Decio

History and description of Decio

A very old late dessert apple believed to date from Roman times. Mentioned by the 16th century historian Francesco Bocchi as existing around AD 450 when General Ezio took some of these apples (referred to as 'melo d'Ezio') from Rome to Adria, near Padua where he fought Attila. They were served at banquets given by the Duke of Ferrara in 1529 when they were known as 'Deci' apples. Included in a list of 'worthy varieties' in 1823 by a horticulturalist living in Venice.The apple was well known as 'Decio' around Venice in 1939.

Small sized fruit flushed brownish pink over green, ripening to red and cream. Flesh quite sweet and fruity. An upright tree of weak vigour.

Characteristics of Decio apple trees

Use	Dessert
Colour	Flushed
Flavour	Fruity
Fruit size	Small
Picking time	Late Oct
Season of use	Dec-Mar
Tree vigour	Small
Tree habit	Upright
Fruit-bearing	Spur-bearer
Cropping
Pollination date	16
Pollination group	E
Self-fertility	Self-sterile
Pollinators	Pollination partners