Apple 'Cornish Gilliflower' Malus domestica 'Cornish Gilliflower' (D)
ABOUT
'Cornish Gilliflower' is a late-season, dessert apple with medium to large fruit, yellow flushed and striped with red, with russet netting. At its best the flesh is firm, sweet-sharp and spicy, but it can be flavourless and chewy. Trees are vigorous and spreading, tip bearing, in pollination group 4 and self sterile. Crops tend to be light, ready to pick in mid-autumn, storing to late winter
About this plant
NamesFamily
Rosaceae
Synonyms
Cornish Gilliflower Apple
Common names
Malus domestica 'Cornish Gilliflower'
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
White
Height
12-20 feet (3.7-6.1 meters)
Spread
12-15 feet (3.7-4.6 meters)
Plant type
Tree
Hardiness zones
5
Native area
Asia
Benefits
General Benefits- Nutritional Value: Apples are a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C, beneficial for overall health.
- Aesthetic Appeal: With its attractive blooms and fruits, the apple tree adds beauty to landscapes and gardens.
- Educational Use: Apple trees can be used in educational settings to teach about plant growth, fruit development, and horticulture.
- Wildlife Habitat: Apple trees provide food and shelter for birds and other wildlife.
- Cultural Significance: Apples have historical and cultural importance in many societies, celebrated in festivals and traditions.
- Economic Value: Apples are a commercially valuable crop for both local and global economies.
- Culinary Versatility: Apples can be used in a wide range of culinary applications, from fresh eating to cooking and baking.
- Pollination Support: Apple blossoms attract pollinators, which are vital for the reproduction of many plants and ecosystem health.
- Recreational Activity: Apple picking is a popular recreational activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
Medical Properties- Dietary Fiber: Apple's content of dietary fiber can help with digestion and potentially lower cholesterol levels.
- Vitamin C: As a source of Vitamin C, apples can contribute to the normal function of the immune system.
- Antioxidants: Apples contain antioxidants, such as flavonoids and polyphenols, which may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Quercetin: This flavonoid found in apples has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Blood Sugar Regulation: The soluble fibers in apples can help regulate blood sugar levels by slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates.
- Dental Health: Chewing apples can stimulate saliva production, which can help reduce decay by lowering the levels of bacteria in the mouth.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Crafting Apple Pomanders: The fragrant apples can be studded with cloves and dried to create natural air fresheners for drawers and closets.
- Natural Dye Source: The skin and core of the apple can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics or paper.
- Fruit Wax Production: The peel of the apple can be boiled to extract natural waxes, which may be used for polishing or as a base for cosmetics.
- Photography: Intriguing shapes and textures of the apples are used by photographers to add unique elements to still-life compositions.
- Educational Tools: Apple dissections can be used in biology classes to teach students about the anatomy of fruit and plant reproduction.
- Cooking Fuel: Apple wood from pruning can be dried and used for smoking meats or as an aromatic fuel for outdoor cooking and barbecues.
- Fruit Leather: The apple flesh can be pureed and dehydrated to make homemade fruit leather snacks.
- Insect Trap: Apple halves can be used as an eco-friendly trap for fruit flies when placed in a container with a small opening.
- Animal Feed: Fallen or imperfect apples can be used as feed for livestock such as pigs and horses.
- Apple Science Experiments: Apples can be part of educational science experiments demonstrating oxidation or the principle of osmosis.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Apple Tree is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Apple Tree is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Love and Temptation: Apples are often associated with love, temptation, and knowledge, stemming from their role in various mythologies and religious texts, such as the story of Adam and Eve in the Christian tradition.
- Fertility and Abundance: The apple's fruitfulness, with its numerous seeds and bountiful harvests, symbolizes fertility and abundance.
- Eternal Life: In Norse mythology, apples are considered to provide eternal life to the gods, representing immortality and youthfulness.
- Wisdom and Knowledge: As a fruit of enlightenment in many cultures, eating an apple can symbolize the acquisition of knowledge.
- Beauty and Perfection: The 'Cornish Gilliflower' variety, with its beautiful blossom and delightful scent, can represent the pursuit of beauty and perfection.
WaterThe Cornish Gilliflower apple tree prefers consistent moisture, especially during the growing season. Water young trees weekly with about 5 gallons per watering to establish a deep root system. Mature trees should be watered deeply every two to three weeks if there is no significant rainfall, using 10 to 15 gallons each time, depending on the soil's moisture-holding capacity. The goal is to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, as apple trees are sensitive to overwatering. In dry, hot periods, increase the frequency of watering to ensure the tree remains hydrated.
LightApple trees, including the Cornish Gilliflower, thrive best in full sunlight receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. They should be planted in a spot where they are not shaded by buildings or other trees. The light encourages healthy growth, flowering, and optimal fruit production.
TemperatureThe Cornish Gilliflower apple tree grows well in a moderate climate and can tolerate winter cold down to around -20°F. In the growing season, the ideal temperature range for this apple tree is between 60°F and 75°F. It can survive temperatures up to 90°F, but prolonged higher temperatures can stress the tree and affect fruit quality.
PruningPrune the Cornish Gilliflower apple tree during its dormant season, generally late winter to early spring, to remove dead or diseased wood and open up the canopy for better air circulation and sunlight penetration. Thinning out some of the fruiting spurs can encourage larger fruit size. Prune annually to maintain tree shape and promote overall health.
CleaningAs needed
SoilApple trees thrive in well-draining, loamy soil with a mixture of two parts loam, one part sand, and one part compost. The best soil pH for apple trees, including the Cornish Gilliflower apple, typically ranges from 6.0 to 7.0.
RepottingSince the Cornish Gilliflower apple is a type of apple tree, it does not typically undergo repotting as it is grown outdoors. However, when grown in containers, young trees may need repotting every 2-3 years until they are planted out.
Humidity & MistingApple trees like the Cornish Gilliflower generally prefer outdoor conditions where ambient humidity reflects the local environment; they aren't sensitive to specific humidity levels.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Growing apples indoors is challenging; short-term only.
Outdoor
Plant in sun, well-draining soil, space roots well.
Hardiness zone
5-8 USDA
Life cycleThe life cycle of the Cornish Gilliflower apple tree (Malus domestica 'Cornish Gilliflower') begins with seed germination, where the seeds undergo a period of dormancy until conditions are favorable, typically requiring a cold stratification period to break dormancy. Following germination, the seedling emerges and establishes roots and shoots, growing into a young sapling. Over the years, the sapling matures into an adult tree, developing a robust root system, branching structure, and foliage during its vegetative growth phase. The tree then enters reproductive maturity, producing blossoms each spring—these flowers are pollinated by insects, leading to the development of fruit. After the flowering phase, apples develop over the summer, with the 'Cornish Gilliflower' apple typically ripening in the fall. Trees can live for many decades, annually cycling through these stages of growth, flowering, and fruiting.
PropogationPropogation time
Early spring
Propogation: The Cornish Gilliflower apple tree, known scientifically as Malus domestica 'Cornish Gilliflower', is commonly propagated through a method called grafting. This technique involves joining a shoot or bud of the desirable apple variety onto the rootstock of another tree, which provides the root system. Grafting is best performed in late winter or early spring before the sap starts to flow and trees come out of dormancy. A common grafting technique used is the whip and tongue graft, which involves making matching diagonal cuts on both the scion wood—the desired apple variety—and the rootstock, then carefully fitting them together so the cambium layers (the growing part of the stem) align. The union is then bound with grafting tape and sealed with grafting wax to prevent drying and disease entry. This method ensures that the variety's characteristics, like the unique flavor of the Cornish Gilliflower apple, are preserved in the new tree.
