Rare yellow apple with red streaks discovered in Austrian orchard

A previously unknown apple variety has been discovered in an orchard in Seitenstetten. The fruit stands out with its vibrant yellow skin, red streaks near the stem, and a sweet to sweet-tart flavour. Maria Roseneder, the owner of the tree, is proud to have this unique apple in her garden. The discovery took place last autumn during variety identification events. Over 600 fruit samples were submitted for review across four collection days in September and October. These events were held at seven locations in the Mostviertel region.

The apple tree grows on the Wieshaid farm, owned by the Roseneder family. It is around 50 years old. Pomologists Martina Schmidthaler and Gerlinde Handlechner have already documented 250 cider pear and cider apple varieties from the area.

Past campaigns have also rediscovered long-lost or locally unknown fruits. These include the Kleine Fuchsbirne, Großer Mostputzer, Zitzenrenette, and Tiefäugl. The LEADER region supports these efforts to preserve the cultural landscape and protect fruit diversity for future generations.

Maria Roseneder will now work with Schmidthaler and Handlechner to choose an official name for the newly discovered apple. The unique apple will receive an official name with input from its discoverers and experts. Its addition to the documented varieties helps safeguard the region’s agricultural heritage. The find highlights ongoing efforts to preserve rare and historic fruit types.