Catshead apple

USDA identification images for Catshead

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

Visitor reviews

• 25 Sep 2022 

  Found a large old tree near Battisford, Suffolk, with a good crop of fragrant large cookers - identified as Catshead. Took some cuttings and the local plant nursery grew one on, planted in Melton Church in 2014 as the first tree in our Scattered Orchard. This year has a tremendous crop of delicious scented angular fruit. Last year I took a cutting on an apple tree in my garden which has taken so hoping for more in a few years!
• 07 Oct 2016  EAST LOTHIAN, United Kingdom

  We like the Catshead apple as a stewed fruit. It crops very heavily on our heavy alkaline soil.
• 05 Oct 2016  WASHINGTON, United States

  I learned just the other day this is also called Pigsnout, which is a name a friend wants in his orchard. Will try grafting it next season. Too few interesting and historical apples are grown now in the Land Ruled By Red Delicious, which rule is declining fast. Anyone growing this in a dry locale?
• 03 Sep 2011  LANCASHIRE, United Kingdom

  We have a Catshead tree in our garden and it produces a good crop each year. It is susceptible to codling moth (aren't they all) so we don't get a lot of perfect fruits, even after using grease bands over winter. It cooks down to a superb puree, and has a good flavour.
• 01 Nov 2009  BOSTON, United States

  Because I am a history nut, I got interested in early American foodstuffs and found out a little bit of interesting information: Catshead is the first known variety the early settlers of Virginia planted, probably as early as 1620. It would probably have been brought across the sea carefully planted in a barrel as a sapling, brought as a little tiny "comfort food" from home. "So why is Roxbury Russet listed as the oldest American apple?" -Roxbury Russet is the oldest known NATIVE apple. The problem with the varieties the French, British, and Dutch trees was that they were not accustomed to North America's climate or endemic pests, like fireblight. It probably took a Herculean effort to stop the dying, but by the looks of things they eventually succeeded.

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• United States3
• United Kingdom22
• Australia4
• New Zealand3

Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Catshead apple trees for sale:

• Keepers Nursery
  United Kingdom  More >>

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Catshead:

United Kingdom

• England - midlands

  • The Vyne, Basingstoke
  • Cotteridge Community Orchard, Birmingham

• England - north

  • Coulton Mill, York

Australia

• Victoria

  • Heritage Fruits Society, Fairfield

References

• Apples of England (1948)
  Author: Taylor