Autumn 2020Order now for December 2020 delivery - and please read our Brexit statement.  More>
EU flagOrange Pippin EU logo

John Downie

  • Fruit colour: Orange / Red

John Downie is one of the most popular crab-apples in the UK, featuring traditional white blossom and very attractive bright orange-red fruitlets, with a distinctive upside-down pear shape.

It is perhaps the definitive variety for making crab apple jelly, which will usually be a pale pink colour.

It grows with a more upright habit than most other crab-apple varieties, and will fit in a relatively small space.

Malus
See or add reviews

John Downie crab-apple trees for sale

  • 1-year maiden bare-root tree 24.95€
    Semi-vigorous rootstock
    Large size (3m-4m after 10 years)
Next deliveries

Deliveries resume December 2020

How to grow

John Downie easy to grow, but somewhat prone to apple scab - although this does not affect the cooking quality of the fruit.

History

John Downie is believed to be named after a Scottish nurseryman.

John Downie characteristics

  • Picking seasonLate
  • CroppingGood
  • Useful forCulinary
  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
  • Flowering group4
  • Pollinating othersGood
  • PloidyDiploid
  • Bearing regularityRegular
  • Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
  • Disease resistancePoor
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)Cold (< 20C / 67F)
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1850 - 1899
  • Flower colourWhite
  • Fruit colourOrange / Red