Sunset

An excellent garden substitute for Cox particularly for regions where Cox can not be grown successfully.

Origin: Kent UK, 1918

Pollination: Sunset is self-fertile and a pollinator is not necessary for producing 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 ...

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History and description of Sunset

Sunset apple was raised from a Cox's Orange Pippin seedling by G C Addy, Igtham, Kent c 1918. It was named and introduced in 1933. Received the RHS Award of Merit in 1960. Very similar to Cox but much more disease resistant. It has become a very popular garden substitute for Cox but has failed as a commercial alternative because of its tendency to overcrop and produce small fruit.

Small to medium sized, flat-round fruit. Orange flush and stripes over a golden yellow skin covered in small russet patches. Moderately juicy, crisp, cream coloured flesh. Sweet but with plenty of acidity. Intense aromatic, flavour very similar to Cox.

Fairly compact, free spurring, self-fertile tree. Heavy cropper sometimes requiring thinning to produce good sized fruit. Attractive blossom. Resistant to scab but prone to canker.

Characteristics of Sunset apple trees

Use	Dessert
Colour	Flushed
Flavour	Aromatic
Fruit size	Small
Picking time	Late Sep
Season of use	Oct-Dec
Tree vigour	Moderate
Tree habit	Upright-spreading
Fruit-bearing	Spur-bearer
Cropping	Heavy
Disease resistance	Canker - Susceptible Scab - Resistant
Suitable for	Late Frost Northern Britain
Special features	Attractive Blossom
Pollination date	10
Pollination group	C
Self-fertility	Self-fertile
Pollinators	Pollination partners
Parentage	Cox's Orange Pippin
Progeny	Pixie