'Ellis Bitter'
Species	Malus domestica
Breeder	Ellis, Newton St. Cyres
Origin	England , mid 19th c.

Ellis Bitter , also called Ellis's Bitter or Ellis's Bitter-Sweet, is an English cider apple originating in Devon , but now widely planted across the west of England.

History [ edit ]

The variety's exact origin is unknown, though it was first planted around Crediton , Devon, in the 19th century, and was sometimes thought to have arisen on the farm of a Mr Ellis at Newton St. Cyres in the middle years of the century. ^[1] It was subsequently widely planted across the region by commercial growers, particularly those under contract to H. P. Bulmer . In the 20th century after being included in trial plantings by the Long Ashton Research Station , ^[2] and because of its early cropping characteristics allowed extension of the harvesting season forward. ^[3]

Ellis Bitter is still found in modern commercial orchards, in additional to 'traditional' orchards.

Characteristics [ edit ]

The apple is a medium 'bittersweet', with low levels of malic acid and moderate tannins. The fruit is medium-sized and conical, with a slightly flattened shape. The skin is yellow and waxy with an orange-red striped flush, and russetted lenticels .

The tree is extremely vigorous and consistently self-sterile, ^[1] and has good disease resistance.

References [ edit ]