Cripps Pink apple tree

Malus domestica 'Cripps Pink'

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• Picking season: Very late
• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile Might be partially self-fertile in hot climates.
• Pollination group: 3

Cripps Pink is an attractive modern apple variety from Australia. Its distinctive pink/red color and pleasant flavor make it an interesting variety for the gardener or home orchardist. The blossom is also notably attractive.

Although normally considered a variety for eating fresh, Cripps Pink is a good stewing apple - the dense chewy flesh softens nicely with cooking. It also produces a good plain apple juice with a primarily sweet flavor.

Cripps Pink is a good choice for apple growers in the southern states, as it is well-suited to areas with high summer temperatures and low winter-chill hours.

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How to grow

The key point about growing Cripps Pink is the climate of its birthplace - Western Australia. It likes long hot summers and the apples ripen very late in the season. Cripps Pink also has a low winter-chill requirement, and retains its leaves well into the winter - a characteristic usually associated with tropical rather than temperate trees. In short this is a variety that is very well suited to the southern states.

Commercial growers get the maximum pink coloring by removing the topmost leaves in autumn to let the sunlight on to the apples, but home growers may find the pink color soon turns to a (nevertheless very attractive) flecked red color.

Cripps Pink is of average or weak vigour in cooler climates but may be more vigorous in warmer climates. It is susceptible to fireblight.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Cripps Pink was developed in the late 20th century in Western Australia. It is a cross between Golden Delicious and another Australian variety, Lady Williams. It is probably from Lady Williams that it gets its distinct coloring.

Cripps Pink characteristics

• Gardening skillAverage
• Self-fertilityNot self-fertile - Might be partially self-fertile in hot climates.
• Pollination group3
• Pollinating othersAverage
• Picking seasonVery late
• UsesEating freshJuice
• Keeping (of fruit)3 months or more
• General resistanceAverage
• FireblightVery susceptible
• ScabSome susceptibility
• Cedar apple rustSome susceptibility
• MildewSome susceptibility
• Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 5 (-29C)
• Summer maximum temperaturesWarm (25-30C / 76-85F)Hot (>30C / 86F)
• Chill requirementLow-chill - ~600 hours / 27 days at less than 5C
• Country of originAustralia
• Period of origin1950 - 1999
• Fruit colorPink

Similar varieties

• Cripps Red
  Cripps Red is a sister variety of Cripps Pink, but needs even fewer chill hours.