The PLANTS project: apples at Priorwood and Harmony Gardens

Monks from the nearby Melrose Abbey played a part in the evolution of the apple. They grew Roman apples, such as ‘Pomme d’Api,’ believed to have been brought from the Peloponnese region to Rome by the Roman censor Appius Claudius, and then to Britain. Nowadays, this apple is grown more for show rather than for its flavour. The monks also experimented with newer varieties, such as the old English favourite, ‘Royal Russet’. Thanks to their travels abroad to religious houses, they were able to expand their knowledge of fruit cultivation.

The orchards also boast apple varieties with a closer connection to home. Growing and cultivating Scottish apples suited to our climate was a necessity before the improvement of transport systems across Britain, because apples did not travel well. A few of these Scottish varieties are still grown at Priorwood and Harmony Gardens, and across other National Trust for Scotland gardens, for example the ‘White Melrose’.

This apple is an old Scottish variety, first recorded in 1831 although it is thought to be much older and was possibly first introduced by the monks of Melrose Abbey. It is a delicious and versatile fruit. It can be used as a cooking apple and – once fully ripened – a dessert apple.

One of the first apple trees we came across during our audit at Priorwood Garden was a ‘family apple tree’ made up of the ‘Katja’, ‘Discovery’ and ‘Greensleeves’ varieties. Family trees are created using a technique where three different varieties of apple are grafted onto one tree. The apples are selected so they cross-pollinate well and provide a staggered harvest of delicious fruits; almost an entire orchard on just one tree!

Throughout the orchard, the creativity of the breeders was indicated by the names of the varieties we found, such as ‘Peasgood’s Nonsuch’, ‘Ten Commandments’ and ‘Ard Cairn Russet’. Many of these varieties have survived hundreds of years. Colin Wren, Gardens and Designed Landscape Manager for the region, has been leading the Trust’s conservation efforts for its heritage apples, from identifying unknown varieties in our collections through to grafting them to preserve them for future generations.

A walk around the orchards at Priorwood and Harmony is a joy throughout the seasons. Take in the wide selection of apple varieties and other enticing fruit trees, including plums and pears. In spring, the blossoms bring the garden to life. In summer, the grass is buzzing with insects, helped by much of the orchard grass being left to grow as part of a five-year project in conjunction with Buglife Scotland called Pollinators Along the Tweed. However, it is autumn that is the pinnacle of the year: the apple-harvesting season.

Plant Listing at the National Trust for Scotland (PLANTS) is the biggest horticultural audit project undertaken by the Trust and aims to celebrate, protect and better understand the flora and vegetation across our gardens and designed landscapes.

Read more about the PLANTS project