This tree is very productive and strongly biennial; it will need careful thinning to maintain fruit size and annual cropping. It is partially self-fertile, but better crops will be obtained in the presence of a pollenizer. When choosing pollenizers, we recommend that Golden Delicious and Granny Smith be avoided on account of their similar genetic composition. Reine des Reinettes is resistant to powdery mildew.

This is a lovely orange-red apple, finely coated in a tawny russet that thickens at the stem and calyx. The flesh is firm, sweet, and juicy, with a rich flavor often described as citrusy and tropical. A dessert apple of the highest quality, Reine des Reinette sweetens in storage and is also a traditional baking apple in France. Like Calville Blanc, it is often specified in tarte Tatin recipes.

This tree is thought to have originated in Holland, where it was called Kroon Renet, around 1770. Although it is often identified with King of the Pippins, it is unclear whether these are the same apple.