Description
One of the very best alternatives to Cox's Orange Pippin for the North of England, this variety was raised by Rev. C.C. Ellison of Bracebridge, and introduced in 1911. The golden fruits which are flushed and striped red, are of medium size, round, slightly conical and with flat ends. The tree's growth is moderate and rather upright with slender branches. Fruit is very juicy and richly flavoured when fully ripe, a reliable cropper and the flower resists Spring frosts.
"We see Cox's Orange Pippin offered frequently in northern garden centres, but it shouldn't appear on any list of apples that do well in northern Britain; it just raises false hopes. Ellison's Orange, on the other hand, is the best, even superior alternative to the Cox in northern orchards; it does well in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, and many parts of Scotland, though better in the drier east. The inspired cross, made c. 1904, by the Rev. Ellison of the Manse at Bracebridge, working with his brother-in-law's Head Gardener, Mr Wipf, at Hartsholme Hall, Lincolnshire, resulted in a juicy, intensely aromatic and very attractive dessert apple with beautiful, frost-resistant blossom. So glorious that we do not care that its season is short and it is no hardship to eat it off the tree. In fact, the rich and distinctive essence of its crisp flesh is reminiscent of aniseed, particularly noticeable in highly coloured fruit, and it is best not stored long, because when this flavour becomes dominant it rather spoils the effect." © Lin Hawthorne - 'The Northern Pomona'.
For help with choosing the correct rootstock for your needs, please click here A Guide to Rootstocks
For help with choosing the correct size and shape, please click here A Guide to Fruit Tree Shapes