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

Red Devil apple trees

Malus domestica
Red Devil is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Mid
  • Self-fertility: Self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3

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.

Bio / Organic  fruit trees

Red Devil organic apple trees for sale

  • 11 yeartree on M9 rootstock23.25€
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years) Bare-root
    Sold-out
  • 21 yeartree on M116 rootstock23.95€
    Medium tree (2m-3.5m after 10 years) Bare-root
  • 3Bush (2-years)tree on M9 rootstock32.00€
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m 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

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.


History

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.


Red Devil characteristics

  • Gardening skillBeginner
  • Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Disease resistanceGood
  • Picking seasonMid
  • Season of use2-3 weeks
  • Food usesEating freshJuice - Light pink juice
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Cold (< 20C / 67F)
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1950 - 1999
  • Flesh colourPink / Red - Light pink flushed.

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 Pink Pearl
    Pink Pearl
    Pink Pearl features bright pink flesh, and pink apple blossom.
  • 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.