This cultivar was found in a cottage garden in Truro, Cornwall, England, UK, in about 1800[2] and in 1813 was brought to the attention of the Royal Horticultural Society by Sir Christopher Hawkins, who was awarded a silver medal "for his exertions".[3][4] The word 'gilliflower' is possibly a corruption of a French word girofle meaning clove, believed to be a reference to its odour when cut. The leaves are small and the tree is not a strong grower. It ripens in October.[5]
The Cornish Gillyflower is used as a base for comparison by the RHS fruit committee to gauge the flavour of other apples.[6]