This is the classic English apple, often regarded as the finest of all dessert apples. It sets the benchmark for flavor in apples to which all others aspire. The aromatic complexity and depth of flavors in a good Cox's Orange Pippin are remarkable. In our personal experience pear, melon, freshly-squeezed Florida orange juice, and mango are all readily evident in a good example.
Cox's Orange Pippin is a mid/late season variety and is probably at its best if picked when fully ripe, or picked slightly under-ripe and left in storage for a month or so - it is not a long-keeper though.
Although primarily considered a variety for eating fresh, Cox is an excellent apple for juice / cider blends as well. It is also a versatile culinary apple, with an inherently sweet flavor when baked, and is a common ingredient in English apple preserves, chutneys, and mincemeat.
Delivery discounts. Prices are for individual trees excluding delivery. There is no minimum quantity but it is cost effective to order in multiples of 3 trees.
Delivery period: Trees are delivered in March and April. However it is best to order as soon as you can to ensure items are reserved for you. If you live in a warm zone (e.g. Southern California, Alabama etc.) Fall delivery is possible. More details on our spring shipping schedule by state.
*Mature heights: Height shown is the approximate height of the tree when mature (after 5-10 years), not the height when supplied. Actual mature heights may vary considerably dependent on your local conditions and training and pruning regime.
Stock availability: Items showing as 'sold out' will probably be available again next season. If you would like to reserve in advance use our enquiry form - this does not commit you to anything.
Cox's Orange Pippin is self-sterile and needs to be pollinated by another tree of a different variety nearby. Since it flowers in the middle of the blossom season it can be pollinated by most other apple trees.
Our online pollination checker lists suitable pollination partners for this variety.
More advice about pollination.
Cox's Orange Pippin is not as easy to grow as some varieties, but don't let this put you off. Its remarkable flavor makes it worth perservering. The main problem is the poor disease resistance, which is best addressed by a spraying regime (organic or conventional). It can be grown without any treatments but cropping may then be lighter (which is not necessarily a bad thing because lighter crops sometimes develop better flavor).
Although forever associated with England, Cox can be grown in warm climates, and indeed seems to do better in slightly warmer and drier conditions than are generally found in England. However enthusiasts believe (with some justification) that the unique flavor can only be fully developed in the marginal climate of a typical English summer. In North America that means Cox's Orange Pippin does best in the cooler zones. See our article on growing English apples in North America for further advice.
The bottom line is that if you are serious about apples then you absolutely must try growing Cox's Orange Pippin, because it is the benchmark for apple flavor.
Planting instructions.
Pruning instructions.
England, early 19th century. The parentage is unknown but it is possibly a seedling of Ribston Pippin.
