Ennis was developed in Washington, USA, and was introduced around 1940.
It is probably a cross between Barcelona and Daviana.
It was selected primarily for its large nut size and yielding capacity (USDA, 2010).
It forms a vigorous tree with an open crown.
Ennis is late coming into leaf.
There are usually just one or two nuts per cluster.
The husk tends to clasp the nut and many nuts fall in the husk.
It is moderately susceptible to bacterial blight and big bud mites.
Pollen is shed mid-season, female flowering is mid to late.
Many flowers are borne on the catkin peduncles (stalks).
Ennis is not an effective polliniser.
Its catkins are small and release a high proportion of non-viable pollen (USDA, 2010).
Ennis is very productive with large attractive nuts.
The shell is pale, glossy, striped, and easily cracked.
Kernels are usually free of fibre and do not blanch. Percent kernel 43 – 49%.
In Oregon the kernels are generally plump and have a less wrinkled appearance than kernels of most other large-sized nuts (USDA, 2010).
However, trials in Australia reported that in many instances, kernels of Ennis were poorly filled and shrivelled (Baldwin et al, 2007).
This has been observed in parts of NZ (pers. comm. D. Murdoch, I. Burney 2009).
Good quality Ennis nuts are produced in Marlborough so Ennis may be a very site specific cultivar.
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