Spring 2024Order pot grown trees now for delivery from week commencing 8th April
Orange Pippin Trees UK logo

Red Foxwhelp cider apple trees

Malus domestica
Red Foxwhelp
Red Foxwhelp is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Very late
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 5
Red Foxwhelp also known as Herefordshire Redstreak, is an old English cider apple variety which produces a dull red bittersweet juice.

Red Foxwhelp cider apple trees for sale

Bare-root

  • BR11-year bare-root tree MM111 rootstock £34.95
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Alert me
Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95. It is calculated when you add trees to your basket, based on your postcode.

Red Foxwhelp is a highly-regarded traditional English cider apple.

Cider produced from this variety often has a red tint and is capable of achieving a high alcohol content.

History

The Foxwhelps are a group of old cider varieties originating from the traditional cider-growing areas of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

In 2016 DNA testing showed that Red Foxwhelp was identical to another well-known west country cider variety, Herefordshire Redstreak, which is known to have been raised from a pip by Lord Scudamore, who owned an estate in Herefordshire in the 17th century. It is possible that he obtained the pips from France, since he was the ambassador of King Charles 1 in France from about 1634.

Redstreak quickly became a very successful and popular cider variety, on account of its both attractive red juice, and its ability to produce cider with a high alcohol content.

This article by Lily Waite gives more insight into the Foxwhelp cider apples.

Red Foxwhelp characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group5
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climates

Using

  • Picking seasonVery late
  • CroppingGood
  • Food usesHard cider

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1650 - 1699
  • Fruit colourOrange / Red