Cherry Cox is a medium-sized, deep red apple that brings together the best of two worlds: the complex flavor and dense texture of its legendary parent, Cox's Orange Pippin, paired with even more vibrant color and reliable productivity. This Danish sport ripens late in the season, typically ready to harvest in early October in cooler climates, and thrives in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9. The sturdy, compact tree grows to 8 to 12 feet tall and has a spreading habit that makes it manageable in home gardens while delivering consistent yields year after year.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-9
144in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Cherry Cox inherits the sophisticated flavor profile that made Cox's Orange Pippin legendary, but with deeper red coloring and a more reliable growing pattern. The tree's compact, spreading form fits neatly into smaller spaces without sacrificing productivity, and its late-season ripening extends your fresh apple harvest well into fall. Some disease resistance and easy-growing nature make this a refreshingly low-fuss choice for gardeners who want complexity and flavor without constant intervention.
Cherry Cox apples are a dessert apple through and through, eaten fresh to appreciate their complex flavor and dense, crisp texture. The sophisticated taste and attractive deep red color make them equally at home in a fruit bowl or on a cheese board. Their late October ripening means they arrive when other apple varieties have faded, extending the season for fresh eating and offering a special harvest moment in fall.
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Plant bare-root trees in late fall through early spring when dormant, or container-grown trees anytime the ground isn't frozen. Choose a location with full sun exposure and well-draining soil. Space trees 12 to 15 feet apart to accommodate the mature spread. Dig a hole wide enough for the root system to spread naturally, and backfill with soil amended with compost. Water deeply after planting to settle the soil.
Cherry Cox apples ripen in early October in most regions. Harvest when the deep red color is fully developed and the apple yields slightly to gentle pressure but still feels firm. Pick by gently twisting and lifting the fruit, or use a careful downward motion; ripe apples should separate easily from the branch. Leave a small portion of stem attached if possible. Taste one fruit to confirm the complex flavor has fully developed before harvesting the entire crop.
Prune Cherry Cox in late winter while the tree is still dormant, focusing on maintaining an open center that allows light and air to penetrate the canopy. Remove any crossing or rubbing branches, dead wood, and interior growth that shades lower limbs. The tree's naturally compact, spreading habit means you won't need aggressive pruning; light annual maintenance is usually sufficient to keep it healthy and productive.
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“Cherry Cox originated as a sport, or natural mutation, of Cox's Orange Pippin, one of the most celebrated dessert apples ever grown. This Danish-developed variety captures the essence of its famous parent while offering improved color saturation and a more vigorous, manageable tree. The lineage traces back to the Cox family's original apple in 19th-century England, making Cherry Cox a direct descendant of horticultural royalty, refined for modern gardeners seeking that same intense, nuanced flavor in a tree that actually wants to grow.”