Rosemary Russet

Apple

Rosemary Russet

Origin / History

An old apple of unknown origin, first recorded by Ronalds in 1831 (Bunyard cites "Ronalds, P., 16"; Downing describes it as "an old Apple described by Ronalds").

Tree

Growth moderate; fertility moderate. Leaf rather large, light, held flat, boldly curved serrate. (Bunyard.)

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium in size (Downing, Veitch); small to medium (Bunyard), measuring approximately 2½ inches by 2 inches. Form round conical (Downing: "roundish conical"), flattened at base, regular (Bunyard).

Stem: Unusually long, set in a wide cavity (Bunyard).

Cavity: Wide (Bunyard).

Calyx / Eye: A little open (Bunyard).

Basin: Small and even (Bunyard).

Skin: Sources differ on color. Downing describes the skin as greenish with a little red russet. Bunyard describes it as yellowish-green with a slight red flush, covered with light russet. Veitch describes it as golden-yellow, shaded with dark red on the sides and the base — a notably different characterization, with no mention of russet.

Flesh and Flavor: Firm, yellowish, rich (Downing); crisp, yellow, very rich and brisk (Bunyard); firm (Veitch).

Season

December to February (all three sources agree).

Uses

Good for table or kitchen use (Downing). A dessert apple (Bunyard, Veitch). Bunyard rates it highly as a late-season variety: "Quite the best of late winter apples."

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 6 catalogs (1900–1917) from England, Illinois

George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 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
Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917

View original book sources (3)

ROSEMARY.

Rosemary Russet.

An old Apple described by Ronalds as of medium size, roundish conical, greenish, with a little red russet. Flesh firm, yellowish, rich, and good for table or kitchen use. December, February.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

ROSEMARY RUSSET. Ronalds, P., 16. Dessert, till February, small to medium, 2½ by 2, round conical, flattened at base, regular. Colour, yellowish-green with slight red flush, covered with light russet. Flesh, crisp, yellow, very rich and brisk. Eye, a little open, in a small even basin. Stem, unusually long, in a wide cavity. Growth, moderate; fertility, moderate. Leaf, rather large, light, held flat, boldly curved serrate. Origin, unknown; first recorded by Ronalds, in 1831. Quite the best of late winter apples.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

medium size, golden-yellow, shaded with dark red on the sides and the base, flesh firm. Dec. to Feb.

— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)