Red Devil is a mid-season eating apple with a sweet/sharp flavour. The apples sometimes have a slight strawberry-like flavour.
The flesh is white ... but the deep red skin colour usually bleeds into the flesh, staining it red just below the skin.
Red Devil is a useful variety if you like making your own apple juice - it produces a very attractive pink juice, with a good balanced tangy flavour.
The dark pink spring blossom of Red Devil is also quite attractive.
Next deliveries: December 2024 - February 2025
Red Devil is easy to grow and generally reliable. Its excellent scab resistance makes it a good choice for areas with higher rainfall.
It is also self-fertile so no pollination partner is required.
Although arguably not a true red-flesh apple, it is a good introduction and far easier to grow than the full red or pink fleshed varieties.
Red Devil was developed by Hugh Ermen, an English apple breeder, in the 1970s. It is related to the popular early-season variety called Discovery.
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.