King of the Pippins apple trees
- Picking season: Late
- Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
- Flowering group: 4
- Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1993
King of the Pippins is a widely-grown apple from the Victorian period. It is very typical of the "reinette" style apple, with its flushed orange skin and firm rather than crisp flesh - quite different to the modern supermarket apple.
King of the Pippins is a versatile apple, which is probably the main reason for its success. Although usually considered a dessert variety, it can also be used for cooking - particularly French-style patisseries, since the slices keep their shape when cooked. It is a good juicing apple too, the juice has a good robust flavour and can also be used in cider blends.
King of the Pippins apple trees for sale
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root treeM116 rootstock£35.75
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR21-year bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£34.95
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR31-year bare-root treeM25 rootstock£34.95
Very large tree
(4m-7m after 10 years)
BR42-year (1.75m) bare-root treeM25 rootstock£46.95
Very large tree
(4m-7m after 10 years)
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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
King of the Pippins is a good and reliable cropper. It grows in a compact neat fashion. Disease resistance is fairly good.
Recommended pollinators for King of the Pippins apple trees
King of the Pippins is partially self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit.
However you will get a better crop if you plant any of the following pollinator varieties nearby.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
More pollinators >
BraeburnBraeburn is one of the best-flavoured supermarket apple varieties.
Ellison's OrangeEllison's Orange is a well respected Cox-style apple which can achieve very good flavour.
GalaGala is popular supermarket apple - but better when home-grown, with a sweet pleasant flavour.
Golden GemA traditional crab-apple featuring a mass of white blossom in spring, followed by yellow crab apples.
Golden HornetMalus Golden Hornet is a traditional white blossom crab apple, with persistent yellow fruits.
Harry BakerMalus Harry Baker is a popular crab-apple with deep pink flowers and dark red fruits which are very good for crab-apple jelly.
John DownieJohn Downie is a traditional crab apple for making crab apple jelly. White blossom and orange-red fruits.
Newton WonderA traditional English cooking apple, a good alternative to Bramley.
History
The origins of King of the Pippins are not certain, but it was first recorded around 1800 in London, where it was introduced by a nurseryman, Kirke of Brompton. It almost certainly comes from France where it is known as Reine des Reinettes, but there are many other synonyms for this variety.
King of the Pippins characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
- Flowering group4
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climates
- Picking seasonLate
- CroppingGood
- Keeping (of fruit)3 months or more
- Food usesEating freshCulinaryJuiceHard ciderDual purpose
- Disease resistanceAverage
- Scab (Apple and Pear)Some susceptibility
- Country of originFrance
- Period of origin1800 - 1849
- Blossom colourPink - light
- Fruit colourOrange flush
- AwardsRHS AGM (current)
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 while 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
Towards the end of September and into October we see late-season apple varieties beginning to ripen. Their longer ripening period typically means these varieties have the most interesting flavours.
Unlike mid and early season apples which are generally best eaten straight from the tree, many late-season varieties need to be stored in a fridge for a few weeks to mature before their flavours are at their peak. So if you want to be able to eat home-grown apples through the winter then late-season varieties are your best choice.
Some of the most famous English apple varieties fall into this category - including the classic Adams Pearmain, and the ancient Ashmead's Kernel with its peardrop flavours. We also find popular modern varieties such as Spartan, Red Falstaff, Fiesta, and Kidd's Orange Red all coming to perfection at this time of year.
