Early Red Bird

A very early ripenning summer dessert apple with a sharp raspberry flavour.

Origin: Canada, 1850

Pollination: Early Red Bird is self-sterile and would require a pollinator to produce a crop.Find pollination partners >

British-grown 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. More ...

Early Red Bird 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:

Form	Rootstock	Price
Maiden	M9Dwarfing	£39.00
Maiden	M26Semi-dwarfing	£39.00
Maiden	MM106Semi-vigorous	£39.00
Maiden	MM111Vigorous	£39.00
Maiden	M25Very vigorous	£39.00

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

History and description of Early Red Bird

Raised by Francis Peabody Sharp at Upper Woodstock, St John'sd Valley, New Brunswick, Canada sometime from 1850's to 1880's. Probably a Fameuse x New Brunswick. Formerly grown in New Brunswick. Very early ripenning, crimson flushed fruit. Soft, juicy flesh. Sweet sharp with a distinct raspberry flavour. Very hardy, vigorous tree.

Characteristics of Early Red Bird apple trees

Use	Dessert
Colour	Flushed
Flavour	Raspberry
Fruit size	Medium
Picking time	Early Aug
Season of use	Aug
Tree vigour	Vigorous
Tree habit	Upright-spreading
Fruit-bearing	Spur-bearer
Cropping
Suitable for	Hardy
Pollination date	4
Pollination group	B
Self-fertility	Self-sterile
Pollinators	Pollination partners
Parentage	Fameuse
Progeny	Caravel