Rubaiyat is one of the best examples of a red-fleshed apple. In a good year the bright red skin blends seamlessly into the bright red flesh - an effect you rarely see in any apple.
Like many red-fleshed apples the blossom is a darker pink than regular apples, and quite attractive.
The apples ripen very late in the season, early November in north-west Europe. They do not keep and although the flavour can be acceptable in some years it may not be edible.
Overall we think Rubaiyat is a remarkable apple, but it requires dedication and experience to get the best results.
Rubaiyat is not easy to grow. It flowers quite late when not many other apples are around to pollinate it. Fruit quality can be quite variable from one season to the next. The extent and intensity of the red flesh is also variable.
The tree grows with a distinctly upright habit.
Rubaiyat was developed in the 1940s in California by Albert Etter. It was one of many red or pink-fleshed apple varieties that he raised from seeds of an old American pink-fleshed apple variety called Surprise.
This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2024.