Winter Banana apple

Winter Banana apple identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

USDA identification images for Winter Banana

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

• 18 Oct 2020  VA, United States

  I grew up with what I believe were Winter Banana apples at the back of one of the 3 orchards on our property in Wayne Country, NY. My brother and I would wait until after freezing weather, pick up the windfalls, peel the skin off them with our teeth, and then scrape what was essentially apple sherbet into our mouths!
• 21 Aug 2020  OREGON, United States

  I grew up with a Winter Banana tree in our front yard. The apples are delicious and will keep all winter in cold storage. We always made the Waldorf Salad for Thanksgiving and Christmas using them. The salad doesn’t taste right w/o them. The tree is still producing at about 100 years old, but I no longer live there.
• 07 Aug 2020  WA, United States

  Sorry to add a rather negative opinion, but growing up in Tukwila, WA in the 1960s we had many apple trees of different varieties on our property. One was the winter banana, which I would describe as having a mild banana flavor, but harsh and dry. My mother occasionally used them for applesauce, but that couldn't compare to the applesauce she made from the yellow transparent or gravenstein apples. She also tried pie, no luck. Personally, I would not search this one out. There are so many other and better varieties around now.
• 15 Sep 2019  MT, United States

  Yes! Banana flavor! Crisp, good eating. Will be grafting one into my orchard.
• 18 Nov 2014  VERMONT, United States

  Just got some of these from Scott Farm in Vermont. They definitely have a subtle banana flavor and aroma. Scott Farm does a fantastic job growing and marketing heirloom varieties. These apples were free of blemishes and rust.
• 28 Jul 2013  OH, United States

  The house we moved into when I was a child had two of these trees, which produced a bumper crop of delicious apples yearly until fifteen years later when they were taken out by a lightning storm. No banana flavor/smell, but very sweet, dense flesh, light pineapple tones, PERFECT for apple pies and eating fresh, in my opinon. Stores great in the freezer, and if you keep them in cooler temps they store for four to five months easy. I will be planting two if I can find them - wonderful apple.
• 07 Apr 2013  WASHINGTON/SPOKANE, United States

  winter banana is named for the color and the ridges running up the sides, that resemble those on a banana. Late ripening, and a very orderly growth habit, requires little pruning.
• 26 Jan 2013  WASHINGTON, United States

  I was pleasantly surprised by this apple: pretty fair for eating. I didn't get any banana overtones which is fine with me as I can't stand bananas!
• 05 Oct 2011  MAINE, United States

  These are the best apples. The flavor--weather they taste like bananas or not--is fabulous. They're big, they're great for fresh eating or cooking, and they keep if kept cold. Love them. My neighbor has a beautiful old tree and I hope to add one to my orchard this year.
• 22 Sep 2011  PENNSYLVANIA, United States

  Rauchtown, PA has the winter banana apple ... if were close
• 24 Jul 2011  Pennsylvania (south-central), United States

  As a child living in Massachusetts, I remember my family would pack up and head off to apple orchards during the colder months of the year. One time we ended up at this apple orchard in New Hampshire and I tried an apple I never heard of. It was named "Winter Banana: but I do not remember it tasting like banana. To me it was more like pineapple and was a favorite of mine (only found this one time). I would be interested in knowing if it is available within a 100 mile radius of S. PA (near York, PA). Maybe I will grow it if I have room after my 2012 order is planted. Thanks!
• 21 Jan 2011  United States

  You can find Winter Banana Apples (for shipment within the continental US only) at www.starkbros.com
• 21 Jan 2011  NM, United States

  where can I buy a winter banana apple tree?
• 28 Oct 2010  :PA, United States

  Where can I purchase a Winter Banana Tree?
• 24 Sep 2010  United States

  I have worked at an apple orchard for many years, I always thought it was a "ficticious" name for an apple that is used here for pollinating only.
• 14 Sep 2010  PA, United States

  I've been eating this apple since I was a child. I don't know where the banana comes from , maybe the color? They keep till spring if refrigerated. My very favorite!
• 15 May 2010  United Kingdom

  Certain pear varieties can be grafted onto this. Apple-and-pear trees were available at one time from Deacon's nursery, i.o.w.
• 17 Aug 2009  CALIFORNIA, United States

  I find winter banana to be a much better cooking than eating apple. The flesh is very dense. I think it is one of the most beautiful apples in our orchard, but not the best eating apple.
• 06 May 2009  CANAAN, NH, United States

  I have tasted this tree in the 60's and 70's till the tree had been taken down. It was very old. We had 4 different types of apple trees. Our family house had been built in 1790, and there was an orchard with over 500 apple trees just above our house during that same time period. It truly tasted like a banana, and was yellow in color. I wish to taste one once again.
• 14 Nov 2008  WOODSIDE, CA., United States

  This is one of my favorite apples in our orchard, for its sweetness and unique flavor. Although I wouldn't necessarily peg the flavor as "banana" these apples do have an aromatic perfume that is unlike most others. I have been rehabilitating several 80 year old trees of this cultivar after decades of neglect, and they are beginning to bear nicely on renewed fruit spurs. The fruit itself is very attractive, a warm yellow color with red blemishes on one side. Crisp and never mealy, this is an apple to eat right off the tree! Perhaps the connotation of 'Banana' also comes from its yellowish color?

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• United States40
• United Kingdom5
• Belgium 2
• Canada3
• Australia1
• New Zealand2

Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Winter Banana apple trees for sale:

• Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA) United States
  Winter Banana apple trees
• Cummins Nursery
  United States  More >>

Where to buy fresh fruit

The following orchards grow Winter Banana:

United States

• California

  • Prevedelli Farms, Watsonville

• Colorado

  • Masonville Orchard, Fort Collins
  • Red Mountain Ranches, Cedaredge

• Connecticut

  • Staehly Farms, East Haddam

• Idaho

  • Williamson Orchards & Vineyards, Caldwell

• Indiana

  • Chandler's Farm, Fillmore
  • Villa Orchard, Batesville

• Kentucky

  • Hidden Hollow Orchard and Wildlife Sanctuary, Louisville

• Massachusetts

  • Cider Hill Farm, Amesbury
  • Red Apple Farm, Phillipston

• Michigan

  • Alber's Orchard & Cider Mill, Manchester
  • Christmas Cove Farm, Northport        *** Feature Orchard ***

• Minnesota

  • Sogn Valley Orchard, Dennison

• New Hampshire

  • Alyson's Apple Orchard, Walpole
  • Lull Farm, Hollis
  • Old Ciderpress Farm, Westmoreland

• New Mexico

  • Manzanar Los Silvestres, Abiquiu

• New York

  • Black Diamond Farm, Trumansburg
  • Borden's Orchard, Schaghticoke

• North Carolina

  • Creasman Farms, Hendersonville

• Ohio

  • Beckwith Orchards, Cider Mill and Gift Shop, Kent
  • Hidden Hills Orchard, Marietta
  • Hoen's Orchard and Market, Delta

• Oregon

  • Kiyokawa Family Orchards, Mount Hood Parkdale
  • Smith Berry Barn, Hillsboro
  • Territorial Road Orchard, Corvallis
  • B&P Hitz Fruit Farm, Woodburn

• Pennsylvania

  • County Line Orchard, Kempton
  • Emerald Cider Mill, Slatington
  • Gray Wolf Plantation, New Oxford
  • Sycamore Spring Orchard & Farm Market, Jonestown

• Washington

  • Rosabella's Garden, Bow
  • Skipley Farm, Snohomish        *** Feature Orchard ***

• Wisconsin

  • Door Creek Orchard, Cottage Grove

United Kingdom

• England - north

  • Coulton Mill, York

Canada

• British Columbia

  • Apple Lane Orchards, Denman Island
  • Apple Luscious Organic Orchards, Salt Spring Island
  • Blue Haze Farm, Victoria
  • Fruit Forest Certified Organic Farm, Cobble Hill
  • Orchard Corners Organics, Kelowna
  • Salt Spring Apple Company, Salt Spring Island
  • Starry Night Meadows Farm, Mayne Island

References

• Cedar-Apple Rust  
  Author: Stephen Vann, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture (FSA7538)
  Rated as highly susceptible - control always needed where CAR is prevalent.
• Apples of England (1948)
  Author: Taylor
• Some Antique Apples for Modern Orchards, (2008)
  Author: Merwin I.A.