Ellison's Orange

Intensely aromatic Cox like apple with an aniseed flavour. A good alternative to Cox for northern Britain.

Origin: Lincolnshire UK, 1904

Pollination: Ellison's Orange is partially self-fertile and would produce some crop without a pollinator but would benefit considerably from a pollinator.Find pollination partners >

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History and description of Ellison's Orange

Raised from Cox's Orange Pippin x Calville Blanc in the last years of 19th century by the Rev C C Ellison of Bracebridge, Lincolnshire, UK and his brother-in-law's gardener Mr Wipf. First recorded in 1904. Pennell & Son of Lincoln bought grafts of the tree and introduced the variety in 1911. Received an Award of Merit in 1911 and a First Class Certificate in 1917 from the RHS. Planted commercially in the UK in the 1920-30's. No longer grown commercially but remains a popular garden variety particularly as a substitute for Cox.

Medium, round-conical fruit. Brownish red flush and stripes over a greenish yellow skin. Small russet patches. Creamy white flesh. Crisp and juicy. Intense aromatic flavour similar to Cox. The aniseed flavour to which the literature often refers is not always very noticeable and certainly not unpleasant. At its best Ellison's Orange can surpass Cox in flavour.

Moderately vigorous tree. Resistant to scab and mildew but susceptible to canker. Partially self-fertile, heavy cropper but with some biennial tendency. Very attrctive blossom. Good alternative to Cox for northern Britain but best avoided in humid locations because of suceptibility to canker.

Characteristics of Ellison's Orange apple trees

Use	Dessert
Colour	Flushed
Flavour	Aromatic
Fruit size	Medium
Picking time	Mid/Late Sep
Season of use	Sep-Oct
Tree vigour	Moderate
Tree habit	Upright-spreading
Fruit-bearing	Spur-bearer
Cropping	Good
Disease resistance	Canker - Susceptible Scab - Very resistant Mildew - Very resistant
Suitable for	Dry Regions Hardy Late Frost Northern Britain
Special features	Attractive Blossom
Pollination date	13
Pollination group	D
Self-fertility	Partially self-fertile
Pollinators	Pollination partners
Parentage	Cox's Orange Pippin
Progeny	Lynn's Pippin Merton Beauty St Ailred