Summer 2025Pre-order now for delivery September onwards.
Tel. 01759 392007

Rainbow® apple trees

Malus domestica
Check pollinators >
Rainbow is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Very late
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 2

Rainbow is a new (2025) late-season apple variety which is named for its red, green, and pink striped skin.

The leaves also have a lightly variegated appearance.

The flesh is tart when first picked, but mellows in storage - and the apples can be kept in a fridge until April.

When cut it does not brown (oxidise) which makes it a good choice for fruit salads.

Rainbow 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, MM106 rootstock£59.00
    Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
    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.

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

Rainbow ripens very late - late October or early November in southern England. It needs a good long growing season and should be planted in a sheltered location in full sun.

It is not self-fertile, but can be pollinated by most other apple varieties that flower early in the spring blossom season.

History

Rainbow is also known as Eric's Rainbow. It was developed in Croatia by Milan and Marijan Prepelic.


Rainbow characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group2
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climates

Using

  • Picking seasonVery late
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)3 months or more
  • Food usesEating freshCulinary

Problems

  • Disease resistanceAverage

Identification

  • Country of originCroatia
  • Period of origin2000
  • Blossom colourWhite
  • Fruit colourRed striped

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.

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.


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