Flower of Kent

The apple which is said to have prompted Newton to formulate his theory of gravitation.

Origin: Kent UK, 1629

Pollination: Flower of Kent is a self-sterile triploid and would require a pollinator to produce a crop.Find pollination partners >

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History and description of Flower of Kent

First listed in 1629. It is identical to the variety growing in Isaac Newton's garden at Woolsthorpe Manor, Near Grantham, Lincolnshire. According to the legend Newton was sitting under this tree when an apple fell to the ground and gave him the ideas which lead to his theory of gravitation. The original Isaac Newton tree died in 1814, but trees descending from it by grafting still survive and include the Isaac Newton trees at the National Physics Laboratory.

A large culinary apple, flushed and heavily ribbed. White, soft flesh, tinged green. Cooks to a sweet puree. Spreading, part tip-bearing tree.

Characteristics of Flower of Kent apple trees

Use	Culinary
Colour	Flushed
Flavour	Sweet
Fruit size	Large
Picking time	Mid Oct
Season of use	Nov-Jan
Tree vigour	Moderate
Tree habit	Spreading
Fruit-bearing	Partial tip-bearer
Cropping
Pollination date	20
Pollination group	F
Self-fertility	Self-sterile triploid
Pollinators	Pollination partners