D'Arcy Spice apple

D'Arcy Spice apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

USDA identification images for D'Arcy Spice

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

• 22 Apr 2019  SOMERSET, United Kingdom

  Bought December 2016 as a very young tree. Planted in a sheltered garden with no other apple tree in the garden. First fruit gathered 2018 and stored. Only two apples were allowed to grow, other being removed as soon as the blossom was over. The first fruit was 155g picked in October, the second 195g picked in November, therefore not accounting that it was the smaller of the two, it has gained at least 25% in weight over six weeks. It was still very firmly attached to the tree and I wonder whether it could have been left even longer. We shared one between all of us on Christmas Day, the second on boxing day, best apple tasted. First flowering 2019 15 April but it has been a very warm and dry spring. I am following the progress of this tree on my blog.
• 31 Oct 2017  ESSEX, United Kingdom

  I was born in Tolleshunt Major and there were three D’Arcy Spice trees in our garden and loved the flavour of these apples. They were always picked in November after a frost and lasted well into the spring. I was delighted to find a supplier and bought a young tree from Ken Mewers and it has flourished and provided a bountiful harvest of fruit every year. I use this fruit for pies and crumbles as well and I’m more than satisfied.
• 17 Oct 2016  WASHINGTON, United States

  Since I cannot find anyone within 100s of miles who grows D'Arcy Spice, I bought a bench graft from Greenmantle, on Bud118. It has grown slowly and bloomed at the top the last several years, but fruit drops off as soon as we pass 34C (90F). It seems just too arid in eastern Washington. I'll have to go on a road trip to taste this some day.
• 24 May 2015  OREGON, United States

  I have a D'Arcy Spice which I obtained as a fresh graft from a rosarian in Ettersburg, in northern California, about 7 years ago. This whip grew slowly in a crowded part of my garden until last year, when I transplanted it to a sunny nursery bed, where it grew to a bushy three feet in height. I shall plant it in row in my orchard this week. It flowered this spring but I Don't expect it to bear fruit, owing to the transplant shock. It is vigorous, beautifully leafy, with no sign of leaf curlers, the yearly nemesis here in Western Oregon among the Coast Range of mountains.
• 26 Nov 2013  United Kingdom

  grown as a cordon, we left our d'Arcy spice later this year, only picking this week (last Nov.). Flavour and texture best of all our apples (15 var.) including our one large tree Norfolk Royal.
• 17 Nov 2013  DERBYSHIRE, United Kingdom

  I was born at Goldhanger some2.5 miles from Tolleshunt Darcy. We had a large Spice tree as it was called which cropped regularly and also a seedling which was true but had larger apples. As a native I regarded it the Doyenne du Comice of apples. It was grown commercially by Rex Page in the village and also by the Smyth family a mile or two away. I believe the latter still do so. I was hoping to find a supplier when I came across this site. I would love some for Christmas.
• 27 Nov 2011  WILTSHIRE, United States

  I grow one of these trees as an espalier on dwarfing stock. Contrary to expectations it is a vigorous tree which produces a heavy crop very reliably on fairly dry chalky loam. It is more resistent to insect and woodlouse damage than my other varieties. Its flavour is variable, at best it is sweet, juicy with a hint of something...well maybe spicey but I'm not sure. This year (2011) we will be eating the apples well into 2012 by which time they will have shrivelled a bit but will still taste fine. I agree with the comment about frost resistence from N. Buck. Apart from the slightly dull appearance of the fruit, I can't imagine why these apples are not found in every supermarket in the country.
• 08 Mar 2011  CHESHIRE, United Kingdom

  I would love to buy one of these unusual apple trees as its hardiness would do very well here. Do you know of a supplier.
• 16 Sep 2010  CONWY, United Kingdom

  I was brought up on the Essex/Suffolk border and my grandparents had a d'Arcy spice apple tree in their garden which I remember well with fond affection. My father grew a seedling from this tree which was true to the parent tree and I used to take boxes of the apples with me to eat in my digs in London in the 1960's. I forgot about them being in the boot one year and they were subjected to more than a fortnight of severe frost with no ill-effect before being found and eaten. It used to be said that they should not be picked until well into November and preferably after a good frost which improved their flavour. A truly special apple for eating in front of a roaring Christmas fire - peeled first though. Nigel Holmes
• 14 Aug 2010  CAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom

  In the frosty spring of 2010, my D'Arcy Spice trees were caught by several frosts while in full blooms; down to about -4'C on one or two occasions. Despite the frosts, the trees have set a normal crop while most of my other varieties have failed. A few other growers of D'Arcy Spice have also tentatively suggested good frost resistance. They have also suggested that D'Arcy Spice has some resistance to fireblight - presumably because its slow-growing habit means that it has fewer young shoots (and fewer blossoms), which are the usually sites for fireblight entry.

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• United States11
• United Kingdom30
• Italy 1
• Netherlands 1
• Canada1

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow D'Arcy Spice:

United States

• Maine

  • Tiny Orchards, Saco

• Michigan

  • Alber's Orchard & Cider Mill, Manchester

• New York

  • Albany Apple Guy:Purveyor of Rare & Exotic Apples, Castleton

United Kingdom

• England - south-east

  • Lavenham Brook Vineyard and Orchard, Sudbury

References

• Apples of England (1948)
  Author: Taylor