Ellisons Orange Apple Trees

Ellison's Orange Eating Apple

Ellison's Orange apple is a traditional English dessert apple, with an orange flush on a green background. Its flavour is exceptionally good, very juicy, with soft flesh almost like a pear. Its aromatic flavour develops a distinct aniseed hint in very ripe fruit. View our full range of UK-grown apple trees here.

One of its parents is Cox's Orange Pippin, but with much juicier flesh and real Cox-style flavour. Ellison's Orange has stood the test of time for more than a century, as it combines the best attributes of its parent - flavour and blush of the Cox with better disease resistance and cold tolerance. It has been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit and has eye-catching pale-pink blossom in spring and fruit ripens mid-season (September to October). Apples are best eaten fresh, as it does not store well.

Good in your garden

If you're short of space, Ellison's Orange is a good choice, as it is partially self-fertile, so it will bear a crop without other apple trees nearby but the yield will be much bigger if a tree from a compatible group is in range. It's in Pollination Group D, so any different trees nearby in Pollination Group C, D or E will certainly enhance the crop. Use our Pollination Checker for Fruit Trees for help.

Ellison's Orange makes a good alternative to Cox's Orange Pippin, which is unsuitable for growing in the north, at altitude or in frost pockets due to poor frost and disease resistance. It also has good resistance to apple scab.

It will grow up to 3m but can be pruned annually to keep it more manageable. This apple tree is suitable for growing in a large container on the patio which will restrict height.

A quick guide to Ellison's Orange

• Use: Eating straight from the tree - distinct aniseed flavour
• Pruning: Partial tip-bearer
• Pollination: Partially self-fertile
• Pollination Group: D
• Picking: Mid-September to mid-October
• Colour (apple): Green with an orange flush and white, soft juicy flesh
• Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit

An interesting Ellison's Orange fact

Ellison's Orange is named after its one of its breeders, The Rev CC Ellison, who developed it along with Mr Wipf, a gardener at Hartsholme Hall, Lincolnshire. It was crossed in around 1905, most probably with the old French Calville Blanc apple. It first went on sale in 1911.