Malus domestica ‘Dr. Harvey’

Horticultural & Botanical History

Named for Dr. Gabriel Harvey of Cambridge it was probably one of the oldest English varieties popular at the time.

Produces a large, hardy tree and is a great bearer. ‘A culinary apple of first rate quality, well known and extensively cultivated in Norfolk and the north of England. When baked in an oven which is not too hot, these apples are most excellent; they become sugary, and will keep a week or ten days, furnishing for the dessert a highly flavoured sweet meat.’ October to January. [HP pl.XXIII/1878].

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1845, 1850 and 1857 catalogues [Apple no.28/1845].

Notes

The apple named ‘Dr. Harvey’ in the ‘Herefordshire Pomona’, also with the synonym ‘The Harvey Apple’, is possibly the ‘Golden Hervey’ of the catalogues and is described here.  This may be incorrect with both apples actually ‘Golden Harvey’. There are a number of examples of a plant being introduced to Camden Park under more than one name.

Two apples with synonyms The Harvey Apple are listed in the 'Herefordshire Pomona'. The apple called there ‘Golden Harvey’, synonym ‘the Harvey Apple’, also has the synonym ‘Brandy Apple’ in the ‘Herefordshire Pomona’ and is therefore considered to be the apple listed as ‘Brandy Apple’ in the catalogues. See Malus domestica Borkh. var. ‘Golden Harvey’.