Sweet Bellflower
Apple
Sweet Bellflower
Origin / History
Supposed by Warder (1867) to have originated in the neighborhood of Dayton, Ohio, and cultivated chiefly in the adjacent regions; when found elsewhere, traceable to this source. Downing (1900) gives the origin as unknown. Elliott (1865) states that two apples are cultivated in Southern Ohio under this name, and gives the description of Mr. Ernst. Elliott and Downing both record the name "Butter, of some." Warder rates it "Not equal to Broadwell."
Tree
Tree vigorous, spreading (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Large; above medium (Downing).
Form: Globular, roundish oblate, or roundish oblong, flattened at base, slightly ribbed; angular (Warder).
Stem: Long, slender; rather long (Downing).
Cavity: Deep (Elliott); acute, wavy, green (Warder).
Calyx: Closed. Eye small; segments long, reflexed (Warder).
Basin: Ribbed (Elliott); medium, folded (Warder).
Skin: Lemon yellow, greenish yellow, becoming creamy yellow. Surface uneven (Warder). Slight blush in the sun (Elliott, Downing); Warder says very rarely blushed or bronzed.
Dots: Numerous light and dark specks (Elliott); a few, brown (Downing); minute, indented, surrounded by green in the unripe fruit (Warder).
Flesh and flavor: Flesh whitish yellow, white, or yellowish white; fine-grained (Warder); breaking, juicy; tender (Downing). Flavor sweet, very sweet (Warder), aromatic (Downing); slightly subacid (Elliott). Quality "good to very good" (Warder); "Good" (Downing).
Core and seeds: Core open; regular, roundish, meeting the eye (Warder). Seeds small (Elliott); numerous, plump, angular, imperfect (Warder).
Season
October to December. Elliott and Downing give October, November; Warder gives December.
Uses
Baking, table (Warder).
Subtypes / Variants
Two apples are cultivated in Southern Ohio under the name Sweet Bellflower (Elliott).
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
USDA Nomenclature (1905)
From W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Apple, USDA Bulletin No. 56
Authors' descriptions differ.
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (3)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Sweet Bellflower. Butter, of some. There are two apples cultivated in Southern Ohio under this name. We append Mr. Ernst's descriptions. Fruit, large, globular, flattened at base, slightly ribbed; lemon yellow, slight blush in sun, numerous light and dark specks; calyx, closed; basin, ribbed; stem, long, slender; cavity, deep; core, open; seeds, small; flesh, whitish yellow, breaking, juicy, slightly sub-acid. October, November.
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Sweet Bellflower.
This apple is supposed to have originated in the neighborhood of Dayton, Ohio, and is cultivated chiefly in the adjacent regions, and when found elsewhere is traceable to this source.
Fruit large, roundish oblong, angular; Surface uneven, greenish yellow, becoming creamy yellow, very rarely blushed or bronzed; Dots minute, indented, surrounded by green in the unripe fruit.
Basin medium, folded; Eye small, closed; Segments long, reflexed.
Cavity acute, wavy, green; Stem long, slender.
Core regular, roundish, open, meeting the eye; Seeds numerous, plump, angular, imperfect; Flesh white, fine-grained, breaking, juicy; Flavor very sweet; Quality good to very good; Use, baking, table; Season, December.
Not equal to Broadwell.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Sweet Bellflower.
Sweet Butter ? Butter of some.
Of unknown origin. Tree vigorous, spreading.
Fruit above medium, roundish oblate, slightly ribbed, greenish yellow, with a few brown dots, slight blush in the sun. Stalk rather long, slender. Calyx closed. Flesh yellowish white, tender, aromatic, sweet. Good. October, November.