Apple trees are a quintessential feature of British gardens, loved for their abundant fruit, seasonal beauty, and ease of cultivation. In spring, they burst into life with fragrant pink and white blossoms that attract pollinators and create a charming display. By late summer and autumn, their branches are laden with ripe, crisp apples that range from sweet to tart, perfect for eating fresh, baking into pies, or making cider. The leaves turn golden in autumn, adding another layer of seasonal appeal before the tree’s winter dormancy.
With a wide variety of cultivars available, apple trees can be tailored to suit almost any space—from compact patio trees and espaliered forms to large, spreading orchard specimens. They are a rewarding choice for gardeners looking to grow their own fruit while enjoying a beautiful and productive tree that provides interest throughout the year.
Nothing beats plucking a ripe dessert apple straight from your own tree. Our eating varieties focus on flavour and texture, from early ‘Discovery’ with its strawberry notes to late-season ‘Cox’ and crisp modern ‘Jazz’. All are grafted on rootstocks suited to UK gardens, so you can expect reliable crops without ladders. Pop in to Simpson’s Nurseries to see which cultivars are colouring up, taste samples when available, and take home trees ready for planting – subject to seasonal stock.
For pies that hold their shape and sauces that turn fluffy, choose a traditional cooking apple. We carry trusted favourites such as ‘Bramley Seedling’ alongside newer, lighter-cropping ‘Grenadier’. These cultivars deliver large, sharp-flavoured fruit that mellows beautifully after storage. Our trees are grown on semi-dwarf stocks, making them easy to prune and pick. Visit Simpson’s Nurseries to check current availability and get advice on planting partners and pollination – everything you need for a bumper crumble harvest.
Can’t decide between a crisp snack and a fluffy apple cake? Dual-purpose varieties do both. Cultivars like ‘Katy’, ‘James Grieve’ and ‘Lord Derby’ offer balanced sweetness and acidity: delicious fresh, yet they cook down nicely when heat is applied. They extend the picking season too, bridging the gap between eaters and cookers. Our nursery team can match you with the right rootstock for your space and soil. Stocks vary through the year, so drop in or call ahead.
Craft your own farmhouse brew with proper cider cultivars, rich in tannin and sugar. We usually stock West-country classics such as ‘Kingston Black’, ‘Yarlington Mill’ and bittersweet ‘Dabinett’, perfect for blending or single-varietal pressing. Grafted onto vigorous rootstocks they crop heavily and tolerate a range of UK soils. Talk to our team about orchard layout, fermentation tips and harvest timing. Availability varies, so visit Simpson’s Nurseries and choose the trees that will fill your future barrels.
Ballerina® or columnar apples grow upright like living pillars, perfect for patios, narrow beds and even large pots. With side branches suppressed, trees such as ‘Bolero’, ‘Waltz’ and ‘Flamenco’ reach around two metres while still cropping generously along the main stem. Plant a pair for best pollination or partner with other Group B apples on site. Simpson’s offers these space-saving wonders on dwarfing stocks, ready to slot into small urban gardens; check in-store for current selection and expert after-care tips.
Reduce spraying and still enjoy bumper harvests by choosing disease-resistant apples. Breeders have developed varieties like ‘Topaz’, ‘Liberty’ and scab-resistant ‘Charles Ross’ that shrug off common problems such as scab, canker and mildew. Growing them means fewer chemicals, less time spraying and fruit that fits organic principles – perfect for UK gardens where rain can invite disease. We stock these resilient trees on suitable rootstocks each season. Call or visit Simpson’s Nurseries for current availability and eco-friendly advice.
Short on space or neighbours without apple trees? Self-fertile apples set reliable crops without a pollinating partner. Favourites like ‘Sunset’, ‘Red Falstaff’ and compact ‘Maypole’ still attract bees, yet they’ll fruit well even in a single-tree garden or allotment. That makes them ideal for first-time growers who just want guaranteed apples. Our experts can show you which rootstock size fits your plot and how to maximise yields. Call or visit Simpson’s Nurseries to see what’s currently on the benches.
If you garden on a balcony, courtyard or compact border, our dwarf and patio-sized apple trees let you grow full-flavour fruit in minimal space. Grafted onto the very dwarf M27 or M9 rootstocks, cultivars like ‘Egremont Russet’ or ‘Red Windsor’ top out around 1.8 m and thrive in large containers. They’re easy to net, prune and harvest without ladders. Visit Simpson’s Nurseries to feel the pot sizes and pick a variety – subject to seasonal availability.
