Ashmead's Kernel apple trees

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A versatile English 17th century russet apple, Ashmead's Kernel is noted for its distinctive pear-like flavour.

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Ashmead's Kernel apple trees for sale

Choose a size - pot-grown

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

• PG12-year bush-trained 11.5L pot-grown tree, M27 rootstock£61.50
  Very small tree (< 1.7m after 10 years)
  

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• PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree, M26 rootstock£57.50
  Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  

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• PG32-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree, MM106 rootstock£57.50
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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• PG4Premium half-standard 12L pot-grown tree, MM106 rootstock£62.50
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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Choose a size - bare-root

• BR12-year bush-trained bare-root tree,M9 rootstock£44.75
  Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  

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• BR2Cordon-trained bare-root tree,M9 rootstock£46.25
  Small tree (1.5m-2.5m after 10 years)
  

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• BR31-year bare-root tree,M26 rootstock£34.95
  Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  

  Out of stock
• BR42-year bush-trained bare-root tree,M26 rootstock£43.00
  Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  

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• BR52-year bare-root tree,M116 rootstock£43.00
  Medium tree (2m-3m after 10 years)
  

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• BR61-year bare-root tree,MM106 rootstock£34.95
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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• BR72-year bush-trained bare-root tree,MM106 rootstock£43.00
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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• BR82-year bare-root tree,MM106 rootstock£46.50
  Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  

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• BR91-year bare-root tree,M25 rootstock£35.75
  Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)
  

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• BR102-year (1.75m) bare-root tree,M25 rootstock£46.95
  Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)
  

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Need help?

Ask our fruit tree experts on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.

Tree specification

Photos of trees as supplied | Tree sizes and forms

Next deliveries

Delivery from week commencing 16th February 2026 onwards.

Delivery charges

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

All about Ashmead's Kernel apple trees

Ashmeads Kernel is a very old traditional English russet apple. It remains popular for its distinctive pear-like flavour which is quite different from most other apple varieties. The flesh is firm, and the juice feels rich and thick. The flavours will continue to develop for a month or so after picking.

Although often considered as a connoisseur's dessert apple, Ashmead's Kernel is actually quite versatile. It can be used for cooking, or sliced in savoury salads, and it keeps very well in a cold store.

Ashmead's Kernel is also becoming increasingly recognised for its juice, which adds an interesting fruity component to cider blends.

Growing and Training

Ashmead's Kernel is quite easy to grow, and perhaps because it is such an ancient variety, it is relatively disease resistant. It can be a light cropper and this usually caused by poor pollination at blossom time - planting another late-flowering apple tree or crab-apple tree nearby is a good idea.

History

Ashmeads Kernel originated in England in the 1700s, probably in Gloucestershire.

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.

All our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance. Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. 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.