Désirée
Red-skinned yellow-flesh. Drought-tolerant, widely grown across Europe and South Asia.
At a glance
Best uses
About this variety
Red-skinned yellow-flesh. Drought-tolerant, widely grown across Europe and South Asia.
Désirée is classified as a western europe variety released in 1962, primarily used for all-purpose, boiling / salad, mashing. For agronomic specs, breeder details, and trial data not yet captured here, refer to the source registries linked at the bottom of this page.
Désirée — the global red-skinned classic
Désirée was developed by Dutch breeder ZPC (Zaadhandel Pootgoed Combinatie) with commercial release in 1962 (NAK Netherlands; CIP). The cross combined Urgenta with Depesche, both Dutch breeding lines from the 1950s. Désirée was bred for high yield + red-skin appearance + all-purpose culinary use, hitting all three targets.
The variety is now planted in over 100 countries and is among the top 5 most globally-distributed potato varieties — competing with Russet Burbank, Bintje, Maris Piper, and Yukon Gold for that position. Adaptation to a wide range of climates — from Mediterranean to sub-tropical — has driven the global distribution.
Désirée's all-purpose versatility
Désirée's specific gravity of 1.075–1.083 places it in the medium range, suitable for boiling, mashing, roasting, and baking. The red skin + yellow flesh combination delivers strong retail visual appeal. The variety is not used for industrial fry processing — specific gravity is borderline and reducing sugars are too high — but is excellent for fresh-market and casual home use.
Designed for retail and home-cooking markets, Désirée has been widely adopted in the UK (where it competes with Maris Piper), Australia, parts of Africa, and Latin America. Its yield consistency across diverse soil and climate conditions has made it a default red-skin variety in many emerging markets.
Agronomic profile of Désirée
Désirée matures in 100–120 days and yields 40–50 t/ha under irrigated commercial conditions. The variety has good resistance to common scab and Globodera rostochiensis (golden potato cyst nematode) but is susceptible to late blight and PLRV. Storage life is 6–8 months — adequate for retail supply but shorter than Russet Burbank or Maris Piper.
The variety performs well across temperate and sub-tropical regions, with successful production documented in countries from the Netherlands to Egypt to Kenya. This adaptability is the structural reason for its global commercial success.
Frequently asked questions about Désirée
What is Désirée potato?+
Désirée is a western europe potato variety released in 1962 originating from Netherlands. Red-skinned yellow-flesh. Drought-tolerant, widely grown across Europe and South Asia.
What is Désirée potato best used for?+
Désirée is best suited to all-purpose, boiling / salad, mashing. Red-skinned yellow-flesh. Drought-tolerant, widely grown across Europe and South Asia.
When was Désirée released?+
Désirée was released in 1962. The variety is classified as western europe (Iconic).
Where is Désirée grown?+
Désirée is most commonly grown in Western Europe, with original release from Netherlands. Cross-reference our country profiles for production data.
Variety profiles aggregate data from CIP Lima genebank, ICAR-CPRI variety catalogue, EU Common Catalogue, USDA PVPO, AHDB Potato Variety Database, NIAB, NAK Netherlands, the Potato Pedigree Database, national breeding programmes (CAAS, EARO, BARI, INTA, EMBRAPA, INIFAP, IHAR-PIB, VNIIKKH), and peer-reviewed literature in Potato Research and the American Journal of Potato Research.
Updated May 2026 · Reviewed by Potatopedia editorial team · Linked to Wikidata for cross-reference.