On texture, sources conflict: Elliott describes it as dry, while Downing calls it tender but apt to become mealy. Flavor tolerably mild (Downing); Thomas rates it of moderate or poor flavor. Downing's overall quality rating: Poor.
Core and Seeds
Not described in sources.
Season
November to January (Elliott, Downing; Thomas gives "Winter").
Uses
Not described in sources beyond the quality assessment of Poor (Downing) and moderate or poor (Thomas).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Belle-Fleur Rouge
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Red Bellflower
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901 — listed as Belle-Fleur Rouge
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913 — listed as Belle-Fleur Rouge
View original book sources (3)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Red Bellflower. Red Belle Fleur, | Belle Fleur, Belle Fleur Rouge, | Striped Belle Fleur, of some. Foreign. Large, oblong conical, greenish yellow, covered and striped with red ; flesh, white, dry. November, January.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Red Belle-Fleur. Belle-Fleur. Striped Belle-Fleur. Belle-Fleur Rouge. Wigwam. A French variety, scarcely worth cultivation. Fruit large, regular, oblong conical, pale greenish yellow, but nearly covered with red, striped with dark red. Flesh white, tender, of tolerably mild flavor, apt to become mealy. Poor. November to January.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Belle-Fleur Rouge, or Red Bellflower. Large, oblong conical, striped; of moderate or poor flavor. Winter.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Red Bellflower", pp. 743–743]
Striped Belle Fleur. See Red Bellflower.