Autumn 2024 planting seasonPre-order now for EU delivery December 2024 - March 2025

White Transparent apple trees

(Papierowka, Saint Jean, Yellow Transparent)
Malus domestica
White Transparent
White Transparent is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Very early
  • Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 2

White Transparent is an old Russian apple variety, quite widely grown in Europe (and also in the USA where, confusingly, it is known as Yellow Transparent).

White Transparent has two notable qualities. It ripens very early - often as early as the third week of July. Secondly, it is exceptionally cold-hardy.

White Transparent can be eaten fresh, but the apples are generally quite soft when mature. It is primarily an apple for the kitchen, where it easily cooks down to a light and very smooth apple puree with a good flavour. For cooking it is best to pick the apples slightly green.

Bio / Organic  fruit trees

White Transparent organic apple trees for sale

  • 11 yeartree on M9 rootstock23.25€
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years) Bare-root
  • 21 yeartree on M116 rootstock23.25€
    Medium tree (2m-3.5m after 10 years) Bare-root
  • 31 yeartree on MM111 rootstock23.25€
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years) Bare-root
  • 4Half-standard (2 years)tree on MM111 rootstock33.00€
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years) Bare-root
    Collection only - contact us
EU delivery countries
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
Delivery chargesClick here to view estimated delivery charges. Our 2-year trees and some pot-grown trees are too big or unsuitable for mail-order and are only available for collection direct from the nursery. Please contact us if you wish to order.

Growing and Training

White Transparent has exceptional cold-hardiness. Its natural vigour seems to help it shrug off most disease problems.

It can lapse into biennial bearing - fruiting only every other year. This seems to be associated with its natural tendency to over-crop. The problem can be managed by aggressive thinning of the fruitlets in early summer in the "on" year. Remove all but one fruitlet from each cluster, and then thin the clusters - it seems harsh but you will get a better crop of better-sized apples.


White Transparent characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
  • Flowering group2
  • Disease resistanceAverage
  • Picking seasonVery early
  • Season of use1 week
  • Food usesEating freshCulinaryTraditional cookerDual purpose
  • Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 3 (-40C)
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)Cold (< 20C / 67F)
  • Country of originRussia
  • Period of origin1800 - 1849
  • Fruit colourGreenGreen - lightGreen / Yellow

Similar varieties

  • See also Ascahire
    Ascahire
    A large reliable cooking apple from northern France which is particularly good for juicing.
  • See also Belle de Boskoop
    Belle de Boskoop
    Belle de Boskoop is a popular large dual-purpose apple from the Netherlands.
  • See also Peasgood's Nonsuch
    Peasgood's Nonsuch
    Peasgood Nonsuch is a highly-regarded old-fashioned English cooking apple.
  • See also White Transparent
    White Transparent
    A traditional early-season dual-purpose apple, which is also very winter-hardy.

This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2024.