Autumn 2024Order now for delivery from week commencing 7th October for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.
Orange Pippin Trees UK logo

Winter Gem apple trees

Check pollinators >
Winter Gem is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Late
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 3

Winter Gem is one of the best-flavoured new apple varieties developed in the 1990s by the late Hugh Ermen.

It is a cross between Grimes Golden and Cox's Orange Pippin, and as you might expect has a pronounced aromatic flavour. Grimes Golden is not that well-known in the UK but is the probable parent of Golden Delicious. Some enthusiasts reckon that Grimes Golden is a better apple than Golden Delicious, as it has the same sweetness but with a bit more richness. This means that Winter Gem inherits characteristics from two of the most influential apple families in the world, and if you appreciate apple flavours it is well worth trying.

As the name suggests, Winter Gem is a late-season apple, and the apples can be stored for several months.

Winter Gem apple trees for sale

Pot-grown

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

  • PG12-year bush-trained 11.5L pot-grown tree M27 rootstock £60.50
    Very small tree (< 1.7m after 10 years)
  • PG2Premium cordon 12L pot-grown tree M9 rootstock £60.50
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  • PG32-year 12L pot-grown tree M26 rootstock £56.50
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)

Bare-root

  • BR12-year bush-trained bare-root tree M9 rootstock £44.75
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  • BR2Cordon-trained bare-root tree M9 rootstock £46.25
    Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  • BR31-year bare-root tree M26 rootstock £34.95
    Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  • BR42-year bush-trained bare-root tree MM106 rootstock £43.00
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts

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

Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 7th October for pot grown trees or December for bare-root or mixed tree orders.

Delivery charges

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

Growing and Training

Unlike either of its parents, Winter Gem is well-suited to UK gardens - indeed this is a characteristic of many varieties developed by Hugh Ermen.

It can be a light cropper (although this is perhaps part of the reason for its good flavour). Make sure there are suitable pollination partner varieties nearby - Red Devil, Srumptious, Falstaff, Saturn and Charles Ross would be good choices. In other respects it is quite easy to grow.

Winter Gem works particularly well as a small tree on a dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock. On more vigorous rootstocks it will produce a large and attractive tree.

History

Winter Gem is a cross between Grimes Golden and Cox's Orange Pippin, and was developed in the UK by Hugh Ermen.


Winter Gem characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climates

Using

  • Picking seasonLate
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)1-2 months
  • Food usesEating fresh

Problems

  • Scab (Apple and Pear)Some susceptibility

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1950 - 1999
  • Blossom colourPink - light
  • Fruit colourOrange flush

British-grown trees Trees grown in the UK.

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
Planth Healthy scheme logo

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.

This variety description was researched and written by Orange Pippin staff. Last checked: 2024.