Superb
AppleSuperb
Origin/History
Originated in Franklin County, North Carolina.
Tree
Tolerably vigorous and a prodigious bearer. Downing additionally describes the tree as spreading.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium or above; roundish oblate, regular.
Stem: Of medium length.
Cavity: Shallow.
Calyx: Large and open.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Green, rarely with a blush.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellow, solid, slightly coarse-grained, and rich. The two sources diverge on flavor character: Downing describes the flesh as subacid and rates the quality Good to very good; Elliott describes it as particularly high-flavored but does not apply the subacid characterization or a quality rating.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
November to March.
Uses
Not described in source.
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)Superb.
Origin, Franklin Co., N. C. Tree tolerably vigorous, spreading, and a prodigious bearer.
Fruit medium or above, roundish oblate, regular. Skin green, rarely with a blush. Stalk of medium length, in a shallow cavity. Calyx large and open. Flesh yellow, solid, slightly coarse-grained, rich, subacid. Good to very good. November to March.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Superb.
Origin, Franklin Co., North Carolina. Tree, tolerably vigorous, and a prodigious bearer. Fruit, medium or above, roundish oblate, regular; skin, green, rarely with a blush; stalk, of medium length, in a shallow cavity; calyx, large and open; flesh, yellow, solid, slightly coarse-grained, rich, and particularly high-flavored. November to March.