Ananas Reinette is a French heirloom apple that has captivated growers since its discovery in the 1500s, earning its name from the distinctive vertical green stripes that pattern its yellow skin, reminiscent of a pineapple. This mid-season bloomer ripens in mid-October and delivers a remarkable balance of tart and sweet flavors with a fine-grained, crispy flesh that snaps satisfyingly when bitten. Hardy in zones 6 through 9 and reaching a mature height of 12 feet, it thrives in full sun and serves equally well for fresh eating or cooking. As an exceptional keeper apple, it rewards patient gardeners with long storage life and consistent quality throughout the winter months.
Full Sun
Moderate
6-9
144in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The vertical green striping on Ananas Reinette's yellow skin is instantly recognizable and strikingly beautiful on the tree. Its tart-sweet character and fine-grained, crispy texture set it apart from modern commercial varieties, offering the complex flavor profile that made heirloom apples worth preserving for centuries. The real appeal lies in its dual nature: equally delicious plucked fresh from the branch or transformed through cooking, and its exceptional keeping ability means a single harvest can sustain you well into winter.
Ananas Reinette excels in both the fresh fruit bowl and the kitchen. Its tart-sweet balance and fine-grained flesh make it equally suited to eating fresh off the tree as it is to cooking, where its structure holds up beautifully in pies, sauces, and preserves. The crispy crunch and complexity of flavor make it the kind of apple that serious home cooks seek out specifically, rather than a generic utility apple.
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Ananas Reinette ripens in mid-October. Harvest when the fruit reaches full size and the skin develops its characteristic yellow coloring with distinct vertical green stripes. The apple should yield slightly to gentle pressure and separate easily from the branch with a slight twist; forcing the fruit signals it's ready. Pick in the morning after dew has dried, which helps the fruit store longer.
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“Ananas Reinette originated in France during the 1500s, a product of centuries of European apple cultivation that valued both flavor and practicality. The name itself tells the story of discovery: 'pineapple russet,' coined for the distinctive vertical green stripes that appeared on the fruit's skin, a visual signature that made it instantly recognizable in European orchards. This variety survived because it delivered what mattered most to agricultural communities: a dependable crop, remarkable keeping qualities, and a flavor complex enough to matter whether you were eating it fresh in autumn or cooking with it months later. Its preservation into modern times reflects the growing movement to honor the diversity of heirloom fruits that industrial agriculture had nearly erased.”