About
Lord Derby' is a mid to late-season culinary apple, in pollination group 3, which may grow up to 4m high depending on the rootstock chosen. Clusters of pale-pink flowers are produced in spring with mid-green, yellow-hued, large fruit in autumn. It is only partially self-fertile.
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
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeFruit Edible, Trees
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread4-8 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, City and courtyard gardens, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationThrives in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position. Will not thrive on very acid soils, shallow chalk soils or with shade for more than half the day. Tree height will depend on the rootstock and training method. May require fruit thinning to improve fruit size and quality. See apple cultivation
PruningPrune according to chosen training method, often twice a year; see apple pruning
PropagationPropagate by grafting in midwinter or chip budding in late summer on a clonal rootstock for fruit. The rootstock will largely determine the vigour 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