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Apple 'Apistar'

Hardy Perennial

FROM £29.99

An ancient variety recently rediscovered

Unusual and decorative star-shaped fruit

Fruits store for a long time

Delivery Information View Product Description

Choose available pack sizes:

1 Bare Root Tree (M111 Rootstock)

~~£32.99~~ £29.99 Save £3.00

2 Bare Root Trees (M111 Rootstock)

~~£65.98~~ £54.99 Save £10.99

Please note: This product cannot be delivered outside the United Kingdom.

Description How to Grow More Info Delivery

Apple 'Apistar is an ancient variety bearing fruits with a spectacular shape, wonderful flavour and fascinating history.

First recorded in the 16^th century, but almost certainly dating back to Roman times, this rare variety was thought to have been lost. Recently rediscovered and given the modern name ‘Apistar’, it was christened ‘Pomum Pentagonum’ by the monastic communities of Europe, who attached religious meaning to its distinctive star pentagon shape, representing the five wounds of Christ. In Victorian England, the apple became popular as a Christmas table decoration.

Apple ‘Apistar’ forms a vigorous, fertile tree with a slightly weeping habit. A late-picking variety, it is ready to harvest from November to December, the fruits remaining relatively undamaged when left on the tree during the early winter months.

The decorative, star-shaped fruits ripen to green with an attractive red/orange blush on the sun side. To obtain the best colour, we recommend shoot thinning in early September to allow full exposure to the sun. When sliced, a five-pointed star formed by the five ovaries is revealed. The flesh is white, crunchy and juicy with a sweet tangy flavour. Thick, waxy skin protects the pulp from moisture, making ‘Apistar’ an exceptionally long keeper that will store until May.

Apple ‘Apistar’ is late flowering and usually misses the early damaging frosts, promising good crops nearly every year. The fruits exhibit good disease resistance and tend to be free of both scab and powdery mildew. These Apistar trees have been grafted onto an M111 which combines dwarf growth and high vigour. It produces a small tree with a strong root system that tolerates poorer soils.

Use: Dessert and culinary

Pollination Group : 3

Harvest: November to December

Rootstock: M111. Dwarf rootstock. Ultimate height and spread: 2.5m (8.2ft).

Estimated time to cropping once planted: 2 years.
Estimated time to best yields: 4 years.

Plant Size Height Up to 2.5m (8.2ft)
Spread Up to 2.5m (8.2ft)

Hardiness & Longevity Hardy Perennial

Position In full sun

Flowering Months Harvest Months Planting Out Months

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Codes
1 Bare Root Tree (M111 Rootstock) (KH0273)
2 Bare Root Trees (M111 Rootstock) (KH0274)

Plant fruit trees in any well drained soil in a sheltered sunny position. Prior to planting, incorporate plenty of well rotted manure or garden compost into the planting hole and drive the stake into the ground to support the tree. Staking after planting may result in damage to the root ball. Plant fruit trees at their original soil level and firm them into the ground. Fasten the tree to the stake using a tree tie, and water well. Alternatively plant dwarf trees in a large tub, minimum 60cm diameter, using John Innes no.3 compost. Pears will produce the best crops when planted near to another pear tree to increase pollination.

Fruit trees do not suffer weed competition well. Keep weeds and grass clear from within a 30cm radius of base of the tree. In spring, while the ground is moist, apply a mulch of well rotted manure or garden compost around the base of the tree, taking care not to mound it up against the stem. This will help to retain moisture throughout the summer. Feed and water apple trees during particularly dry periods.

Pruning fruit trees begins immediately after planting. Remove the central stem to just above the highest side branch. For the following 3 years, prune only the tips of the remaining main branches by one third in winter. Aim for about six main branches which will form the frame of your tree, with fruiting sub branches growing off of them. From the fourth year, some sub branches can be pruned out at the union where they join the main branch, to allow new sub branches to take their place.

In order to produce the best quality, largest fruits, the fruits should be thinned leaving two fruits remaining per cluster.

Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes, etc. are delivered at the appropriate time for planting or potting on. Delivery times will be stated on the product page above, or in your order acknowledgement page and email.

Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of £2.99.

Orders which include any other products will incur a delivery charge of £6.99.

Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products, a maximum delivery charge of £7.99 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered.

Large items may incur a higher delivery charge - this will be displayed in your shopping basket.

Please see our Delivery page for further details, and more information on different charges that may apply to certain destinations.

For more information on how we send your plants please visit our Helpful Guide on plant sizes.