Laxton's Superb is a classic English dessert apple from the Victorian era, still widely grown in gardens and small orchards. The apples have the orange/red flush which is characteristic of many English apple varieties. The flavour is basically sweet, and the flesh is firm rather than crunchy. All in all, a typical Victorian apple.
One of the parents of Laxton's Superb is Cox's Orange Pippin, and it is often grown as a Cox-substitute. The appearance and flavour are quite close to Cox's Orange Pippin but the tree is hardier and better-cropping.
**All prices include delivery (except certain fan-trained or espalier-trained trees). We offer a discount on orders of multiple bare-root trees for delivery at the same time - this will be shown at the checkout.
Fan-trained and Espalier trees: Prices of these trees do NOT include delivery as these require special delivery arrangements - click here for details.
Delivery period: Pot-grown trees can be delivered from September onwards. Bare-root trees can be delivered from mid-November onwards. Within those periods you can specify your preferred month of delivery during the checkout process. It is best to order as soon as you can to ensure items are reserved for you.
*Mature heights: Height shown is the approximate height of the tree when mature (after 5-10 years), not the height when supplied. See photos of trees as supplied. Actual mature heights may vary considerably dependent on your local conditions and training and pruning regime.
Stock availability: Items showing as 'sold out' will probably be available again next season. If you would like to reserve in advance use our enquiry form - this does not commit you to anything.
Laxton's Superb is partially self-fertile, but fruiting will be improved if there is a compatible tree of a different variety nearby.
Our online pollination checker lists suitable pollination partners for this variety.
More advice about pollination.
Laxton's Superb is a good apple variety for the garden. It blossoms quite late which can be useful in areas subject to spring frosts, and the tree is fairly disease resistant (although it can be affected by scab). The tree is quite easy to identify (even without apples on it) owing to its weeping growth habit and long whippy branches.
The main problem with Laxton's Superb is a tendency towards biennial bearing, which means it will produce a good crop one year and then hardly anything the next. If you notice this occurring you can alleviate it by deliberately over-thinning in the "on year", although many owners just put up with it.
Laxton's Superb produces a strong-growing tree, and is therefore best grown on a less vigorous rootstock for smaller gardens.
Planting instructions.
Pruning instructions.
Developed by the famous Laxton Brothers nursery in Bedford, England, and introduced in 1897. A cross between Cox's Orange Pippin and Wyken Pippin.
Mobile edition