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Oullins Gage

Oullins Gage

A French gage with the classic gage-like flavour, yet whereas most gages prefer warm climates, Oullins Gage also grows well in the cooler climates of the UK and northern Europe.  Rated by the noted Victorian writer Hogg as having "exquisite flavour and handsome appearance".

Oullins Gage gets its name from the town of Oullins near Lyon in France, where it was first discovered.  It is also known as Reine Claude d'Oullins.

The fruit is large by gage standards - more like a small plum (and reckoned by some experts as a gage-like plum rather than a true gage).  It is a particularly attractive golden colour, with faint red dots - very pretty in a fruit bowl.

Oullins Gage is equally good for fresh or culinary use.  Eaten fresh, the flesh is sweet and gage-like - perhaps not as good as some others, but far better than most shop-bought plums.  For culinary use, pick slightly early when it is still firm.  The flavour of Oullins Gage is also fairly consistent between seasons, and it will perform well even in a poor summer.

The stone is semi-clinging.

It is interesting to compare Oullins Gage (a gage-like plum) with one of its offspring - Opal.  Opal is a true plum but best considered as a gage-like plum, since it inherits some of the gage-like flavour of Oullins Gage.

Oullins Gage gage identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Oullins Golden Gage
  • Oullins Golden Gage

USDA identification images for Oullins Gage

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

    Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

    Offspring of this variety


    Visitor reviews

    • 14 Aug 2014  DEVON, United Kingdom
      Update on my previous post,2014 crop was truly amazing,started picking 20th July& just finishing the stragglers on Aug14th.Huge crop, pick daily if possible!
    • 11 May 2014  DEVON, United Kingdom
      Outstanding flavour,but has little else going for it! Light cropper,very vigorous,takes years to bear as stated above & not a keeper,fruit seem to spoil before i walk home.

    Tree register

    United States

    United Kingdom

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    Poland

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2021 season

    • 11th April  2021  - tree owned by James in Melbourne, United Kingdom

    2016 season

    • 20th April  2016  - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom

    2014 season

    • 26th April  2014  - tree owned by Hanne in Copenhagen, Denmark
    • 10th April  2014  - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom
    • 31st March  2014  - tree owned by Roger in Burton Latimer, United Kingdom

    2013 season

    • 13th May  2013  - tree owned by Hanne in Copenhagen, Denmark
    • 2nd May  2013  - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom
    • 1st May  2013  - tree owned by David in Sleaford, United Kingdom
    • 29th April  2013  - tree owned by Roger in Burton Latimer, United Kingdom

    2012 season

    • 14th April  2012  - tree owned by Roger in Burton Latimer, United Kingdom
    • 10th April  2012  - tree owned by Simon in Bellingdon, United Kingdom
    • 31st March  2012  - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom

    2011 season

    • 8th April  2011  - tree owned by David in Sleaford, United Kingdom
    • 5th April  2011  - tree owned by Roger in Burton Latimer, United Kingdom

    2010 season

    • 23rd April  2010  - tree owned by Roger in Burton Latimer, United Kingdom
    • 19th April  2010  - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom

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


    Harvest records for this variety

    2016 season

    • 3rd week August  2016  - tree owned by Richard in York, United Kingdom

    2014 season

    • 3rd week August  2014  - tree owned by Michelle in Ipswich, United Kingdom

    2011 season

    • 3rd week July  2011  - tree owned by Simon in Bellingdon, United Kingdom
    • 3rd week July  2011  - tree owned by Roger in Burton Latimer, United Kingdom

    2010 season

    • 2nd week July  2010  - tree owned by Roger in Burton Latimer, United Kingdom

    Origins

    • Species: Prunus domestica - European plum
    • Originates from: Oullins, near Lyon, France
    • Introduced: 1860
    • Developed by: M. Massot

    Identification

    • Awards: RHS AGM (current)
    • Country of origin: France
    • Period of origin: 1850 - 1899
    • Fruit colour: Yellow
    • Flower colour: White
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Popularity: Best sellers
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous

    Using

    • Picking season: Mid
    • Keeping (of fruit): 1 week
    • Flavour quality: Very good
    • Flavour style (apples): Sweeter
    • Cropping: Light
    • Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Food uses: Culinary
    • Picking period: mid-August
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Beginner
    • Flowering group: 4
    • Pollinating others: Good
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Vigour: Vigorous
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Self-fertility: Self-fertile

    Climate

    • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
    • Cold hardiness (RHS): H5 (to -15C)

    Other qualities

    • Canker: Some resistance

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Oullins Gage gage trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    No orchards have registered as growing this variety. If you grow this and want to register please go to our Orchard Registration form.



    References

    • Fruit Expert
      Author: Hessayon

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