Laxton's Superb
Laxton's Superb is a classic English dessert apple from the Victorian era, still widely grown in gardens and small orchards. The apples have the orange/red flush which is characteristic of many English apple varieties. The flavour is basically sweet, and the flesh is firm rather than crunchy. All in all, a typical Victorian apple.
One of the parents of Laxton's Superb is Cox's Orange Pippin, and it is often grown as a Cox-substitute. The appearance and flavour are quite close to Cox's Orange Pippin but the tree is hardier and better-cropping.
Laxton's Superb apple trees for sale
RF12-year bare-root
tree
on M9 rootstock£43.00
Mature height: 1.5m-2.5m after 10 years
Suitable for growing a small bush-trained dwarf apple tree, will need a permanent stake.
Available next season
RF21-year bare-root
tree
on M26 rootstock£34.95
Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
Suitable for a semi-dwarf apple tree, a medium apple spindlebush, a medium apple fan or espalier, a large apple cordon or U-cordon.
Available next season
RF32-year bare-root
tree
on M26 rootstock£43.00
Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
Suitable for a medium bush-trained semi-dwarf apple tree.
Available next season
RF41-year bare-root
tree
on MM106 rootstock£34.95
Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
Can be trained on as a large free-standing apple tree, a half-standard apple tree, a large apple fan or espalier, or a pleached apple tree.
Available next season
RF52-year bare-root
tree
on MM106 rootstock£43.00
Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
Suitable for a large bush-trained free-standing apple tree.
Available next season
RF62-year half-standard bare-root
tree
on MM106 rootstock£46.50
Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
Suitable for a free-standing half-standard apple tree.
Available next season
RF71-year bare-root
tree
on M25 rootstock£35.75
Mature height: 5m-7m after 10 years
Can be trained on to produce a big 'standard' free-standing apple tree in a traditional apple orchard.
Available next season
Growing and Training
Laxton's Superb is a good apple variety for the garden. It blossoms quite late which can be useful in areas subject to spring frosts, and the tree is fairly disease resistant (although it can be affected by scab). The tree is quite easy to identify (even without apples on it) owing to its weeping growth habit and long whippy branches.
The main problem with Laxton's Superb is a tendency towards biennial bearing, which means it will produce a good crop one year and then hardly anything the next. If you notice this occurring you can alleviate it by deliberately over-thinning in the "on year", although many owners just put up with it.
Laxton's Superb produces a strong-growing tree, and is therefore best grown on a less vigorous rootstock for smaller gardens.
Recommended pollinators for Laxton's Superb apple trees
Laxton's Superb is partially self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit.
However you will get a better crop if you plant any of the following pollinator varieties nearby.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
BraeburnBraeburn is one of the best-flavoured supermarket apple varieties.
Ellison's OrangeEllison's Orange is a well respected Cox-style apple which can achieve very good flavour.
GalaGala is popular supermarket apple - but better when home-grown, with a sweet pleasant flavour.
Golden GemA traditional crab-apple featuring a mass of white blossom in spring, followed by yellow crab apples.
Golden HornetMalus Golden Hornet is a traditional white blossom crab apple, with persistent yellow fruits.
Harry BakerMalus Harry Baker is a popular crab-apple with deep pink flowers and dark red fruits which are very good for crab-apple jelly.
John DownieJohn Downie is a traditional crab apple for making crab apple jelly. White blossom and orange-red fruits.
King of the PippinsA popular and versatile dual-purpose apple, widely grown in the Victorian era.
History
Developed by the famous Laxton Brothers nursery in Bedford, England, and introduced in 1897. A cross between Cox's Orange Pippin and Wyken Pippin.
Laxton's Superb characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
- Self-fertile?Partially self-fertile
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Pick seasonLate
- Picking periodearly October
- Keeping1-2 months
- Food usesEating fresh
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1850 - 1899
- Fruit colourOrange / Red
You might also like these varieties
Christmas PippinChristmas Pippin is a new high-yielding Cox-style apple, discovered as a chance seedling tree.
Ellison's OrangeEllison's Orange is a well respected Cox-style apple which can achieve very good flavour.
Kidd's Orange RedKidd's Orange Red is one of the best Cox-style apples, aromatic, sweet, and easy to grow.
Red FalstaffRed Falstaff is one of the best garden apple trees, heavy crops, easy to grow, and very juicy.
More about apple trees
Apples are very versatile, and all varieties can be eaten or used in the kitchen. However varieties specifically grown as eating apples tend to have the best flavours for eating raw.
The main thing to decide when choosing an eating apple is when you intend to eat the apples. Early season apples are typically ready in August, and generally don't keep very long. Mid-season apples are ripe in early September, while late-season apples start to become ripe in late September and October. Many of the late-season varieties can also be stored in a fridge or cold shed for several months into the winter.
Some apple varieties are self-fertile, but most are not. However in most areas of the UK you do not need to worry whether your apple trees are self-fertile or not, as there will be other apple trees in nearby gardens to help with pollination.
