Malus Domestica Charles Ross Standard Apple Tree

Malus Domestica Charles Ross is a well-established old English variety of apple which received the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1899 for its many valuable qualities, making it a great choice of fruit tree for UK gardeners even today. These have been grown as standard trained apple trees, taking up little lateral space and are ideal for growing against a sunny wall. Standard Fruit Trees generally have are long clear stem trees with the foliage and fruit concentrated in the crown of the tree. 

Introduced in 1890 by the UK breeder Charles Ross, Malus Domestica Charles Ross is a Cox-style apple with fruit that ripens in September. The large, round fruits have a gold-green skin with a red blush, and are best used by December, as they do not tolerate long storage. When first picked in September the apples are tart, but sweeten in storage. Apple Tree Charles Ross is an excellent baking apple, especially for pies, because the slices hold their shape well when cooked. Many gardeners use it for juice or cider production. It is also suitable for eating fresh, and the fruits are especially decorative when brought inside and displayed in a bowl.  

Hardy throughout the UK, this standard-shaped apple tree will grow to an eventual height and spread of 3-4 metres. As with all apple varieties, it requires annual pruning in late winter to ensure continued good crops. It is scab resistant, making it a low-maintenance choice. 

Malus Domestica Charles Ross does best in full sun but will also grow in partial shade. It is suitable for any moist but well-drained soil type with plenty of organic matter added to the planting hole. It is a good choice for chalky soil as it will tolerate that soil type well. It will also grow well in coastal locations. Since Apple Tree Charles Ross is not reliably self-fertile, you will need to plant a different apple variety such as Cox’s Orange Pippin nearby. With proper pruning and pollination, Malus Domestica Charles Ross will produce large crops every year. 

Malus Domestica Charles Ross makes an excellent tree for the kitchen garden, where it will blossom in the spring, and then be loaded down with its attractive fruit in the early autumn, while not growing to too big a size for a small garden due to its standard shape. If the fruit is left on the tree it will attract birds throughout the winter.

With its longevity, disease resistance, and sweet, versatile apples, Malus Domestica Charles Ross is an excellent choice for gardens large and small. This hardy classic will provide you with bumper crops of apples for decades to come!