About
The fruit is sweet, with a lightly aromatic flavour and needs to colour well for good quality; it bruises easily so needs careful handling. 'Laxton's Epicure' is a dessert cultivar in pollination group 3. Good crops are produced, but there is a tendency for this to be biennially. Season of use is from September to October.
About the genus
Malus are small to medium-sized deciduous trees with showy flowers in spring and ornamental or edible fruit in autumn; some have good autumn foliage colour
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHNeutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeFruit Edible
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread4-8 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesWildlife gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
CultivationIt will crop best in a sunny situation. The height will depend on the rootstock and training method. Suitable for all training forms. Keep a clear area around the trunk of at least 60cm radius. Fruit thinning may be required. For more details see apple cultivation
PruningRegular pruning is required - see apple pruning; spur bearing
PropagationPropagate by chip budding or grafting onto a clonal rootstock for fruit. The rootstock used will largely determine the size of the tree
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, including woolly aphid and rosy apple aphid, fruit tree red spider mite, codling moth and other caterpillars
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to apple canker, apple scab, blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, honey fungus and powdery mildews