Ellison’s Orange Apple Tree
A beautiful, large, crimson red fruit with yellow stripes, Ellison’s Orange features delicious flavor and tender, sweet and aromatic flesh. A unique relative of Cox’s Orange Pippin, Ellison’s Orange is scab-resistant and easy to grow.
Latin Name: Malus
Site and Soil: All apples like 1/2 day to full sun and well-drained soil.
Rootstock Description: M-7 is considered a semi-dwarf rootstock. Regular apple trees grafted on M-7 rootstock wiill grow 12-16 ft. in height. Crabapples, Columnars, Espaliers, and Combination Apples will be smaller. M-7 is very hardy and adapted to most soils.
Considered a dwarf rootstock, Apple trees on M-26 typically grow 8-12 ft. in height and are usually spaced 8-12 ft. apart. Crabapples and Columnars will likely be smaller. M-26 induces early bearing, usually in 2-3 years after planting, and grows well in most soils, except very wet and poorly drained ones. On windy sites, trees grafted on M-26 may need staking.
Pollination Requirements: All apples need another variety nearby for pollination. Neighboring trees often offer sufficient pollen for good fruit set.
Hardiness: Ellison’s Orange is hardy to minus 30° F or below.
Bearing Age: 2-3 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 8-12 ft. in height
Bloom Time: April
Ripening Time: October
Yield: 30-50 lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Ellison’s Orange can be affected by Apple Scab. Apple Scab is more prevalent in regions with wet springs, like we have in the Pacific Northwest. While it doesn’t seriously affect the eating quality of the fruit, it can cause black spots on the apples and foliage. Apple Scab can be controlled by sulfur and other sprays. Codling Moth can create wormy apples and aphids can damage the foliage of apple trees.
USDA Zone: 4
Sunset Western Zone: 1-9, 14-16
Sunset Northeast Zone: All zones