WINTER QUEENING

Apple

WINTER QUEENING

Origin/History

Bunyard (1920) identifies WINTER QUEENING as an old Sussex variety, probably of great antiquity, citing Herefordshire Pomona, p. 14, as a primary reference. Elliott (1865) describes the variety as American. These attributions conflict — Elliott lists it as American while Bunyard places its origin firmly in Sussex, England; both attributions are recorded here as given.

Bunyard adds a note on nomenclature: the Sussex Duck's Bill is usually quoted as synonymous with WINTER QUEENING, but he believes the two are in fact distinct varieties.

Tree

Growth vigorous; fertile. (Bunyard)

Leaf rather small, greyish, upfolded, twisted, shallow serrate or crenate. (Bunyard)

Fruit

Size

Medium. Both sources agree on this. Bunyard gives dimensions of 2½ inches wide by 3 inches tall.

Form

Conical. Both sources agree.

Stem

Moderate length, set in a rather narrow, wrinkled cavity. (Bunyard)

Cavity

Rather narrow, wrinkled. (Bunyard)

Calyx

Open. (Bunyard)

Basin

Shallow, much wrinkled and lined. (Bunyard)

Skin

Elliott describes the color as crimson and pale red. Bunyard describes the ground color as yellow, nearly covered with dull red stripes and flush.

Flesh/Flavor

Flesh yellowish (Elliott) / firm and yellow (Bunyard). Sub-acid. Both sources agree on the sub-acid character.

Core/Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

Elliott gives December. Bunyard states the fruit is suitable for dessert or culinary use until March, implying harvest in late autumn with a long keeping season extending through winter into early spring.

Uses

Dessert or culinary. (Bunyard)

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)
Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Winter Queen

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 5 catalogs (1900–1917) from England

George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900 — listed as Winter Queening, or Sussex Duck's Bill
James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917

View original book sources (2)

Winter Queen. Winter Queening. American. Medium, conical, crimson and pale red ; flesh, yellowish, sub-acid. December.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

WINTER QUEENING. Her. Pom., p. 14. Dessert or culinary, till March, medium, 2½ by 3, conical. Colour, yellow, nearly covered with dull red stripes and flush. Flesh, firm, yellow, sub-acid. Eye, open, in a shallow, much wrinkled and lined basin. Stem, moderate length, in a rather narrow wrinkled cavity. Growth, vigorous; fertile. Leaf, rather small, greyish, upfolded, twisted, shallow serrate or crenate. Origin, an old Sussex variety, probably of great antiquity. I fancy the Sussex Duck's Bill, usually quoted as synonymous with this variety is really distinct.

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

Sussex Duck's Bill Winter Queen