Cornish Gilliflower apple
An important English apple of the Victorian era, with a good sweet aromatic flavour.
Cornish Gilliflower is probably the best and most widely-grown of the apple varieties originating from Cornwall. It has all the attributes of the classic Victorian English apple - notably a sweet aromatic flavour with perfumed overtones and an attractive flushed appearance. It is also a relatively good keeper, and can be eaten well into the new year.
The Victorian author Hogg explained the origin of the word "gilliflower" or "gillyflower" as being a corruption of the French word "girofle" signifying clove - and the blossom of this variety has a clove-like scent.
Hogg also recommends growing this variety as an espalier on dwarf rootstock - although modern authorities would not recommend this style because Cornish Gilliflower bears apples on the tips of its branches, making it unsuitable for training in this way.
Summary
- Species: Malus domestica
- Origin: Truro, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom
- Introduced: 1813
- Developed by: Discovered by Sir Christopher Hawkins
- Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 110000
Identification
- Fruit colour: Red / Green
- Flesh colour: Cream
- Fruit size: Large
- Bultitude apple group: 7. Flushed / striped, some russeting, sweet
Using
- Good for eating fresh
- Flavour quality: Very good
- Flavour style: Aromatic
- Ripening period: Late season
- Use / keeping: 3 months or more
Growing
- Flowering period: Mid-Late season
- Flowering group: 4
- Fertility: Self-sterile
- Triploid: No
- Fruit bearing: Tip-bearer
- General disease resistance: Average
Climate
- Suitable for temperate climates
Cornish Gilliflower identification photos from official fruit collections
Cornish Gilliflower identification photos from website visitors
Fruit tree register
Do you have a tree of this variety in your garden or orchard? If so please register the details here and contribute to our international register of fruit trees.
The following Cornish Gilliflower trees have been registered - click the name to view more details of each tree.
You can also view these trees on a map.
United Kingdom
- Bobthomlinson in WHALEY BRIDGE, DERBYSHIRE
- Clifford Cain in DONCASTER, SOUTH YORKSHIRE
- Dr Dennis Bancroft in NEAR RUGBY, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
- Kay in LEEDS, W Yorks
- Kevinincornwall in LISKEARD, UNITED KINGDOM
- Mike Petty in LUXULYAN, CORNWALL
- Richard Jones in LISKEARD, CORNWALL
- Rupert in HOLNEST, DORSET
- Rupert in HOLNEST, DORSET
Italy
- Jan Huston in CASTEL D'AIANO, BOLOGNA
Latest harvest records for this variety
Where to buy apple trees
The following fruit tree nurseries offer Cornish Gilliflower apple trees for sale:
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Orange Pippin Fruit Trees (USA)
United States Supplier's website >> -
Cummins Nursery
United States More >> -
Keepers Nursery
United Kingdom More >>
Where to buy apples
The following orchards and suppliers offer Cornish Gilliflower apples for sale. map >
United Statesmap >
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Minnesotamap >
- Two Fruit's Fruits, Hinckley
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New Hampshiremap >
- Alyson's Apple Orchard, Walpole
Rate this variety for flavor