Freyberg Apple (dwarf)

Apple Freyberg (Malus domestica 'Freyberg') is a classic New Zealand dessert (eating) apple bred from the famous cross of 'Golden Delicious' × 'Cox's Orange Pippin'. Originally raised in 1934, and released in 1959 named after Lord Bernard Freyberg, a former Governor-General of New Zealand. It combines the sweetness and keeping qualities of Golden Delicious with the aromatic richness of Cox's. Medium-sized yellow fruit has crisp white flesh with an occasionally distinctive aniseed note. A reliable, heavy-bearing tree, it remains an excellent choice for home orchards.

Need help? Visit our care & planting instructions and pollination guide for practical advice.

• Uses: Fresh eating; desserts; juice
• Pollination: Requires a compatible pollination partner; Pollination Group PG3. Suitable partners include Gala, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Pink Lady®, Red Delicious and other PG2–PG4 cultivars.
• Harvest: Mid to late season (about April in southern Australia)
• Chill requirements: Suitable for temperate regions; moderate chill requirement (about 600–800 hours)
• Attributes: Heavy cropping; reliable; good flavour; good keeping quality
• Features: Yellow skin with occasional light blush; crisp white flesh; aromatic flavour inherited from Cox's Orange Pippin; attractive spring blossom; good storage
• Also known as: Malus domestica 'Freyberg’; sometimes incorrectly spelt Freyburg

Keep your collection labelled. Add a durable engraved plant label to your order, and order extra labels for existing plants so every tree in your collection stays correctly named.

References incl:
McKenzie, D. W., & Mouat, H. M. (1959). Freyberg, a new apple variety. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2(5), 1085–1086. 
Bultitude J. (1983) Apples A Guide to the Identification of International Varieties. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
Leafland. Apple 'Freyberg'. (Background on breeding history and New Zealand release.) 
Orange Pippin. Freyberg apple. Accessed 21/7/2026.
Image: Orange Pippin, an excellent source of apple variety information.