Lady Williams is an attractive red flushed apple, with a good balanced sweet/sharp flavor. Its main characteristics are its very late ripening period and exceptional keeping qualities.
It was discovered in Western Austrialia in the 1930s and is very well suited to growing in warm climates. Lady Williams ripens extremely late - Kevin Hauser, the southern Californian apple enthusiast, reports picking Lady Williams at the start of February. For this reason it is unlikely to ripen in cooler climates.
The parentage is uncertain. The area of origin, shape, and excellent keeping qualities suggest Granny Smith but Jonathan has also been proposed. We are more inclined to agree with the Jonathan theory, because Jonathan has a track record of lending red/pink hues to its offspring.
Notwithstanding its good qualities it remains largely unknown outside Western Australia. Its main claim to fame is that it is one of the parents of a very famous modern apple - Cripps Pink, better known as Pink Lady®.
USDA identification images for Lady Williams
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.
Parents and other ancestors of this variety
- Granny Smith (parent) - Probable parent of Lady Williams
Offspring of this variety
See also
- Jonathan - Jonathan has been suggested as a possible parent of Lady Williams.
Visitor reviews
- 21 Jan 2023Most likely Jonathan and Rokewood according to the ABC (Australian) news article. How 'Lady' Williams founded a great Australian apple The Conversation / By Susan Broomhall Posted 2h ago2 hours ago Two framed photos of a woman and an apple tree sit atop a background of red and green apples 'Lady' Maud Williams discovered the Lady Williams apple in the 1930s.(Supplied: State Library of Western
Tree register
United States
- Axel Kratel in Santa Cruz, CALIFORNIA
- Gina Colver in EPHRATA, WASHINGTON
- Jerry Hudgins in Point Reyes Station, CALIFORNIA
- Jonathan Bastedo in YUCAIPA, CA
- Phil Potter in Laguna Niguel, CALIFORNIA
United Kingdom
- Dave Woolcock in Preston, LANCASHIRE
Australia
- a Bear in TOOLANGI, VIC
- Fletcher Farrington in Warragul, VICTORIA
- Hayden in Winslow, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
- Marinus Beimers in Mount Evelyn, VIC
New Zealand
- Giles in HAMILTON, WAIKATO
Origins
- Species: Malus domestica - Apple
- Parentage: Possibly Granny Smith and Jonathan seedling
- Originates from: Donnybrook, Australia
- Introduced: 1935
- Developed by: Mr Williams
- UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1978-136
- Some historical details taken with kind permission from 'The New Book of Apples' by Joan Morgan and Alison Richards , illustrated by Elisabeth Dowle, published by Ebury Press, 2002.
Identification
- Country of origin: Australia
- Period of origin: 1900 - 1949
Using
- Picking season: Very late
- Keeping (of fruit): 3 months or more
- Flavour quality: Good
- Flavour style (apples): Sweet/Sharp
- Food uses: Eating fresh
Growing
- Flowering group: 2
Where to buy fresh fruit
The following orchards grow Lady Williams:
Australia
Victoria
- Petty's Orchard, Templestowe