Black Ben Davis
Dessert apple
Dessert apple
Malus domestica Borkh.
A coloured sport of Ben Davis. It arose in about 1880 on the farm of M. Black, Washington County, Arkansas, USA. Fruits have firm, sweet flesh with little flavour.
Synonyms:
Black Ben Dawis
Availability
Material available from the National Fruit Collection.
Parentage:
Thought to be a seedling or sport of Ben Davis
Fruit Size
medium to large b
Fruit Shape
flat, conic, convex to straight b
Ribbing
not ribbed b
Ground Colour
pale yellow b
Over Colour
almost completely covered bright red flushed dark red b
Flesh Colour
whitish b
Flesh Texture
firm, coarse, crisp b
Flavour
subacid, slightly aromatic b
Accession name
Black Ben Davis
Flowering time
11th May 10% flowering
16th May Full (80%) flowering
22nd May 90% petal fall
Picking time
Mid October a
Size
large a
Type
Dessert a
Shape
Flat globose a
Ribbing
very weak a
Crown
weak a
Ground Colour
Whitish yellow a
Over Colour (Amount)
medium-high a
Over Colour
Red a
Over Colour (Pattern)
washed out/solid flush a
Russet
low-medium a
Greasiness
Medium a
Firmness
firm a
Crunch
crisp a
Coarseness
coarse a
Flesh Colour
Yellowish a
References:
a. NFC fruit (undated) Unpublished characterisation by staff at NFC, Brogdale.
b. Smith, M. (1971) National Apple Register