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Cornish Gilliflower apple trees

Cornish Gilliflower apples
Cornish Gilliflower is listed in the RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Picking season: Very late
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
  • Flowering group: 4

Cornish Gillyflower originates from the county of Cornwall. It was discovered in the early 19th century and quickly established a reputation as one of the highest quality apples available in Victorian England.

In the words of Victorian pomologist Robert Hogg it is "remarkable for its rich and aromatic flavour".

Cornish Gilliflower apple trees for sale

Bare-root

  • BR11-year bare-root treeMM106 rootstock£34.95< 5 in stock
    Large tree (3m-5m after 10 years)
  • BR21-year bare-root treeM25 rootstock£34.95
    Very large tree (4m-7m after 10 years)
    Out of stock
    Please try next season

Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts

Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.

Tree specification

Photos of trees as supplied | Tree sizes and forms

Next deliveries

Order now for delivery from week commencing 24th February.

Delivery charges

Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.

Growing and Training

Cornwall experiences mild winters and summers which are warm but not necessarily hot. Cornish Gillyflower has some natural resistance to scab, a disease which likes these conditions. It is a moderately vigorous tree, fairly easy to grow although not especially heavy-cropping.

It is slightly unusual in being a tip-bearer - the apples are borne on the ends of the previous year's shoots. It is therefore best to keep pruning to a minimum to avoid pruning off next season's fruit buds.

Recommended pollinators for Cornish Gilliflower apple trees

Cornish Gilliflower is not self-fertile, so you will need another different but compatible variety planted nearby in order to produce fruit. The following varieties are good pollinators for Cornish Gilliflower. If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us. More pollinators >

  • Pollinator Braeburn
    Braeburn
    Braeburn is one of the best-flavoured supermarket apple varieties.
  • Pollinator Gala
    Gala
    Gala is popular supermarket apple - but better when home-grown, with a sweet pleasant flavour.
  • Pollinator John Downie
    John Downie
    John Downie is a traditional crab apple for making crab apple jelly. White blossom and orange-red fruits.
  • Pollinator Golden Hornet
    Golden Hornet
    Malus Golden Hornet is a traditional white blossom crab apple, with persistent yellow fruits.
  • Pollinator Newton Wonder
    Newton Wonder
    A traditional English cooking apple, a good alternative to Bramley.
  • Pollinator Wedding Bouquet
    Wedding Bouquet
    Malus Wedding Bouquet features ivory-white blossom and tiny red berry-like fruitlets.
  • Pollinator Ellison's Orange
    Ellison's Orange
    Ellison's Orange is a well respected Cox-style apple which can achieve very good flavour.
  • Pollinator Peasgood's Nonsuch
    Peasgood's Nonsuch
    Peasgood Nonsuch is a highly-regarded old-fashioned English cooking apple.

History

Discovered by Sir Christopher Hawkins near the town of Truro, Cornwall, England and introduced in 1813. The word "gillyflower" or "gilliflower" or "July flower" are corruptions of the French word "girofle" meaning cloves - a reference to the clove-like scent of the blossom of this apple variety.


Cornish Gilliflower characteristics

Growing

  • Gardening skillAverage
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group4
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • Fruit bearingPartial tip-bearer
  • Climate suitabilityTemperate climates

Using

  • Picking seasonVery late
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping (of fruit)3 months or more
  • Food usesEating fresh

Problems

  • Disease resistanceGood

Identification

  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1800 - 1849
  • Blossom colourPink - light
  • Fruit colourGreen

British-grown trees Trees grown in the UK.

Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK. Find out more.

In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance. Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK. Find out more

Guaranteed fruit trees

When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions. Find out more.


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