Malus domestica Pepina Parkera - Pommier domestique, Pommier commun

The 'Pepina Parker' Apple Tree originates from England, although it is mainly cultivated on the continent. This heritage variety is easily recognisable by the russet colour of its fruits. Their greenish flesh, firm and crunchy, is both slightly tart and aromatic, as well as juicy. It is a delicious apple to enjoy fresh, and equally suitable for preparing desserts and drinks. The moderately sized tree forms a rounded crown and is well-suited to small gardens. Easy to grow, as it is not very susceptible to diseases, it requires pollination by another variety to produce a harvest.
The Apple Tree, like most of our fruit trees (Cherry Tree, Peach Tree, Raspberry Bush...) belongs to the vast Rosaceae family. The genus Malus includes fruiting species, such as the Common Apple Tree (Malus domestica, synonymous with Malus communis or Malus pumila), and ornamental ones, the "Flowering Crabapples" (like the charming Malus 'Royal Beauty'). Cultivated since ancient times (before the Roman era), the Apple Tree is a fruit tree native to the forests of Central Asia, with around 20,000 varieties known today.
The Malus 'Pepina Parker' originated from a random seedling selected by the English Captain William Parker in the 18th century, hence its name. It is also known by numerous synonyms across Europe: 'Parker Peppin', 'Pépin gris de Parker', 'Sanct-Nicolas Reinette', 'Jadrnac Parkeruv', etc. The tree forms a medium-sized crown, rounded to slightly flattened, with a decent density of branches. Its growth is moderately vigorous, reaching approximately 4m in height and 3.5m in spread. Under English climatic conditions, full flowering occurs in early May, or as early as April in milder regions. Small, single, pale pink-white flowers bloom for two to three weeks. Though lightly or not at all scented, they are nonetheless appreciated by bees. Being non-self-fertile, the flowers must be pollinated by pollen from other varieties, so another tree must be planted nearby. Various varieties can serve this role, such as ‘Baumana Reneta’ (‘Baumann’s Reinette’), ‘Reinette Ananas’, ‘Cox Orange’, or ‘Golden Reneta’. The yellow-green skin is covered with heavy russeting, giving it a very distinctive russet hue and slight roughness. Held on the tree by a short, thick stalk, the fruits are spherical, flattened at both ends, slightly more convex on one side, and lightly ribbed. Their diameter is quite modest, around 6cm, with a height of 5.5cm. However, they are abundant, and the harvest is quite respectable. Their greenish-white flesh is firm and crunchy, moderately aromatic, tangy, and juicy. It is very pleasant to eat raw and also makes excellent juice and even cider. Ripening in October, these apples can, under good conditions, be stored until the following March.

‘Pepina Parker’ is an interesting apple variety for enthusiasts, as it is not very prone to common diseases like scab and powdery mildew. Its moderate hardiness suits lowland areas, and its size allows it to be grown in most gardens, even those with limited space. Plant it alongside other fruit trees with staggered ripening periods to enjoy fruit over several months. A Redcurrant Bush ‘Ribest Babette’ will delight you with its tangy red berries as early as June, while a Perpetual Raspberry Bush extends the pleasure until September. The Cherry Tree ‘Bigarreau Burlat’ will even allow you to start enjoying your own fruit as early as May, while the wide range of Pear Trees provides late summer and autumn varieties to complement your Apple Tree.