Laxton's Fortune apple trees
- Picking season: Mid
- Self-fertility: Partially self-fertile
- Flowering group: 3
- Awards: RHS AGM (current) 1993
Many growers have attempted to combine the superb flavour of Cox's Orange Pippin with other varieties that are less disease-prone and easier to grow. Fortune, developed by the Laxton Brothers Nursery in the early 20th century is a good example of this, having some of the aromatic richness of Cox but much better resistance to the apple disease scab.
Although not as well known as Laxton's Superb, it remains a popular garden apple variety.
Laxton's Fortune apple trees for sale
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root treeM9 rootstock£38.25
Small tree
(1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
BR21-year bare-root treeM26 rootstock£34.95
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
BR32-year bush-trained bare-root treeM26 rootstock£43.00
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
BR41-year bare-root treeM116 rootstock£34.95
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
BR51-year bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£34.95
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR62-year bush-trained bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£43.00
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
BR72-year half-standard bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£46.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
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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
If you want to learn about biennial bearing in apple trees, Laxton's Fortune is the example the textbooks usually mention! Biennial bearing is when the tree fruits heavily in alternate years, with a light crop or no crop in the intervening year. Heavy-cropping varieties which are also of low vigour - such as Laxton's Fortune - are most prone to this condition. To prevent this happening, make sure you don't let the tree set too heavy a crop, as this will trigger the cycle. The easiest way to prevent over-cropping is to thin the fruitlets at the start of June after the blossom is over - thin each cluster to one fruitlet per cluster, and then if necessary remove some of the remaining ones as well.
Fortune ripens earlier than Cox but for the best flavour leave it on the tree until the apples start to fall before picking.
Laxton's Fortune performs well in hotter climates, so is a good choice if you want a traditional English-style apple but are living in Spain, Italy, or southern France.
Recommended pollinators for Laxton's Fortune apple trees
Laxton's Fortune 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 >
ButterballMalus Butterball is named for its bright yellow fruits, which are also good for crab apple jelly.
EveresteEvereste is one of the most well-known crab-apples, featuring white blossom and red-yellow fruits.
FiestaFiesta (or Red Pippin) is one of the best Cox-style apples, easy to grow, with a good aromatic flavour.
GorgeousMalus Gorgeous has pink/white blossom and spherical cherry-like red fruits which are good for jelly.
GreensleevesGreensleeves is a reliable and popular mid-season green/yellow apple, easy to grow and productive.
James GrieveJames Grieve is the classic Scottish dual-purpose apple. It can be eaten fresh, and is also excellent for juicing and cooking.
KatyKaty is an attractive and versatile early apple variety from Sweden, very easy to grow.
Red DevilRed Devil is a good apple variety for the UK garden, and produces a sweet red-tinted juice.
History
Developed at the start of the 20th century by the famous Laxton Brothers Nursery in Bedfordshire. Laxton's Fortune (often known simply as Fortune) is a cross between Cox's Orange Pippin and a little-known American variety called Wealthy. It received a first class certificate from the RHS in 1948.
This was not the first time that the Laxton Brothers Nursery had worked with Cox's Orange Pippin - they had previously released Laxton's Superb, another Cox-derived variety.
Laxton's Fortune characteristics
- Gardening skillExperienced
- Self-fertilityPartially self-fertile
- Flowering group3
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Fruit bearingPartial tip-bearer
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesMild damp climates
- Picking seasonMid
- CroppingGood
- Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
- Food usesEating fresh
- Disease resistanceAverage
- CankerSome susceptibility
- Scab (Apple and Pear)Some resistance
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1900 - 1949
- Blossom colourWhite
- Fruit colourGreen / Red
- 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
For apples the mid-season period usually starts in early September and finishes later in September when the late-season varieties start arriving.
Mid-season apples are best eaten straight from the tree. However unlike early-season apples, they will usually keep fresh for a couple of weeks in a fridge. On the other hand, just like early apples, mid-season apples ripen quite quickly so be sure to keep a close watch on them in early September and see if they are ready to pick.
Another thing you notice with mid-season apples is they still have that fresh zing you get with the early varieties, but the flavours are now more nuanced and interesting.
Some really good apple varieties fall into this category - including Red Windsor, Red Devil, and Lord Lambourne. These are un-fussy apples with good flavours, ideal for taking to work for a mid-morning snack.
And the famous Cox's Orange Pippin also just about falls into this category.
