Pre-order now for delivery this winterWe are now accepting orders for planting December 2024 - February 2025.
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Hawthornden

A pretty and delicately coloured cooking apple.

Origin: Scotland UK, 1780

Pollination: Hawthornden is self-sterile and would require a pollinator to produce a crop.  Pollination partners

British-grown British-grown fruit trees All our bare-root trees are personally hand-grafted by our Nursery Manager and grown on at our nursery in Kent. We have Defra and Plant Healthy certification. Find out more ...

Hawthornden apple trees produced to order

Closing date for custom graft orders: 14 Jul 2025

We do not stock this variety, but we can produce custom-graft trees for you. Trees can be grafted on any of the following rootstocks:

FormRootstockPriceQuantity
MaidenM9Dwarfing £39.00
MaidenM26Semi-dwarfing £39.00
MaidenMM106Semi-vigorous £39.00
MaidenMM111Vigorous £39.00
MaidenM25Very vigorous £39.00

Custom graft trees would be supplied in December 2026. More details of our custom grafting service here.

History and description of Hawthornden

Arose in Scotland and first recorded in about 1780. Named after Hawthornden, Near Edinburgh, the birthplace of the 16th century poet Drummond. A popular Victorian garden variety. Commercially grown in Kent and by London market gardeners in the 19th century but its popularity waned by the 1890’s because the fruit bruises easily.

An attractive culinary apple, primrose yellow, lightly flushed pinky red. Cooks to a creamy, well flavoured, brisk puree. A spreading tree. Hardy but prone to mildew.

Characteristics of Hawthornden apple trees

UseCulinary
ColourYellow
FlavourSubacid
Fruit sizeMedium
Picking timeMid Sep
Season of useSep-Nov
Tree vigourModerate
Tree habitSpreading
Fruit-bearingSpur-bearer
CroppingGood
Suitable forNorthern Britain
Pollination date13
Pollination groupD
Self-fertilitySelf-sterile
PollinatorsPollination partners
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