Norfolk Royal Russet

Norfolk Royal Russet is a sport of the much older Norfolk Royal. It was discovered by Royal Air Force chaplain Rev. C.E. Wright in his garden at Burnham Overy near Staithe, Norfolk and was introduced to market in 1983 by Highfields Nursery in Gloucester.



Apple sports are varieties that first grew off a shoot on the parent apple tree. Sports are different in some way from the original tree—often it is the colour, flavour or disease resistance. Norfolk Royal Russets have a better flavour than the Norfolk Royal and good scab and mildew resistance.

Norfolk Royal Russet is a dessert apple and the tree requires pollinators from groups 2, 3 or 4. The apples can be harvested in mid-September or early October and eaten from October to January.

The apples are small to medium in size and oblong in shape. The golden yellow skin is smooth, waxy, and has russeting covering the surface with light yellow and red flushing. The white flesh is crisp and chewy and with a sweet, aromatic flavour similar to a pear.