All about apples, pears, plums, and cherries - and orchards where they are grown

Ellison's Orange apple

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Ellisons Orange is an early (c1905) cross of Cox's Orange Pippin, and without doubt one of the most significant Cox-style apples.  Its depth and range of flavour are in the same league as its parent.

Its uniqueness comes from the strange aniseed flavour which can arise after picking - a facet of the Cox-family aromatic complexity which is not apparent in its parent. In a good year, and soon after picking, the aniseed is subdued or absent and some authorities claim Ellisons Orange can be as intense as Cox. In a bad year though, or grown in the wrong conditions, it can be quite unpleasant. The trick is to remember that Ellisons Orange, unlike most of the more complex apple varieties, is actually a mid-season apple, ripening in the UK in September. Also, like other mid-season varieties, it does not keep especially well.

If you don't like aniseed do not let this put you off because you would be missing a unique taste experience.  Straight from the tree the aniseed flavour is barely detectable, and Ellison's Orange has such a glorious richness of flavour that it is "essential reading" for anyone with an interest in apples.  After a few days the aniseed is slightly more apparent - but merely as a liquorice undertone to a whole array of different fruit flavours.

Visually Ellisons Orange fits the bill as a classic English variety. The flesh is quite soft, somewhat pear-like in texture, and juicier than Cox. Ellisons Orange is certainly a good way in to the Cox-style flavour. Although Cox is readily available in supermarkets from both UK and New Zealand suppliers, it is difficult to get examples which truly reflect its flavour potential - supermarket Cox apples are usually pleasant but do not really live up to the reputation. Ellisons Orange on the other hand - if you can find it - is a more reliable variety.

Ellisons Orange was developed from Cox's Orange Pippin by Rev. Ellison in Lincolnshire, England, at the start of the 20th century. Its other parent is believed to be one of the Calville varieties, originating in France and thought to be very old.

Ellisons Orange has always been moderately popular as a Cox-style apple which is easier to grow than its disease-prone parent. As a result it can sometimes be found at farmers markets or in old traditional orchards. It is also much easier to grow in the garden than Cox - and picked straight from the tree is the best way to enjoy the incredible intense flavours without over-dosing on the aniseed.

Ellisons Orange is an English classic that can undoubtedly claim a place in the first rank of apple varieties.


Ellison's Orange identification photos

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UK National Fruit Collection
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  • Ellisons Orange
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Visitor reviews

  • 28 Mar 2020  Mark Atkin,  GLOUCESTERSHIRE, United Kingdom
    I have an Ellison's Orange tree in my garden. I love to pick these and eat them straight from the tree. I don't like aniseed, but I can't taste that in them. Its my favourite apple when eaten fresh like this. Delicious flavour. Not too sweet, but not sharp either.
  • 18 Oct 2016  Freek,  SHEFFIELD, United Kingdom
    This year was the first big crop after planting 7 years ago, it was worth the wait, they are only just fully ripe now (18oct). I pick them straight from the tree when needed, they are surpassing the coxes from the supermarket in flavour and juiciness, fantastic apple (5/5)!
  • 09 Oct 2014  Lyn Evans,  HERTFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom
    I have a Cox Orange Pippin but its not a patch on the Ellisons Orange which is quite superb. Haven't noticed any aniseed flavour despite eating right through its ripening process. Interested in the tip to wrap and keep in the dark, if there are any left! Not one bad shape or attack by pest or canker.
  • 21 Sep 2013  Elisabeth,  LINCOLN, United Kingdom
    There is a very old and large Ellisons Orange tree in a back garden at Usher Avenue together with an equally old Blenheim Orange. If anyone from the Boultham Park renovation team is interested then they should be able to find them and they are very welcome to contact me.
  • 07 Nov 2012  Hana Rous,  READING, United Kingdom
    We have an Ellison's orange tree, which fruits well every year and has delicious apples. I personally like the slight anise flavour. It's a battle to keep the Coddling moth off though and i don't prune everu year.
  • 12 Jan 2012  Jane Howson,  LINCOLN, United Kingdom
    Hi, we are working on a 3 million pound project to restore the park at Boultham which was the site of Boultham Hall -home of the Ellison's. One of the things we are looking to do is heritage planting and so I have been really interested to read this stream of information.
  • 22 Aug 2011  Ken Ellison,  MARCIAC, France
    We planted an Ellison's Orange in memory of my brother in 2003 - this year has been prolific after pruning. Best eaten off the tree as the windfalls tend to be diseased. Not really tasted the Aniseed!
  • 10 Apr 2010  N. Buck,  CAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom
    A very nice tasting apple. But very prone to codling moth (maggots). Also quite prone to canker. Not recommended unless you plan to treat against codling and canker. Mildew and scab resistance is quite good and treatment shouldn't be required against those diseases.
  • 19 Feb 2010  Nigel Deacon,  United Kingdom
    taste / texture of this apple is identical to laxton's fortune - both have a hint of anise (aniseed). can be difficult to tell them apart, but the shape is different. laxton's fortune is more curvy. the depth of the eye is different too.
  • 15 Sep 2009  John Turner,  MERSEYSIDE, United Kingdom
    If you can be brave- thin the branches and get beautiful large, red apples. Large ones store well- wrapped and boxed and you can enjoy until December. The flavour is complex and slightly aniseed, but delicious. A great variety.
  • 09 Sep 2009  Carolyne Houghton,  GOSPORT, HAMPSHIRE,ENGLAND, United Kingdom
    we had an ellison's orange in the garden as kids, we always wrapped them in newspaper and stored them in the dark...that way they seemed to last quite a while. Now i've just purchased one of my own, hope it's as good as i remember!
  • 12 Nov 2008  Rob Oates,  BEDFORD, United Kingdom
    As a child, we had a large Ellison's Orange tree in the orchard. It usually had a good crop of juicy, full flavored fruit with a distinctive orange tang. Aniseed is not a flavor I can recall at any time.
  • 03 Nov 2008  John Pye,  LINCOLN, United States
    I was born in Rookery Lane Lincoln, beside Boultham Park wich was the Ellison family home (Boultham Hall). We had a tree in the garden & the apples were beautiful. Just been to check & sadly the tree is no longer there.
  • 22 Oct 2008  Rachel,  WINCANTON, SOMERSET, United Kingdom
    We have a tree in our garden (only owned the house 3 years) which is an Ellisons Orange - we have had bumper crops in the last 2 very wet years and after pruning the tree back quite hard.. I had more than I knew what to do with this year but they went down well at work and with the neighbours. They don't keep for all that long though - even in a cold dark place, they seem to go a bit soft but you can see where the orange name comes from as they go from bright green with a wonderful red blush to a yellowy-orange colour at the end of the season.. I have never noticed aniseed...
  • 30 Sep 2008  Pete Pickle,  LONDON, United Kingdom
    These apples are mad hot. Can't get enough.
  • 08 Oct 2007  Peter Bull,  SHROPSHIRE, United Kingdom
    We have a tree identified recently at an apple day fair as Ellison's Orange. We have only lived at this address for 18 months, but we believe the tree was planted soon after the house was built in 1965. For both our summers here it has cropped very prolifically. Picked fresh off the tree, the fruit is absolutely delicious. However it seems to lose its crispness, juiciness and delicious flavour if not eaten fairly soon after picking. But I can't say I've noticed anything like aniseed in its taste.
  • 06 Oct 2007  S Neville,  SURREY, ENGLAND, United Kingdom
    One of the apple trees in my garden has been identified as an Ellison's Orange. We know that it has been growing there since at least 1956, when my husband's parents moved in to this property. My husband thinks the tree was already planted, either by an earlier owner or perhaps when the house was originally built in the early 1930s. It was originally an espalier, which would have needed a lot of pruning, but that got neglected so it has grown into a bush tree. We have had it pruned in recent years but have been advised to leave it be from now on. It bears apples this year and they are larger than usual, very juicy and I like them. I shall be choosing one to take tomorrow to church to help decorate the base of the font for harvest festival. I shall be taking some Laxton's Superb apples with the same history which are more prolific at this time of year. The birds like to peck at both varieties. Normally there are insects inside the apples, but this does not seem to have happened in 2007. I have not been asked before to take anything to decorate the church.
  • 22 Sep 2007  A Ellison,  YORKSHIRE, United Kingdom
    i grow this apple and have done for 15 years . i find this apple very sweet and juicy and tender fruits. as for tasteing of aniseed imust say i have never tasted it.it is a very good doer and i get plenty of apples every year

Tree register

United States

United Kingdom

Germany

New Zealand

  • Giles in HAMILTON, WAIKATO

Switzerland

Spring blossom records for this variety

2018 season

  • 9th May  2018  - tree owned by Bill in Smeeton Westerby, United Kingdom

2017 season

  • 4th May  2017  - tree owned by Bill in Smeeton Westerby, United Kingdom
  • 15th April  2017  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom

2016 season

  • 26th May  2016  - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom
  • 16th May  2016  - tree owned by Bill in Smeeton Westerby, United Kingdom
  • 8th May  2016  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom

2015 season

  • 11th May  2015  - tree owned by Bill in Smeeton Westerby, United Kingdom
  • 8th May  2015  - tree owned by Jon in Brigg, United Kingdom
  • 4th May  2015  - tree owned by Tim in Lincoln, United Kingdom
  • May  2015  - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom
  • 11th April  2015  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom

2014 season

  • 26th May  2014  - tree owned by Tim in , United Kingdom
  • 5th May  2014  - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom
  • 3rd May  2014  - tree owned by Bill in Smeeton Westerby, United Kingdom
  • 1st May  2014  - tree owned by Tim in Lincoln, United Kingdom
  • 10th April  2014  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom
  • April  2014  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom
  • April  2014  - tree owned by Gwyn in Grayswood, United Kingdom

2013 season

  • 31st May  2013  - tree owned by Bill in Smeeton Westerby, United Kingdom
  • 15th May  2013  - tree owned by Jean in Martock, United Kingdom
  • May  2013  - tree owned by Michelle in Bournemouth, United Kingdom
  • 12th April  2013  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom
  • April  2013  - tree owned by Gwyn in Grayswood, United Kingdom

2012 season

  • 19th May  2012  - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom
  • 7th May  2012  - tree owned by Tim in , United Kingdom
  • 5th May  2012  - tree owned by Tim in Lincoln, United Kingdom
  • 5th May  2012  - tree owned by Tim in Lincoln, United Kingdom
  • 16th April  2012  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom

2011 season

  • 12th April  2011  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom

2010 season

  • 16th May  2010  - tree owned by Jon in Keelby, United Kingdom
  • 16th May  2010  - tree owned by Jon in Keelby, United Kingdom
  • 10th May  2010  - tree owned by Tim in , United Kingdom
  • 3rd May  2010  - tree owned by Stuart in Newbury, United Kingdom
  • 29th April  2010  - tree owned by Elizabeth in Evesham, United Kingdom
  • 27th April  2010  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom

2009 season

  • 18th April  2009  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom
  • 4th March  2009  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom

Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.


Harvest records for this variety

2019 season

  • 2nd week September  2019  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States
  • 4th week August  2019  - tree owned by Tony in Blandford Forum, United Kingdom

2018 season

  • 3rd week September  2018  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States

2017 season

  • 3rd week September  2017  - tree owned by Jon in Shaw Island, United States
  • 1st week September  2017  - tree owned by Eric in Exning, United Kingdom
  • 1st week September  2017  - tree owned by Bill in Smeeton Westerby, United Kingdom

2016 season

  • 2nd week November  2016  - tree owned by Katie in Duns, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week October  2016  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week September  2016  - tree owned by Bill in Smeeton Westerby, United Kingdom
  • 2nd week September  2016  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom

2015 season

  • 4th week October  2015  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week October  2015  - tree owned by Peter in Hexham, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week September  2015  - tree owned by Bill in Smeeton Westerby, United Kingdom
  • September  2015  - tree owned by Anne in Royston, United Kingdom
  • 4th week August  2015  - tree owned by deadbird in Epsom, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week August  2015  - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom

2014 season

  • 3rd week September  2014  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom
  • 2nd week September  2014  - tree owned by Bill in Smeeton Westerby, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week August  2014  - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom

2013 season

  • 1st week October  2013  - tree owned by Bill in Smeeton Westerby, United Kingdom
  • 1st week October  2013  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom
  • September  2013  - tree owned by Gwyn in Grayswood, United Kingdom

2012 season

  • 3rd week October  2012  - tree owned by Andrew in St Saviour, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week September  2012  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom

2010 season

  • 1st week October  2010  - tree owned by Steve in Poole, United Kingdom
  • 3rd week September  2010  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom

2009 season

  • 3rd week September  2009  - tree owned by James in York, United Kingdom
  • 2nd week September  2009  - tree owned by Pat in Friockheim, United Kingdom
  • September  2009  - tree owned by N. in Cambridge, United Kingdom

Origins

  • Species: Malus domestica
  • Parentage: Cox's Orange Pippin
  • Originates from: Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom
  • Introduced: 1890
  • Orange Pippin Cultivar ID: 1019
  • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1982-046

Identification

  • Bultitude apple group: 7. Flushed / striped, some russeting, sweet

Growing

  • Flowering period: Mid-Late season
  • Flowering group: 4
  • Fertility: Partially self-fertile
  • Ploidy: Diploid
  • Vigour: Average growth

Climate

  • Blossom frost-resistance: Good resistance

Other qualities

  • Awards: RHS AGM 1993

Parents and other ancestors of this variety



Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Ellison's Orange apple trees for sale:

  • Cummins Nursery
    United States  More >>

Where to buy fresh fruit

United States

  • Washington

    • Skipley Farm, Snohomish        *** Feature Orchard ***

United Kingdom


Australia




References

  • Apples of England (1948)
    Author: Taylor
  • Fruit Expert
    Author: Hessayon

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