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

Cox's Orange Pippin apple trees

Malus domestica
Cox's Orange Pippin
Cox's Orange Pippin is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Mid Later mid-season
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3

Often regarded as the finest of all apples, Cox's Orange Pippin sets the benchmark for flavour to which all others aspire. The aromatic complexity and depth of flavours are remarkable. In our personal experience pear, melon, freshly-squeezed orange juice, and mango are all readily evident in a good example.

Cox's Orange Pippin is a mid/late season variety, 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 flavour when baked, and is a common ingredient in English apple preserves, chutneys, and mincemeat.

Bio / Organic  fruit trees

Cox's Orange Pippin 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 rootstock23.95€
    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
  • 41 yeartree on Bittenfelder rootstock23.25€
    Very large tree (5m-6m+ after 10 years) Bare-root
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.

Growing and Training

Cox's Orange Pippin performs best in areas with low rainfall and cool temperate climates - such as the south-east of England, where summer temperatures are typically around 25C and rarely exceed 30C. The characteristic complex flavours tend to collapse if grown in areas with hot summer temperatures.


History

Cox's Orange Pippin was raised by Richard Cox, in Buckinghamshire, England, in the early 19th century, and appears to be a seedling of an old French variety called Margil.


Cox's Orange Pippin characteristics

  • Gardening skillExperienced
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Disease resistancePoor
  • Picking seasonMid - Later mid-season
  • Season of use1-2 months
  • Food usesEating freshCulinaryJuice
  • Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 5 (-29C)
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
  • Chill requirementHigh-chill
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1800 - 1849
  • Flesh colourWhite
  • Fruit colourOrange flush

Similar varieties

  • See also Akane
    Akane
    Akane is an attractive early-season eating apple with a good pedigree and a sweet/sharp flavour.
  • See also Cabarette
    Cabarette
    A traditional very-late season dessert apple, found in northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
  • See also GoldRush
    GoldRush
    A modern disease-resistant apple, like Golden Delicious but with a better tart/sweet balance. Good for eating fresh and juicing / cider.
  • See also Queen Cox
    Queen Cox
    A modern self-fertile form of the renowned Cox's Orange Pippin, with arguably even better flavour.

This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2023.