Kidd's Orange Red apple trees

Malus domestica

Kidd's Orange Red has received the RHS Award of Garden Merit

Kidd's Orange Red is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators

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Picking season: Late
Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
Flowering group: 3

Kidd's Orange Red is one of the select band of apple varieties which can truly be said to rival the definitive Cox's Orange Pippin for flavour. It is primarily a sweet apple, but unlike most sweet apples it has a rich complexity to the flavours too. Kidd's Orange Red is fairly crisp but also pleasantly chewy, and each bite seems to release yet more juice and flavour.

Kidd's Orange Red is a popular variety in English gardens, but it was actually raised in New Zealand at the start of the 20th century by J.H. Kidd, who was an enthusiast of the English Cox's Orange Pippin apple which is one of the parents of Kidd's Orange Red.

The tree grows attractively, and the crimson pink blossom is a particular feature - it has a rose-like scent too.

Although primarily an apple for eating fresh, Kidd's Orange Red also produces a high quality sweet apple juice, with a pleasing thick texture.

Kidd's Orange Red organic apple trees for sale

Next deliveries: January 2026

11 yeartree on M9 rootstock26.50€
Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years) Bare-root
Sold-out
21 yeartree on M116 rootstock27.75€
Medium tree (2m-3.5m after 10 years) Bare-root
Sold-out
31 yeartree on MM111 rootstock26.50€
Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years) Bare-root
Sold-out
41 yeartree on Bittenfelder rootstock26.50€
Very large tree (5m-6m+ after 10 years) Bare-root

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Growing and Training

Kidd's Orange Red is very easy to grow, generally problem-free, and makes an excellent garden variety for most regions, including cool temperate climates and warmer climates. It makes a good alternative to Cox's Orange Pippin in warmer climates.

It forms an attractive-looking tree with long branches which grow vertically when the tree is young but then bend over with fruit as the tree comes into bearing.

It is not a heavy-cropper, although cropping is reliable. Fruit size can be on the small size but this can be corrected by moderate thinning as the fruitlets start to form.

Kidd's Orange Red is a good choice if you are not keen on pruning, as its branches and fruiting spurs do not become congested as the tree ages.

History

Kidd's Orange Red was developed in the 1920s by New Zealand apple enthusiast J.H. Kidd. It is a cross between Cox's Orange Pippin and Delicious.

Kidd's Orange Red characteristics

Attractive featuresAttractive flowersScented flowers
Gardening skillBeginner
Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
Flowering group3
Disease resistanceAverage - Not usually troubled by scab or mildew
Picking periodmid-October
Picking seasonLate
Season of use1-2 months - Will keep in a cold store until Christmas
Food usesEating freshJuice
USDA cold hardyZone 4 (-34C)
Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
Country of originNew Zealand
Period of origin1900 - 1949
Flower colourPink - dark
Fruit colourOrange / Red