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

Pink Pearl apple trees

Malus domestica
Pink Pearl apples
Pink Pearl is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Early
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 1

Pink Pearl was one of the first pink-fleshed apples to become available, and is perhaps the best-known.

Although the apples can be eaten fresh, this is really a variety for the kitchen - the pink-flesh makes a distinctive appearance for apple sauce or cider.

 

Bio / Organic  fruit trees

Pink Pearl organic apple trees for sale

  • 11 yeartree on M116 rootstock23.95€
    Medium tree (2m-3.5m after 10 years) Bare-root
    Sold-out
  • 21 yeartree on MM111 rootstock23.25€
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years) Bare-root
  • 3Half-standard (2 years)tree on M116 rootstock33.00€
    Medium tree (2m-3.5m 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

Like many other red-fleshed varieties Pink Pearl flowers very early in the blossom season.


History

Pink Pearl was developed by Californian enthusiast Albert Etter in the 1940s.


Pink Pearl characteristics

  • Gardening skillExperienced
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group1
  • Disease resistancePoor
  • Picking seasonEarly
  • Season of use2-3 weeks
  • Food usesCulinaryJuiceHard cider
  • Cold hardiness (USDA)Zone 4 (-34C)
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
  • Country of originUnited States
  • Period of origin1900 - 1949
  • Flesh colourPink / Red
  • Fruit colourOrange / Red

Similar varieties

  • See also Early Red Meat
    Early Red Meat
    Early Red Meat is an early season apple with a marbled red / pink flesh. It produces a dark pink apple juice.
  • See also Red Devil
    Red Devil
    Red Devil is a versatile English eating apple, and produces a sweet red-tinted juice.
  • See also Roberts Crab
    Roberts Crab
    Roberts Red or Roberts Crab is an unusual red-fleshed crab-apple, with dark pink blossom, and purple fruits.

More about apple trees

While the vast majority of apples have white or cream-coloured flesh, some varieties have red flesh. Those with the most intense red flesh are usually descended from a red-fleshed crab-apple called Malus niedzetzkyana found in central Asia. The red colouration in this species also extends to the blossom, leaves and young shoots. 

Other varieties feature pink flesh or pink / marbled flesh, and these are often more palatable. 

The juice of red-fleshed apples is usually light or dark pink, and makes an attractive alternative to regular apple juice.

These varieties are of interest because of their ornamental qualities, and also because the anthocyanin compounds which give the flesh its colour are thought to have anti-oxidant properties.


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