Winter Queen

Origin/History

Winter Queen is a variety of southern origin with many synonyms, noted by Coxe as early as 1817 and later recorded by Warder (1867) as a favorite in that region. Warder cites Coxe as his authority for the variety name and lists it under the alternate names Fall Queen, Kentucky Queen, and Robertson's Superb (of Georgia).

Tree

Both sources describe an upright growth habit. Coxe characterizes the tree as tall, shooting out straight limbs. Warder adds that the tree is thrifty, productive, and an early bearer, with limbs that are long and parallel while young. Shoots are dark and stout. Foliage is large, broad, and rather pale. Both sources agree the tree is an abundant or productive bearer.

Fruit

Size

Warder describes the fruit as large, often very large. Coxe places it above the middling size.

Form

The two sources conflict on form. Coxe describes the fruit as oblong, diminishing towards the blossom end. Warder, writing fifty years later, describes it as globular-oblate, somewhat conic, and regular. Both descriptions should be considered, as regional strains or selection pressure may account for the discrepancy.

Stem

Stem medium (Warder). Not described by Coxe.

Cavity

Deep, wide, green, wavy or regular (Warder). Not described by Coxe.

Calyx

Eye medium, closed (Warder). Not described by Coxe.

Basin

Deep, abrupt, narrow, often wavy or even ribbed (Warder). Not described by Coxe.

Skin

Both sources agree the surface is smooth. Coxe describes the skin as a lively bright red streaked with yellow. Warder gives a more detailed account: the ground color is yellow, almost wholly obscured with marbled dull red, with darker stripes that are often lost in the depth of tint. A slight bloom often covers the fruit, but it is easily removed, after which the skin appears to be polished. Dots are generally small and indented (Warder).

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh is greenish-white, tender, almost melting, and juicy (Warder). Flavor is mild sub-acid and agreeable, with quality rated good to very good (Warder). Coxe characterizes the taste as pleasant, but qualifies that it lacks the fine flavor of a very good table or cider apple — a somewhat more reserved assessment than Warder's.

Core and Seeds

Core regular, closed, and meeting; does not clasp the eye; the eye axis is sometimes very short (Warder). Seeds large and plump (Warder). Not described by Coxe.

Season

Coxe gives November as the time of ripening. Warder gives the season as October to January, suggesting a moderately long keeping period. The two accounts are compatible if Coxe's November refers to the beginning of the season.

Uses

An excellent apple for drying, for family use, and for market (Warder). Suitable for dessert and kitchen as well as drying (Warder). Coxe notes the flavor is pleasant but not of the highest quality for table or cider use.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Warder notes the variety is a favorite and has many synonyms. The fruit can have a showy appearance; Coxe calls it "a very showy fruit." The polished quality of the skin after the bloom is removed is a distinctive surface characteristic noted by Warder.