Scarlet Pimpernel

A very early attractive looking but quite sharp dessert apple.

Origin: USA, 1938

Pollination: Scarlet Pimpernel 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 ...

Scarlet Pimpernel apple trees produced to order

Closing date for custom graft orders: 14 Jul 2026

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 2027. More details of our custom grafting service here.

History and description of Scarlet Pimpernel

Discovered by Douglas Boner at Orofino, Idaho, USA 1938. Introduced by Stark Bros, Missouri 1944. Formerly grown as an early commercial variety.

Medium to small sized, round conical, frequently irregular shaped fruit. Very attractive looking. Bright crimson flush over a pale cream coloured skin. Soft, juicy, white flesh. Refreshing, sharp taste with a hint of bitterness. Fruit bruise easily and go soft quickly after picking. Best eaten from the tree.

Moderately vigorous, spreading tree. Heavy cropper which may need thinning to produce good sized fruit. Resistant to scab but susceptible to mildew

Characteristics of Scarlet Pimpernel apple trees

Use	Dessert
Colour	Red
Flavour	Sharp
Fruit size	Small
Picking time	Early/Mid Aug
Season of use	Aug
Tree vigour	Moderate
Tree habit	Spreading
Fruit-bearing	Spur-bearer
Cropping	Heavy
Disease resistance	Mildew - Susceptible Scab - Resistant
Pollination date	3
Pollination group	A
Self-fertility	Self-sterile
Pollinators	Pollination partners