Red Winter Pearmain
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Origin and History
Origin uncertain. An old variety, widely diffused through the South and West, where its good qualities made it many admirers (Warder). Beach (1905) notes that Red Winter Pearmain was not accepted by pomologists as the correct name of any apple, but was recognized as a synonym for several different varieties. Citing Ragan's corrections, Beach identifies the name as applied to Buncombe (per Downing, 1857 and 1869), Long Red (per Elliott, 1854:141), Milam (per Illinois Horticultural Society Report, 1870), and Westfield Seek-No-Further (per Elliott, 1854:115). The descriptions from Warder, Downing, and Thomas most closely align with Buncombe.
Tree
Upright growth of moderate vigor. A regular and productive annual bearer. Young shoots clear rich reddish brown, slightly downy (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Medium to large (Warder); medium (Downing, Thomas).
Form: Roundish oblong conic (Downing) or oblong conical (Thomas); Warder describes it simply as conic, regular.
Stem: Warder describes the stem as medium length, thick, and knobby. Downing describes it as very short. Thomas describes it as short. The stem is set in an acute, deep cavity. Warder adds that the cavity is regular and green; Downing notes it is slightly russeted; Thomas describes it as narrow.
Calyx and Basin: Warder describes the eye as long or large and open, set in a regular basin that is plaited or folded. Downing describes the calyx as closed, set in a small, round, open basin. Thomas describes the basin as small.
Skin: Smooth. Deep red, almost purplish on yellow, with stripes nearly lost in the depth of coloring and whitish shading exteriorly; no bloom (Warder). Downing describes the ground color as yellowish white, mostly shaded with maroon. Thomas describes it as dark purplish red on yellow. Dots numerous; Warder describes them as minute, while Downing describes them as large and light, thickly sprinkled across the surface. Thomas describes numerous whitish dots.
Flesh and Flavor: Tender and juicy. Warder describes the flesh color as yellow with a breaking texture; Downing as whitish yellow; Thomas as whitish. Flavor mild subacid, almost sweet or nearly sweet. Warder adds "rich, satisfying." Downing and Thomas note a slight aromatic quality. Quality good (Warder); good to very good (Downing).
Core and Seeds: Core medium, closed, clasping. Seeds numerous, large, plump (Warder).
Season
December and January (Warder); January to March (Downing); mid-winter (Thomas).
Uses
Table and kitchen (Warder).
Subtypes and Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Red Winter Pearmain.
RED GILLIFLOWER — RED LADY FINGER — BUNCOMBE? ETC.
This favorite southern apple is widely diffused through the South and West, and its good qualities have made it many admirers. Origin uncertain.
Tree sufficiently vigorous, upright, productive, annual bearer.
Fruit medium to large, conic, regular; Surface smooth, deep red, almost purplish on yellow, stripes nearly lost in the depth of coloring, whitish shading exteriorly, not a bloom; Dots numerous, minute.
Basin regular, plaited or folded; Eye long or large, open.
Cavity acute, regular, green; Stem medium length, thick, knobby.
Core medium, closed, clasping; Seeds numerous, large, plump; Flesh yellow, breaking, juicy; Flavor mild sub-acid, almost sweet, rich, satisfying; Quality good; Use, table and kitchen; Season, December and January.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Red Winter Pearmain.
Red Lady Finger. Bunkum. Robertson's Pearmain. Jackson's Red. Buncombe. Red Fall Pippin. Red Vandevere. Meig's. Batchelor. Tinson's Red. Southern Fall Pippin. Powers.
Origin unknown. An old variety. Tree of moderate upright growth; a regular bearer. Young shoots clear rich reddish brown, slightly downy.
Fruit medium size, roundish oblong conic, yellowish white, mostly shaded with maroon and thickly sprinkled with large light dots. Stalk very short, in an acute deep cavity, slightly russeted. Calyx closed, set in a small, round, open basin. Flesh whitish yellow, tender, juicy, mild subacid, or nearly sweet, slightly aromatic. Good to very good. January to March.
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 1 (1905)RED WINTER PEARMAIN.
References. 1. Elliott, 1854:141. fig. 2. Elliott, 1854:115. fig. 3. Downing, 1857:182. 4. Downing, 1869:329. fig. 5. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1870. 6. Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul. 56:256. 1905.
Red Winter Pearmain is not now accepted by pomologists as the correct name of any apple but it is recognized as a synonym for several different varieties. The following is a list of synonyms as corrected by Ragan (6).
Red Winter Pearmain (3, 4). Synonym of Buncombe. Red Winter Pearmain (1). Synonym of Long Red. Red Winter Pearmain (5). Synonym of Milam. Red Winter Pearmain (2). Synonym of Westfield Seek-No-Further.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Red Winter Pearmain. (Red Lady Finger, Meigs, Red Fall Pippin, and Red Vandevere of Tennessee.) Size medium, oblong conical; dark purplish red on yellow, with numerous whitish dots; stalk short, cavity narrow; basin small; flesh whitish, very tender and juicy, with a mild, slightly sub-acid, slightly aromatic flavor. Mid-winter. Growth moderate, upright; a regular bearer.