Our Variety Assessment

Its strengths, growing requirements and the conditions in which it performs best.

Roxbury Russet is a historic American cultivar valued for its storage and versatility. Its heavily russeted apples have firm flesh and a rich flavour that improves after keeping. They are suitable for eating, cooking, juice and cider. The tree is vigorous and spreading. As a triploid and poor pollinator, it requires two other compatible apple varieties nearby.

Roxbury Russet

Price range: 26,50 € through 59,75 €

Roxbury Russet is probably the oldest apple variety originating from North America.

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Dispatch generally takes place from late November to February, depending on the weather and the progress of lifting the trees.

Choose your tree form

1 year old grafted tree – approx. 1–2 m

Half-standard – 1 to 1.5 m stem

Low-stem tree – approx. 60 cm stem

Standard tree – 1.8 m stem and over

Apple rootstock options

Bittenfelder – approx. 6 m mature height

EM9 – approx. 2.5 m mature height

M116 – approx. 4 m mature height

MM111 – approx. 4 m mature height

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SKU: 4332 Categories: Apple trees, Eating apple trees

Description

Roxbury Russet is an apple variety that traces its history right back to the colonial era, and it is thought to be the oldest apple variety originating in North America – almost certainly a seedling of a European variety brought over by the early colonists. It remains popular as a variety for gardens and small orchards, not just for its history but because it is also a good all-round apple.

Roxbury Russet is a typical russet apple, with a sweet flavor. However it is larger than most russet apples. The extent of russeting can vary from considerable to minimal, and like many russets it can develop an attractive sun-kissed flush as well.

It has many uses from eating fresh to sweet and savoury salads, juicing and cider. It keeps well in cold storage and can be used throughout the winter months.

Variety characteristics

Variety origin

Very old American variety, probably the oldest named North American cultivar, originating from Roxbury, Massachusetts, in the 17th century.

Origin

Period of origin

USDA zone

Flowering

Eating / keeping period

Use

Sweetness / acidity

Disease resistance

Self-fertility

Pollinator value

Ploidy

Origin and identity

Parentage

Parentage unknown

Synonyms

Boston Russet, Putnam Russet, Leather Coat, Shippen’s Russet, Belpre Russet, Marietta Russet, Sylvan Russet, Warner Russet

Growth and adaptation

Vigour and habit

Medium to strong vigour, upright-spreading habit, bearing on spurs and shoots, tendency to biennial bearing

Disease behaviour

Scab

Resistant

Powdery mildew

Resistant

Canker

Susceptible

Pollination

Compatible pollinating varieties

For reliable fruit set, plant at least one variety with a compatible flowering period nearby. Flowering period: 4 - late.

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Additional variety information for Roxbury Russet is provided in partnership with Orange Pippin.