The free fruit identification service for RHS Members is back, starting from 1 September 2025. Before sending in any fruit, members are encouraged to read the details provided below.
Important notice:
Fruit samples cannot be identified at the face-to-face RHS Gardening Advice desks. Please refer to the other ways to identify your fruit.
Each member may submit up to three different cultivars for identification per year.
What fruit you need to send
- Please send three typical ripe fruit complete with stalks
- Please wrap the fruit in tissue paper (or similar) and pack it in a box
- Avoid selecting fruit that is misshapen, undersized or not ripe
- Include a small branch with undamaged, mature leaves
Please note: This service does not include identification of crab apple cultivars. Each member may submit up to three different cultivars for identification per year.
How to send in fruit for identification
Post the fruit as early in the week as possible to ensure it reaches us in good condition. Send to: Fruit Naming, Gardening Advice, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking GU23 6QB.
Please include the following information in a letter accompanying the fruit, if the printed form provided above is not used:
Your name, address, RHS Membership number, and email address (a response will be sent by email whenever possible, along with the following information):
- Town/city/village where the tree is growing
- Typical ripening/picking time
- Use – dessert, culinary, dual-purpose or cider
- Location such as a domestic garden or an old orchard
- Age of the tree if known, or an indication of age such as very old, mature or fairly recently planted
- Any additional information you think might help identify the fruits
A response will be provided within 10 working days of receiving the fruit, however, some samples may require additional time for identification, so please allow for possible delays.
Important notice: Fruit samples cannot be identified at the face-to-face RHS Gardening Advice desks. Please refer to the other ways to identify your fruit.
Privacy notice: Your personal data will be used by the RHS for the purposes of contacting you about your Fruit cultivar sample and for purposes stated in the member section of our Privacy Policy. Your data will be stored on the RHS Gardening Advice and Membership system in line with the RHS retention policy. Please read the ‘Member’ section on the RHS Privacy Policy for more information about how your personal data is used and how to exercise your rights under the applicable data protection legislation.
Have your fruit identified at RHS Gardens
This service is open for all garden visitors to the following events:
- Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September 2025
- 10am–12noon and 2.30pm–4pm
- Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October 2025
- 10am–1pm and 2pm–4pm
- Wednesday 8–Sunday 12 October 2025
- 10am–4pm
- Friday 24–Sunday 26 October 2025
- 10am–4pm
Other ways to identify your fruit
- Brogdale Collections, home of the National Fruit Collection, offer a postal apple and pear identification service from August to October. Find out more on the
- Have a go at identifying the fruit yourself using the
- Check out the on Sunday
12 October (includes apple identification service)
