Perhaps the most famous apple variety from Yorkshire, England, Ribston Pippin was a Victorian favorite prized for its strong, aromatic flavor. It remains a standout for fresh eating and cider, with a rich history and excellent character.

Luke’s 2023 Tasting Notes (Missoula Harvest)

“Honey flavor with hints of grape. Dense apple with an interesting woody texture that makes you continually want more. Decent acidity and good sweetness. Medium thickness in terms of the skin.”

This is one of our favorite apples for fresh eating.

Flavor & Uses

• Flavor profile: Honeyed, with subtle grape notes; aromatic and complex

• Texture: Dense with a unique, slightly woody bite

• Skin: Yellow, flushed orange, streaked red, with russeting at the base and apex

• Best after: A month or so of storage to reach full flavor

• Uses: Excellent for fresh eating, culinary applications, and sweet-sharp hard or soft cider

Heritage & Parentage

Ribston Pippin is most likely the parent of Cox's Orange Pippin, one of the world’s most famous apple varieties. It’s a classic example of English heirloom apples bred for complexity and depth of flavor.

Cold Hardiness & Growing Conditions

• Fairly hardy, but not among our most cold-hardy apples

• Likely hardy to about -40°F, but may struggle in parts of Eastern Montana where temperatures drop below that

• Grafted onto Bud 118, a super-hardy semi-dwarf rootstock, which adds resilience and size control

Tree Details

• Size: 5–7 ft tall bare root trees

• Rootstock options:

  • Bud 118 (semi-dwarf, hardy, vigorous)

  • Also available: Older grafts on M116 rootstock

Image Credit

Image courtesy of Markus Hagenlocher under CC 3.0.