Exeter Cross

An early dessert apple with a sharp refreshing flavour.

Origin: Avon UK, 1924

Pollination: Exeter Cross 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 ...

Exeter Cross 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 Exeter Cross

Raised in 1924 by G T Spinks at Long Ashton Research Station, Bristol from a Worcester Pearmain X Beauty of Bath. Named in 1954. Early dessert apple that ripens over a very long period.

Small/medium-sized fruit. Flat-round shape, fairly regular. Greenish yellow background skin colour with a scarlet flush. Distinct broad broken stripes over one-half to three-quarters of fruit. Smooth, rather greasy skin. Creamy white flesh, firm, crisp and juicy with a refreshing flavour. Quite astringent when eaten early but becoming crisp, juicy and sweet.

A tree of moderate vigour. Good cropper.

Characteristics of Exeter Cross apple trees

Use	Dessert
Colour	Flushed
Flavour	Sharp
Fruit size	Medium
Picking time	Aug
Season of use	Aug
Tree vigour	Moderate
Tree habit	Upright-spreading
Fruit-bearing	Spur-bearer
Cropping	Good
Disease resistance	Scab - Resistant
Pollination date	11
Pollination group	C
Self-fertility	Self-sterile
Pollinators	Pollination partners
Parentage	Beauty of Bath Worcester Pearmain
Progeny	Redsleeves