UK National Fruit Collections

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Just a few of the varieties maintained at the National Fruit Collections...

Cox's Orange Pippin A very well known commercial apple variety, which is frequently grown in the UK. Twenty types of Cox's Orange Pippin are maintained at the NFC. The main differences between these varieties are in the intensity of fruit colouration. They are known as mutation varieties (sports), which means that the genetic differences arose in vegetative tissue.

Court Pendu Plat The NFC holds accessions of many traditional apple varieties, such as Court Pendu Plat. This is an ancient apple variety, which was first described in 1613 but is probably much older. The flowers and fruit of this variety are produced late in the season, thus avoiding frosts. Court Pendu Plat was therefore also known as 'Wise Apple'.

Grenadier Many of the traditional British apple varieties are particularly suitable for cooking, and are too sour to be eaten as dessert fruit. Grenadier apples break down completely when cooked, forming a puree. This variety was introduced into commercial production during late Victorian times, and was widely grown because the fruit matures early in the season.

Williams' Bon Chretien The most widely grown variety of pear is Williams' Bon Chretien (aka Bartlet). This variety is suitable for processing, and is frequently canned. Williams' Bon Chretien was raised during the 18th Century in the UK. It was later introduced to the USA, where it became known as the Bartlet pear. The variety has been extensively used in breeding programmes.

Concorde The National Fruit Collection forms a valuable resource for fruit breeders. Scientists at Horticulture Research International (East Malling) frequently use material from the NFC. The pear variety Concorde was raised by East Malling in the 1970's, it was produced by crossing Doyenne du Comice and Conference. This variety is compact in form and fruits very heavily, it is grown commercially, and is also a good garden cultivar

Victoria The most frequently grown plum variety in the UK is Victoria. It is suitable for domestic and commercial production, and the fruit is dual purpose. Victoria is acceptable as dessert fruit, but is of excellent flavour when processed. This cultivar is self-fertile, and can bear a good crop with its own pollen.

Pershore Yellow Egg This plum variety was found as a seedling at Tiddesley Woods (in the Vale of Evesham) during the early 19th Century. Pershore Yellow Egg came to be widely cultivated in Worcestershire, the centre of UK plum production. Like Victoria, it is self fertile. The advantages of Pershore Yellow Egg include the fact that it is resistant to many diseases including silver leaf and canker. It is also a prolific and regular cropper. The fruit is most suitable for processing.

Early Rivers Damson Both Victoria and Pershore Yellow Egg are varieties of Prunus domestica. Several other closely related species are also cultivated. For example, damsons (and bullaces) are classified as P. interstitia. One of the damson varieties maintained at the NFC is Early Rivers. As with all damsons, this it is used for making jam or for canning.

Napoleon This is one of the most important cherry varieties in the world. It is widely planted because the fruit is of very good quality when canned. Napoleon is an old European cultivar, it was first recorded (under a different name) in the second half of the seventeenth century. A drawback associated with the variety is its susceptibility to rain induced cracking, and several diseases. In the UK it is particularly susceptible to bacterial canker. Napoleon is classified as a sweet, white cherry.

Sam Sam is an example of more recently introduced cherry cultivar. It was developed in Canada in the mid twentieth century. Widely planted, it is slow to come into cropping but when mature, yield productivity is good. This variety is highly resistant to cracking. Sam is classified as a sweet, black cherry. Both Napoleon and Sam are varieties of Prunus avium The NFC also holds accessions of acid (P. cerasus) and duke (hybrid) cherries.

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Last updated 23 November 2001