Laxtons Superb Apple Trees

Malus Domestica Laxtons Superb

The late Victorians and Edwardians loved this apple. Laxtons Superb graced many tables because of its tremendous sweetness, complex flavours and firm but not too juicy flesh. Needless to say it is a superb apple. Less flat than a Cox's Orange Pippin from which it is derived, it is definitely sweeter and larger than a Cox but not so brash in taste as modern varieties of apple. The apples are of a medium size with slight russeting on the red flushed surfaces of the greeny/yellow skin. It is handsome without being hugely decorative. The flesh is cream in colour and fine in texture. The blossom comes early in May.

Browse our range of apple trees or see the full variety of fruit trees.

A superb orchard tree

The hidden ingredient in the Laxtons Superb flavour is its ancestry in the Wyken Pippin apple, an old variety that is rarely grown today. Weirdly it tastes better if you cut it and eat it in slices rather than bite into it....try it and see! It needs a pollinator to help deliver its full potential. If you do not have a preference, we recommend Worcester Pearmain which is another fascinating older dessert apple. It fruits earlier than Laxtons Superb, but flowers at the same time and would do the job perfectly. Any Group C or D apples would suit. Not a showy apple tree, it would look wonderful clothed in a rambling rose in the summer season. Something like The Garland would be perfect because it does not mind slightly poor soil and a little shade.

Features

• Height: Bushes to 3m, half standards to 4.5m
• Taste: Wonderful sweet eating apple. Cut it, don't bite it....
• Pruning: Spur bearer
• Pollination: Partially self-fertile
• Picking: October - January
• Apple colour: green / red
• Pollination Group: Group D

Laxtons Superb Lore

Introduced in 1897 in Bedfordshire by the Laxton Brothers, well known apple breeders of the time, this apple has remained popular ever since. Their father Thomas Laxton was a well-known plant breeder specialising in strawberries and peas. He worked with Charles Darwin on some of his pea experiments and is mentioned in Darwin's 'The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication' and in other publications.

Clear and weed a circle at least 1m in diameter (and keep it weeded).

Make a square hole that is comfortably wider than the treebs roots but only 5 cm deeper. The hole should be at least 30cms from any wall.

Bang in a tree stake off centre and to the south west if the tree is free standing.

Soak the roots of your Laxton Superb in water for at least an hour.

Mound a little soil in the bottom of the hole and settle the tree roots on it until the soil mark on the trunk is at the same level as the surrounding soil and/or the grafting scion is at least 5cms above soil level. Remove the tree, sprinkle Rootgrow in the hole, wet the roots again to ensure good contact with the Rootgrow and return to the hole.

Backfill slowly, treading down gently as you go. Use a tree tie to attach your tree to the stake if freestanding.

Fit a treeguard. Water in with about 2 gallons/9 litres of water. Mulch the whole area. Water again the next day and then weekly afterwards through the first summer.