Sweet Pippin
Apple
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Sweet Pippin
Origin/History
An old variety, described by Coxe as early as 1817. Elliott lists it under the synonyms Moore's Sweetening, Red Sweet Pippin of Indiana, and Pound Sweet (in some localities), and notes it as a western variety. Downing confirms its long-standing presence in American pomological literature.
Tree
The tree is notably productive, bearing abundantly (Coxe; Downing). No further tree details are described in any source.
Fruit
Size: Sources disagree slightly: Coxe describes the fruit as large; Elliott as medium to large; Downing as medium.
Form: Flat and roundish oblate to oblate. Coxe notes that in horizontal cross-section the shape is rather elliptical than circular. Elliott describes it as round and flattened; Downing as roundish oblate or oblate — all sources are consistent on the strongly flattened character.
Stem: Short (all three sources). Coxe adds that it is deeply planted.
Cavity: Large (Coxe); deep (Elliott).
Calyx: Closed (Elliott). Coxe describes the crown as much sunk.
Basin: Broad (Elliott).
Skin: The ground color is yellowish, striped and mostly covered with red, with a white bloom (Elliott). Downing describes it as yellowish with red in the sun. Coxe describes the color as a brownish red with a small portion of greenish yellow, noting a resemblance in appearance to the grey-house apple.
Core: Small (Elliott).
Flesh/Flavor: Firm (all three sources). On moisture, Coxe and Elliott agree the flesh is rather dry; Downing describes it as moderately juicy. The flavor is sweet throughout all accounts. Coxe judges it deficient in flavor beyond the sweetness; Downing rates it Good. Elliott concurs on sweetness and notes it is good for baking.
Season
November–December (Downing); December to February (Elliott).
Uses
Good for baking (Elliott). The tree's abundant bearing makes it productive for general use.
Subtypes/Variants
Elliott notes a distinct Sweet Pippin grown in South Ohio that differs substantially from the standard form: the fruit is globular (not flattened), pale green, with tender and juicy flesh of open texture, and ripens in Early Winter. Elliott presents this as a separate strain under the same name rather than the same variety.
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
Probably distinct from Moore Sweet.
View original book sources (3)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)NO. 70. SWEET PIPPIN.
Is a large fair flat apple; its shape horizontally is rather elliptick than circular: the colour is a brownish red, with a mixture of a small portion of greenish yellow, somewhat resembling in appearance the grey-house—the stalk is short and deeply planted in a large cavity—the crown is much sunk; the flesh firm and solid—it is a sweet apple, rather dry, and deficient in flavour—the tree bears abundantly.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Sweet Pippin.
An old variety. Tree productive.
Fruit medium, roundish oblate or oblate, yellowish, with red in the sun. Stalk short. Flesh firm, moderately juicy, sweet. Good. November, December.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Sweet Pippin. Moore's Sweeteing. | Red Sweet Pippin, of Indiana. | Pound Sweet, of some. West. Fruit, medium to large, round, flattened ; yellow striped and mostly covered with red, white bloom ; stem, short ; cavity, deep ; calyx, closed ; basin, broad ; core, small ; flesh, firm, rather dry, sweet, good baking. December to February. There is also a Sweet Pippin grown in South Ohio, which is globular, pale green, tender, juicy, open texture, sweet. Early Winter.