Malus domestica 'Borkh' Golden Noble - Pommier domestique, Pommier commun

The 'Golden Noble' Apple Tree is a variety discovered in England over 200 years ago. This vigorous tree produces ornamental blossom in spring and will bear fruit in the presence of another pollinating variety. In autumn, large yellow apples, sometimes with a reddish blush, await picking. Tart and extremely juicy, their flesh is well-suited for making juice or cider. Despite its  good flavour, it is more often cooked for desserts, particularly compotes. Easy to grow, the tree is disease-resistant and very hardy.

The Apple Tree, like most of our fruit trees (Cherry, Peach...), belongs to the vast Rosaceae family, which includes wild plants from our countryside and numerous ornamental plants, both herbaceous and woody. The genus Malus includes both fruiting species, such as the Common Apple (Malus domestica, Malus communis, or Malus pumila), and ornamental varieties, the 'Flowering Crabapples' (like the striking Malus 'Royalty'). Cultivated since ancient times (preceding the Roman era), the Apple Tree is native to the forests of Central Asia and now boasts around 20,000 varieties.
The 'Golden Noble' Apple Tree was initially discovered at a cutting/grafting nursery near Downham Market, Norfolk (eastern England). Patrick Flanagan, head gardener to the English politician Sir Thomas Hare, presented his discovery to the London Horticultural Society in 1820. In 1993, the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) awarded the 'Golden Noble' a Garden Merit Award. Despite its English origin and limited spread outside the country, this variety is also known by various German names, such as Gelber Edelapfel, Glasapfel, Glasrenette, Gelber Scheibeapfel, Wachapfel, Zitronenapfel...
This is a vigorous, easy-to-grow variety, reaching 4 to 5 metres in height, recognisable by its dark green, highly glossy leaves. This dark foliage perfectly complements the pinkish-white spring blossom. A good pollinator for other apple trees, it is however self-sterile, meaning that it cannot produce fruit if planted alone. It is therefore essential to plant a pollinator nearby to ensure flower fertilisation. The best varieties for this purpose are the 'Fuji', 'Goldrush', 'James Grieve', or 'Roter Berlepsch'. Once fertilised, the flowers produce large, round, initially greenish apples before turning yellow by early October (or sometimes September, depending on the region and climate). A slight red blush may also develop on the epidermis. The white flesh is extremely juicy and pleasantly tart, though this apple is rarely eaten raw. Typically, it is used for making juice or cider, and in England, it is renowned and prized as a cooking apple. However, its popularity barely extends beyond the country, as it tends to break down when cooked, making it better suited for compotes than structured desserts... Stored under good conditions, these apples will keep for up to two months.

The 'Golden Noble' Apple Tree is valued for its ease of cultivation and good disease resistance, though it remains uncommon outside England. While perhaps not the first choice for a beginner's orchard, it will appeal to lovers of heritage varieties and those who enjoy apple juice. It will find its place in an orchard alongside other heritage varieties such as the Beurré Hardy Pear Tree, also the result of a chance cutting/grafting experiment at around the same time. You could also pair it with less conventional fruit trees, like the Persimmon, whose orange fruits are as decorative as they are delicious, or the Goji, whose small red berries are consumed in Asia for their medicinal properties.