Semi Dwarf Apple Tree – ‘Rode Boskoop’

Fruit Type: Apple
Botanical Name: Malus domestica ‘Rode Boskoop’
Fruit Colour: Deep red to purple-red
Growth Habit: Semi-dwarf deciduous fruit tree grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock
Final Height: Approx. 2–3 m 
Expected Yield: Approx. 20–40 kg per season once mature
Exposure: Full sun
Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained soil
Pollination: Not self-fertile; requires compatible apple varieties nearby for reliable pollination. Suitable partners include Cox's Orange Pippin, James Grieve, Golden Delicious, Elstar, or Jonathan
Hardiness: Hardy to approx. −25°C; blossoms may be sensitive to late spring frost

‘Rode Boskoop’ is the red-fruited selection of the classic Boskoop apple, a heritage European variety long appreciated in gardens and orchards. It is particularly valued for its firm texture, pronounced flavour, and versatility in the kitchen.

This variety produces large apples with deep red to purple-red skin and firm, creamy-white flesh. The flavour is fresh, slightly tart, and mildly spicy. The fruit is especially suitable for baking, sauces, purées, and juicing, while also enjoyable fresh for those who prefer a tangy apple.

Harvest typically takes place in autumn, often from late September into October depending on seasonal warmth and local growing conditions. Under suitable storage conditions, the apples can be kept well into winter.

This apple grows as a semi-dwarf fruit tree, remaining more manageable than traditional orchard apples while still producing generous yields. The controlled size is achieved through grafting onto a dwarfing rootstock, a technique widely used in professional orchards to regulate tree height and support reliable fruit production.

In spring the tree produces abundant white blossoms with a soft pink tint that attract bees and other pollinators, creating an attractive ornamental display before the foliage fully develops.

Apples thrive in sunny positions with fertile, well-drained soil. A warm, open location supports healthy flowering and proper fruit development.

We select our fruit trees with winter hardiness in mind, ensuring suitability for reliable outdoor cultivation in our climate.

With proper care and placement, ‘Rode Boskoop’ becomes a productive and long-lived fruit tree, rewarding gardeners with generous harvests of richly flavoured apples well suited to traditional recipes.

All trees are sold and delivered as 1–2 year old trees, similar to those supplied to commercial orchards, in jute bags filled with rich Dutch soil, depending on availability and variety.