Heritage Fruit Trees Heritage fruit trees come in a fantastic array of mouth-watering flavours, colours and textures. These are the old fashioned varieties that you are unlikely to find in a supermarket or even a farm shop. Therefore the only way to enjoy them is to grow your own. At Frank P Matthews we aim to preserve the best of these old varieties so that they can be savoured for generations to come. Even some of the less popular types are important for maintaining a diverse genetic pool to use in future breeding programmes. Generally, any variety that is known to be in cultivation before the year 1900 can be defined as ‘Heritage Fruit Trees’. Heritage Apples The Apple is part of our cultural heritage, with thousands of known varieties suitable for cooking into delicious pies, or eating straight from the tree. Apple trees can be harvested from August until October and can be stored for many months after, depending on the variety. Some varieties of fruit can last right up until Christmas. Adam’s Pearmain A distinctive late eating apple with attractive lenticel spots, red-brown skin and a rich, aromatic, nutty flavour. Find Out More Annie Elizabeth Orange with red flush. Large fruit cream white-flesh and a sweet light flavour. Good keeper, ideal for stewing. Find Out More Ashmead’s Kernel Pale green aromatic fruit with strong, sweet-sharp, intense, acid drop flavour and firm white flesh. Find Out More Beauty of Bath Bright red flush on yellow. Flesh, often stained pink under the skin, sweet and juicy. Eat in haste to be at its best. Find Out More Blenheim Orange Yellow-gold with orange flush and red stripes. Nutty taste, sweet and crumbly texture. An old favourite! Find Out More Bloody Ploughman An old variety from Carse of Gowrie. Classified as an eater, but likely to do better as a cooker. Find Out More Bramley’s Seedling The finest cooker in the world! Green to greenish-yellow with a strong acid flavour. Cooks to a creamy puree. Find Out More Catshead Large angular fruit, green-pale yellow cooking apple with perfumed flavour. Cooks to a sharp, firm puree. Find Out More Cornish Aromatic Handsome, bright red flush with russet patches. Sweet, sharp pear drop and spice flavour. Find Out More Cornish Gilliflower Dark red flush with red stripes over gold. Knobbly exterior conceals yellow perfumed flesh. Intensely flavoured. Find Out More Coul Blush Flushed over golden colour. Sweet, soft creamy flesh, lightly flavoured. Can be used as a cooker if used early. Find Out More Court Pendu Plat Greenish-yellow flushed orange-red. Rich, fruity strong pineapple-like acidity mellows to become sweet- holds flavour. Find Out More Devonshire Quarrenden A strong flavour of berried fruit, sweet with good acidity eater. Dark crimson flush with yellow background. Find Out More Egremont Russet Flesh is cream, tinged yellow, sweet and firm with a rich nutty flavour. The usual russet to be found in shops. Find Out More Galloway Pippin Large and yellow with a russet freckle finish. Keeps its shape well when cooked, best eaten before Christmas. Find Out More Grenadier Easy to grow, large early fruit which cooks to a sharp purée. Compact tree making it ideal for the garden. Good pollinator. Find Out More Irish Peach Small yellow fruit, red flush. Slightly perfumed and juicy. Like a peach it should be eaten straight from the tree. Find Out More Isaac Newton The ‘Flower of Kent’. Cooks to a sweet, delicate flavoured puree. Very interesting historical background. Find Out More James Grieve Red flush stripes over pale green. Excellent flavour and reliable cropper – deservedly popular as an eater and cooker. Find Out More Keswick Codlin Heavy crops of pale green-yellow flush. Cooks to a cream puree, hardly needing sugar. Good for jelly and butter. Find Out More King of the Pippins Orange-red flush on greenish yellow. Firm, crisp, juicy apple. Keeps shape and colour when cooked. Also used for cider. Find Out More King’s Acre Pippin A large fruit, green with brownish red flush and russet patches. Very rich flavour with a crisp, juicy texture. Find Out More Lady Henniker Large, green-cream tinted flesh. Cooks to a strong flavoured purée. Stores well. Find Out More Lane’s Prince Albert Shiny, green flushed orange-red, red stripes. Keeps well, green/white soft flesh. Cooks to a lemon puree. Find Out More Lord Derby Quality cooker. Large, firm, attractive green fruit with an angular shape. Cook early when green for a sharp taste. Find Out More Newton Wonder Large yellow fruit with scarlet stripes. Cooks to a juicy, mild puree. Makes a fruity eater later in the season. Find Out More Orleans Reinette Golden-yellow fruit flushed red, nutty and aromatic, firm, sweet flesh. Early fruit can be cooked, makes a sweet baked apple. Find Out More Peasgood’s Nonsuch Pale green with broken red stripes and orange flush. When cooked makes a sweet, deliciously flavoured puree. Find Out More Pitmaston Pine Apple Small, conical and golden with rich distinctive flavour of pineapple, blended with honey and musk. Find Out More Ribston Pippin Sweet, aromatic, crisp fruit with yellow-red flush. Firm, deep, cream flesh. Described as being “like a good dessert wine”. Find Out More Rosemary Russet Orange-reddish brown flush over greenish-yellow. Flesh firm, fine white, tinged yellowish-green. Sweet and aromatic. Find Out More St Edmund’s Russet Mid season russet. Sweet, juicy, densley textured pale cream flesh. Attractive golden-red russet and silvery sheen. Find Out More Scotch Bridget Good for eating or cooking. Develops more acidity flavour with a tender white flesh that’s juicy, rich and crispy. Find Out More Stirling Castle Large greenish-yellow fruit cooks to a sharp, light puree with plenty of flavour. Beautiful flowers in the spring. Find Out More William Crump Green yellow with red stripes and orange-red flush. Rich, intense and aromatic mellowing to Cox flavour. Find Out More Worcester Pearmain Reliable crop of delicious orange-red fruit. Firm, juicy flesh is very sweet with strong strawberry flavour. Find Out More Yellow Ingestrie Greenish-yellow turning yellow. Sharp, fruity and firm. A charming lawn tree with drooping habit. Find Out More Heritage Blackcurrants Blackcurrants are easy to grow, producing bunches of dark purple berries from July to August and are rich in vitamin C. Their tart flavoured fruits can be made into pies, jams and cordials. A blackcurrant bush can also be grown in containers if you are short on space. Their delicious fruits are ready for picking in July. Baldwin Mid season. Medium berries, hang well. Rich for vitamin ‘C’. Still the best flavoured blackcurrant of them all! Heritage Damsons Damsons, with their richly astringent flavour, are peculiar to the UK, and are easily grown in most situations. Damson trees originate from the native plum, Prunus insititia. Sloe or Blackthorn damsons appear in our hedgerows in Prunus spinose which is widely planted in Europe. Farleigh Very small with a blue-black bloom. Good quality cooker. Hardy and regular cropper in northern districts. Find Out More King of the Damsons Black-blue bloom, large fruit. Reliable cropper and self fertile. Best when made into jams, preserves or fruit pudding. Find Out More Shropshire Prune The ‘Greengage of Damsons’. Very reliable cropper with intense sugary flavours and dark blue in colour. Find Out More Heritage Gage Gages are small plums that have a more delicate constitution but with superior flavour and sugar content. Gage trees are often shy to crop but will have the occasional good year where patience will be rewarded. Coes Golden Drop Large, yellow gage, oval-shaped with a long neck. Good quality for fresh eating or preserving. Find Out More Dennistons Superb The most reliable cropping gage. Transparent sweet flesh with red flushed skin. Reliable and high yields. Find Out More Early Transparent An unusual gage, sweet golden melting flesh, large with attractive red check. A regular and heavy cropper. Find Out More Jefferson Medium, round, yellow gage: sweet, hardy choice for open areas and the north. A very good quality gage. Find Out More Reine Claude de Bavay Very reliable cropper and if allowed to ripen on the tree is well flavoured. Great for eating and cooking. Self-fertile. Find Out More Violet This is an unusual ‘purple’ gage of excellent dessert flavour, round medium fruit, clingstone. Find Out More Heritage Mirabelle, Nectarine and Peach All part of the Prunus family. Mirabelle are usually small and sweet with smooth skin, and a soft juicy texture. Nectarine trees are the smooth skinned peach. Often considered to have a superior flavours to its well loved cousin. Peach trees are a lovely garden fruit which offer both fruiting and ornamental qualities. The sweet and juicy fruits crop from June and are delicious eaten from the tree. Mirabelle De Nancy Yellow-orange with green tinges and red spots. Rich and sweet. Eat fresh from tree or use for bottling. Find Out More Nectarine Lord Napier Early and large. Skin has a very dark crimson cheek in full sun. flesh very white, melting and juicy. Find Out More Peach Bellegarde Deep red skin striped with dark purple. Flesh pale yellow, slightly red at the stone. Rich, vinous and juicy. Find Out More Peach Amsden June The earliest peach. White skin with a bright red flush, white flesh, freestone. Very tender and juicy. Find Out More Heritage Pear Pears have a rich history but many have their origins in other countries. Those that are derived from the UK are generally the best for our gardens. They are known as the queen of fruits to many fruit lovers when eaten at the perfect moment. Beurre Hardy Light green covered with bronze russet. Rough skin. Tender, juicy with rose water flavour. Good cropper. Find Out More Beurre Superfin Medium size, mid-green turning yellow with light brown russet patches. Pale yellow flesh has delicious scented flavour. Find Out More Black Worcester Large, dull green with brown russet, many have purplish flush. Crisp, coarse, fairly juicy flesh. Excellent stewing pear. Find Out More Catillac Large full green fruit changing to greenish yellow. Some fruits develop a red flush and slight russet. Excellent for baking. Find Out More Christie Well known amongst Scottish fruit enthusiasts. Large, sweet, mellow and a reliable cropper. Find Out More Conference Yellowish-green with brown russet areas, occasional pink flush on chalk soil. Sweet, juicy eater and a good cropper. Find Out More Doyenne du Comice Pale green turning yellow. Occasional red flush. Pale yellow flesh, rich juicy flavour. Superb eating quality. Find Out More Glou Morceau Yellowish-green with a little russet. Fine, melting and juicy texture, classic flavour. Reliable cropper. Find Out More Hellens Early Heavy crops of round, greenish-yellow fruits. Makes a medium tannin perry of average quality. Find Out More Jargonelle Pale yellow flesh is tender and juicy with a musky flavour. A hardy and long lived pear making a majestic tree. Find Out More Josephine de Malines A small conical, greenish yellow variety of delicious flavour with a dark red flush. Sweet and juicy. Find Out More Louise Bonne of Jersey Small-medium, pale green turning yellowish-green fruit with dark red flush. White flesh melting and sweet. Find Out More Pitmaston Dutchess Very large, long, golden yellow russeted fruit. Yellowish white flesh juicy, rich flavour. One of the finest eating quality. Find Out More Williams’ Bon Chrétien A good early eating variety, medium-large, pale green turning golden yellow. Juicy and sweet flesh, regular. Find Out More Winnal’s Longdon Greenish-yellow fruits with red flush. Makes a medium to high acid, low tannin perry. Pretty white blossom. Find Out More Winter Nelis Pale green turning yellowish-green, almost covered by russet. Greenish-white flesh is juicy and sweet. Find Out More Heritage Plums Plum trees produce hardy fruits that can be picked from early July to late September. For fresh eating and various culinary uses, they come in all shades of read, blue, purple and yellow. Large, round fruits are firm, sweet and refreshing. These delicious fruits can be used for cooking into lovely pies, jams and even tasty gins! Belle de Louvain Very large purple fruit, firm texture and sweet. Good for culinary and dessert use. Self-fertile. Find Out More Czar Medium, dark purple plum with a sweet yellow flesh. Good for eating, cooking and bottling. Reliable cropper and self-fertile. Find Out More Gordon Castle A native hardy plum for northern districts. Greenish-yellow but sweet with an excellent flavour. Find Out More River’s Early Prolific A good heavy cropping early season plum. Small bluish-purple. Good dessert variety when fully ripe. Self-fertile. Find Out More Swan Red-purple with a bloom. A good dessert and cooking plum. Juicy, sweet and has the most pleasant flavours. Find Out More Victoria Oval, bright red fruit in August-September for dessert, puddings and preserves. Clean freestone, self-fertile, very productive. Find Out More Yellow Pershore A reliable cropper for dessert as well as the ideal bottling plum. Large, yellow fruits with juicy flesh, sweet and sharp. Find Out More Heritage Quince Quince trees produce fruit that are high in nutritional benefits for fatigue and debility. In addition to the showy fruit are lovely soft, pink flowers and large leaves, making this tree worth its place in the garden. Bereczki Pear shaped fruit that are big, juicy and nicely acidic. Yellow flesh turns reddish when cooked. Find Out More Champion Early, regular crops of large yellow-green pear shaped fruits. One of the more reliable varieties. Find Out More Meech’s Prolific Large subtle pink flowers and very large, pear-shaped fruit. Yellow when they’re fully ripe. Sweet and strong scent. Find Out More Portugal Early ripening variety with high quality for cooking and preserving. Turns pink when cooked. Find Out More Vranja Large pale green-yellow fruit. Delicious flavours; bitter to taste. An incredible strong fragrance to the fruit. Find Out More Back To List Related Articles… Fruit Tree Pollination To successfully produce a good crop of fruit, the flowers … Full Details How to Plan an Orchard An orchard can be any planting of three or more … Full Details How to Prune Fruit Trees How to prune fruit trees is one of our most … Full Details Pick Your Own – variety selection and range When considering a pick your own venture, spread of picking, … Full Details
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