Cornish Gilliflower Apple on G.11 (Spring 2026)
A famed heirloom from Cornwall. Also known as Cornish Gillyflower, Calville d'Angleterre.
This tree is low vigor and slow to bear. It is prone to scab. Cornish Gilliflower is a tip bearer, so care should be taken when pruning.
Don't judge an apple by its skin. This is not a beautiful fruit; it is medium-large with a rough, lumpy, dull surface that is flushed a lackluster red over a listless green and patched with russet. However, if you can get past its dreary exterior, Cornish Gilliflower will delight with its spicy perfume and rich, sweet, aromatic flavor. It has a clove-like scent when cut. (Gillyflower is an anglicization of girofle, French for "clove.") In fact, this is widely regarded as one of Englands finest apples and its flavor is used as a base for comparison by the Royal Horticultural Society. The fruit holds well to the tree and will store for up to 3 months.
Generally considered the best apple to come out of Cornwall, Cornish Gilliflower was presented to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1813 by Sir Christopher Hawkins, who was awarded a silver medal for his offering.
The Fruit
Fruit Type
Category: Apple
Subcategory:
Heirloom, Hot-Climate, Dessert
Fruit Uses & Storage
Uses: fresh eating, baking, storage, sauce
Storage duration: one to three months (approximate, depending on storage conditions)
Fruit Appearance
Skin color: red
Flesh color: off-white
Fruit Origins
Parentage:
Origin: Truro, Cornwall, England
Introduced in: 1813
Introduced by: Christopher Hawkins
The Environment
Calendar & Geography
USDA zones: 5 - 8
Chill hours: Not yet determined
Ripening date: Oct 15 (approximate, in New York State) + 30 days after McIntosh
Tree Height & Spacing
glossary
Rootstock: G.11 Rootstock
Rootstock size class: Dwarf (25% of Standard)
Tree spacing (natural spread of tree): 8'
Good for wildlife planting? N
Diseases & Pests
glossary
Apple Scab: Susceptible
Pollination
Pollination Factors
glossary
Bloom group:
Is it self-fertile? N
Is it fertile? Y
Ploidy: Diploid
Rootstock size class:
Dwarf (25% of Standard)
Pollination Partners
This table shows the first few results from a full search for pollenizers of Cornish Gilliflower Apple on G.11. Please see our Pollenizer Search to run other queries and read how the application uses various factors. Also read more about fruit tree pollination.
| Tree | Currently in Stock |
|---|---|
| Blondee™ Apple on G.214 | 233 |
| Enterprise Apple on G.214 | 225 |
| Pixie Crunch™ Apple on G.11 | 178 |
| Newtown Pippin Apple on G.41 | 156 |
| Sansa Apple on G.11 | 143 |
| Golden Russet Apple on G.214 | 141 |
| CrimsonCrisp™ Apple on G.214 | 141 |
| Williams' Pride Apple on G.11 | 135 |
| Porter's Perfection Apple on G.41 | 126 |
| Sweet Sixteen Apple on G.41 | 118 |
| Virginia Crab Apple on G.214 | 117 |
See all pollination matches for Cornish Gilliflower Apple on G.11
Hayts 8.2; SF 21.12