Apple (Malus) Sunset Half Standard MM106

A much-loved alternative to 'Cox's Orange Pippin' and holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, 'Sunset' offers all the deep, aromatic flavour of its famous parent, but in a far easier, more robust tree to grow. Trained as a half standard on the semi-vigorous MM106 rootstock, it's grown with a clear stem of around 1.2–1.5m before branching begins, giving a traditional, elegant orchard tree that eventually reaches around 4m in height and spread.

Pale pink blossom appears in April and May, followed by fruit with a lovely orange-red flush. The flesh is crisp and intensely aromatic, with an intense sweetness followed by a satisfying sharp edge. Harvest from mid-September, though the apples are best enjoyed fresh, as they don't store for long — usually two to three weeks.

'Sunset' is partially self-fertile and will produce a crop alone, though yields improve with a pollination partner in the same period (Group 3) or an adjacent group (2 or 4). It's a heavy cropper with good resistance to pests and disease — genuinely far easier going than 'Cox' — though it does benefit from thinning in June if the crop is heavy. The clear stem makes half standards ideal for underplanting or grazing animals to graze beneath once established, suiting informal orchards, larger lawns, or anywhere a more traditional tree shape is wanted. Staking is recommended for the first few years while the tree establishes, and MM106 means it will take a little longer to come into fruit than a bush form on more dwarfing rootstocks — usually 4–5 years.

Plant in full sun in moist, well-drained soil, and prune each winter to maintain an open, productive shape. As with all apple varieties, the pips contain small amounts of naturally occurring toxins, so they're best removed if the fruit is being used for cooking with children in mind.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch. Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.