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Red Devil apple

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Red Devil

Red Devil is a mid-season apple, notable for its distinctive red flesh.

The flesh is white as with most apples, but stained with red which grows inwards from the skin.  This is a characteristic sometimes seen in in its parent, Discovery, but much more obvious in Red Devil.  It is currently probably the best flavoured apple with a red-flesh - although there are several other apple varieties which have a far more pronounced red-flesh than Red Devil, they are generally of very poor flavour.

Red Devil is a popular garden apple variety in the UK, often grown for its attractive pink-coloured juice.

Red Devil apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Red Devil
  • Red Devil
  • Red Devil

USDA identification images for Red Devil

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


    See also


    Visitor reviews

    • 30 Sep 2018  STAFFS, United Kingdom
      We brought our red devil tree in 2001 several of my neighbours have apple trees too but ours always produces a heavy crop. I counted over 400 last year & similar this year. The smaller apples we give to a neighbour who makes cider. We make a few crumbles with any mid size or damaged ones. We give lots to neighbours too they either eat them or if damaged make crumble or pie. All my neighbours love apple picking time.
    • 26 Sep 2010  Ireland
      I have one tree of this variety. It bears heavy crops of fine, large apples which are generally pest and disease free, though (as stated above) it is rather troubled by earwigs. Apple sawfly does all necessary crop-thinning, and the few scab-marked specimens and windfalls are all welcome additions to the cider bucket! It's a great seller in the local organic market, although, personally, I find the sweet, strawberry-like flavour not really to my taste.
    • 13 Sep 2010  CAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom
      Red Devil resembles a sweeter, more intensely flavoured, slightly deeper red, larger-sized, Discovery apple. When fully ripe, Red Devil fruits become even darker red than the pictures above show. The flesh can be slightly red-stained, but the staining is not usually as extensive as many promoters of this apple would have you believe. The juice is indeed pink. Red Devil inherits most of Discovery's good characteristics - particularly disease resistance - but also inherits some of Discovery's tendency to attack by pests (earwigs and maggots), which can sometimes damage a significant portion of the crop. Unfortunately, pest attack seems to be common on many mid-season, highly coloured and highly flavoured "eating" varieties, so Red Devil is not unique in being attacked by pests.

    Tree register

    United States

    United Kingdom

    Belgium

    Ireland

    Portugal

    Spain

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2022 season

    • 1st May  2022  - tree owned by James in Glynn,, Ireland
    • April  2022  - tree owned by Brian in Bristol, United Kingdom

    2021 season

    • April  2021  - tree owned by Brian in Bristol, United Kingdom

    2020 season

    • 18th April  2020  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States
    • April  2020  - tree owned by Brian in Bristol, United Kingdom

    2018 season

    • April  2018  - tree owned by Tim in Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    2016 season

    • 8th May  2016  - tree owned by Simon in Malvern, United Kingdom
    • May  2016  - tree owned by Nathan in Boston, United Kingdom

    2015 season

    • April  2015  - tree owned by Simon in Malvern, United Kingdom

    2014 season

    • May  2014  - tree owned by Simon in Malvern, United Kingdom
    • 21st April  2014  - tree owned by Neale in Methilhill, United Kingdom

    2013 season

    • 20th May  2013  - tree owned by Graham in Arkholme, United Kingdom
    • 3rd May  2013  - tree owned by Amanda in London, United Kingdom
    • May  2013  - tree owned by Christina in Shepshed, United Kingdom

    2012 season

    • May  2012  - tree owned by Carl in Goole, United Kingdom

    2011 season

    • May  2011  - tree owned by Diana in Heywood, United Kingdom
    • 18th April  2011  - tree owned by Mickyfen in Northallerton, United Kingdom
    • 10th April  2011  - tree owned by Simon in Malvern, United Kingdom

    2010 season

    • 13th May  2010  - tree owned by Cheryl in Auchenblae, United Kingdom
    • 27th April  2010  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom
    • 15th April  2010  - tree owned by Jimmy in Dublin, Ireland

    2009 season

    • 9th May  2009  - tree owned by Cheryl in Auchenblae, United Kingdom
    • 18th April  2009  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom

    Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.


    Harvest records for this variety

    2021 season

    • October  2021  - tree owned by Brian in Bristol, United Kingdom

    2020 season

    • 4th week August  2020  - tree owned by Jerry in Point Reyes Station, United States

    2016 season

    • 4th week August  2016  - tree owned by Simon in Malvern, United Kingdom

    2015 season

    • 1st week September  2015  - tree owned by Michelle in Hereford, United Kingdom

    2012 season

    • 2nd week September  2012  - tree owned by Carl in Goole, United Kingdom

    2011 season

    • October  2011  - tree owned by Diana in Heywood, United Kingdom
    • 2nd week September  2011  - tree owned by Judith in Liverpool, United Kingdom

    2010 season

    • 2nd week October  2010  - tree owned by Jimmy in Dublin, Ireland
    • October  2010  - tree owned by Judith in Liverpool, United Kingdom
    • 2nd week September  2010  - tree owned by Simon in Malvern, United Kingdom
    • 1st week September  2010  - tree owned by Cheryl in Auchenblae, United Kingdom

    2009 season

    • 3rd week September  2009  - tree owned by Cheryl in Auchenblae, United Kingdom
    • September  2009  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom

    Origins

    • Species: Malus domestica - Apple
    • Parentage: Discovery x Kent
    • Originates from: England, United Kingdom
    • Introduced: 1975
    • Developed by: Hugh Ermen, a UK apple enthusiast
    • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1999-070

    Identification

    • Country of origin: United Kingdom
    • Period of origin: 1950 - 1999
    • Flower colour: White
    • Flower colour: Pink - light
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Popularity: Best sellers
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous
    • Flesh colour: Pink / Red Light pink flushed.

    Using

    • Picking season: Mid
    • Keeping (of fruit): 2-3 weeks
    • Flavour quality: Average
    • Flavour style (apples): Sweeter
    • Discoloration of fruit: Oxidising
    • Vitamin C content: Low
    • Cropping: Heavy
    • Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Food uses: Juice Light pink juice
    • Juice colour: Pale red
    • Picking period: mid-September
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Beginner
    • Flowering group: 3
    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Average vigour
    • Precocity: Precocious
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Fruit bearing: Spur-bearer
    • Organic culture: Suitable
    • Self-fertility: Self-fertile

    Climate

    • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
    • Climate suitability: Mild damp climates
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cold (< 20C / 67F)

    Other qualities

    • Disease resistance: Good
    • Scab (Apple and Pear): Some resistance
    • Bitter pit: Some susceptibility

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Red Devil apple trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    The following orchards grow Red Devil:

    United Kingdom




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