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

Scarlet Surprise apple trees

(Bill's Redflesh)

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

Scarlet Surprise is an early-season red-fleshed apple. The apples will keep for a week or so, and have a fresh sharp flavour.

Scarlet Surprise apple blossom is a very attractive pink colour.

This is a true red-flesh apple - not only is the flesh pink / red, but the red pigmentation is found in the blossom, leaves, and wood of the tree.

Bio / Organic  fruit trees

Scarlet Surprise 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 MM111 rootstock23.25€
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years) Bare-root
    Sold-out
  • 3Half-standard (2 years)tree on MM111 rootstock33.00€
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years) Bare-root
    Collection only - contact us

Contact us if you would like to go on the waiting list for next season.

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. We can deliver to most countries in the EU. However 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

Scarlet Surprise is one of the easier pink-fleshed apple varieties, with generally strong growth and less prone to disease than others, and a reliable annual cropper.


Scarlet Surprise characteristics

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group1
  • Disease resistanceAverage
  • Picking seasonEarly
  • Season of use1 week
  • Food usesEating freshCulinary
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
  • Country of originUnited States
  • Flesh colourPink / Red
  • Fruit colourRed

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.