Court Pendu Rouge is one of the oldest known apples, dating back to the 1600s and possibly earlier. It has several names, including Court Pendu Plat in English-speaking countries.
Inspite of this it is a modern-looking apple with an attractive bi-coloured red/orange flush. The flattened shape is quite distinctive.
The flavour is aromatic with a noticeable fruity peardrop overtone, and the flesh is quite dense. The interesting flavour carries over into the juice, which can be used to add a sweet component to cider blends.
The key characteristic of Court Pendu Plat is its very late blooming, which makes it useful for areas with late spring frosts, and for cross-pollinating with other late-blooming varieties.
Court Pendu Plat is cold hardy and, as is often the case with very old apple varieties, has naturally good disease resistance.