Bardsey apple trees

• Picking season: Mid
• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
• Flowering group: 2

The Bardsey apple was named after the island of Bardsey, off the west coast of Wales, where this variety was first discovered in 1998. The unique location of Bardsey has made the island a place of pilgrimage and legend since ancient times, and the discovery of an apparently new apple variety on the island therefore received widespread press coverage at the time.

Not only is Bardsey a rather pretty apple, it is also very disease-resistant. It makes a good garden apple variety, particularly for the more challenging climates of the west of the UK.

Bardsey apples are similar to the well-known James Grieve in many respects, although there is no known connection between them. Like James Grieve they have a mild sweet flavour with some acidity, and a fairly crisp texture. They ripen in late August / early September. They are pleasant for eating fresh, and can also be juiced, and they will cook down to a sweet puree.

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Bardsey apple trees for sale

Pot-grown

All our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.

All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.

• PG12-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree M26 rootstock£56.50
  Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
  Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  

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• PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree MM106 rootstock£56.50
  Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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Bare-root

• BR11-year bare-root treeM26 rootstock£34.95
  Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  

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• BR22-year bare-root treeM116 rootstock£43.00
  Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  

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• BR31-year bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£34.95
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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• BR42-year bush-trained bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£43.00
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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• BR52-year bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£43.00
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts

Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.

Tree specification

Photos of trees as supplied | Tree sizes and forms

Pre-ordering

Pre-order now for delivery in September 2025

Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.

Growing and Training

Bardsey is an island off the west coast of Wales. Although considered a bit drier than other parts of Wales it is still essentially a mild, wet and windy climate, which favours many of the diseases to which apples are prone, particularly scab. To survive in this climate the Bardsey apple appears to have evolved very good disease resistance. It is therefore a useful variety to try in other damp mild climates such as the north-west and north coasts of Scotland, parts of Cumbria, and Devon and Cornwall, as well as western Wales.

The tree is known to be very hardy, but there is little information about the frost-resistance of its blossom, and freezing temperatures are relatively rare on the island. However anecdotal evidence from growers outside the UK suggests it is also tolerant of sub-zero winter temperatures, as well as summer heat and drought stress.

Bardsey appears to have a partial tip-bearing tendency, but is nevertheless suitable for training in most forms.

History

The original Bardsey tree was found growing wild on the island of Bardsey in 1998. It was subsequently popularised by local nurseryman Ian Sturrock, and identified as a unique new variety by experts at the UK National Fruit Collection.

It is sometimes also known as Merlin's apple, since the legendary wizard is said to be buried on the island - although many other sites also make this claim.

More information about the discovery of this variety and its cultivation can be found on the Bardsey website.

Bardsey characteristics

British-grown trees

Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK. Find out more.

In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance. Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK. Find out more

Guaranteed fruit trees

When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions. Find out more.

More about apple trees

If space is limited these dual-purpose apples are well worth considering. Pick them slightly early to use in the kitchen, or let them ripen and you can eat them fresh.

Early-season dual-purpose apples include Katy and James Grieve, which are both sharp enough to use in pies and crumbles, but also pleasant for eating fresh (particularly if you like a sharper apple). Traditional English varieties like Blenheim Orange and Ribston Pippin come into their own later in the autumn.