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Apples      Pears & Peaches     Cherries, Plums & Pawpaws  Blackberries & Raspberries

Gooseberries, Jostaberries & Currents      Grapes & Kiwis

Figs, Trifoliate Orange, Osage Orange, & Goumi    NEW PLANTS FOR 2010!

 

NEW PLANTS FOR 2010: We are planning on having these new species and varieties of plants available starting in May 2010. 

 

New fruit tree cultivars:  ‘Lapins’ (self-fertile) and ‘Gold’ sweet cherries; ‘Toka’,‘Purple Heart’,‘Waneta’ hybrid plums.  Go to cherries and plums links.

 

Nut Pines (Pinus spp.):  Evergreen trees are an invaluable resource for winter windbreaks.  White pine is the standard for windbreaks in the Midwest, but I’ve always wanted to have windbreaks provide an edible crop as well!  Thus the addition of the following two species.  These will produce large crops of cones filled with large, edible pine nuts in a matter of 5-10 years.  Nuts contained in cones are enclosed in a thin shell that can be cracked with a hand nut-cracker.

 

Korean Pine (Pinus koraiensis):  Larger nut size make this the preferred species for hardy pine nuts, though it prefers well-drained soil.  Beautiful dark green growth, often planted as a landscaping evergreen.  Slow growth.  Need two to pollinate.  Full sun; Zone 4-8.  Height to 50’  4” pots $6; gal pots $12

 

Swiss Stone Pine (Pinus cembra):  Though the nuts are very slightly smaller than Korean Pine, this species likes the wet clay soils common to our area.  Very slow growing with dense pyramidal growth.  Resistant to Blister Rust!  Need two to pollinate. Full sun; Zone 3-8;  Height to 70’  4” pots $6; gal pots $12

 

Heartnut (Juglans ailantifolia):  After trying my first heartnuts straight from the tree at a local Amish farm, I was floored!  I lightly brushed off the husk, tapped the shell with my pocketknife on a fencepost and “ding!” the shell came apart in halves and the whole heart-shaped nut fell out intact.  Add to this the flavor that was like a sweeter cross between English/black walnuts and you get one incredible nut!  Anyone who has dealt with black walnut processing will love this change of pace.  Heartnuts are smaller trees, spreading more to make an attractive yard tree with white bark like English walnuts.  I’ve seen a few plants at various spots and they are all growing incredibly fast, putting on 4’ a year.  Self-fertile. Full to part sun; Zone 5-8.  Height 30’ gal pots $12

 

English Walnut (Juglans regia):  Sometimes known as Carpathian walnuts, these are seedlings that have good cold hardiness.  While not quite as large as grafted varieties, they come pretty closed and are easy to grow.  More upright growth than heartnut with beautiful smooth white bark!  Can sometimes have pest issues on the nuts but often have plenty of unharmed nuts to supply your winter pantry.  Full to part sun; Zone 4-8.  Height 40-60’ gal pots $12

 

Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollisima):  These beautiful spreading trees produce loads of large nuts at a young age. Leaves glossy green.  Beware the husks which are incredibly spiny (like a sea urchin) and will get in your shoes if you don’t gather them all up to eat first!  But slice a cross in the hull, roast over a fire, peel and dip in melted butter—you’ll have a treat that will warm you up quick on cool fall/winter evenings!  Unique for their starchiness amongst nuts—a tree-based carbohydrate source.  Immune to chestnut blight.  Plant two for pollination.  Full to part sun; Zone 4-8.  Height 30-50’ gal pots $12

 

Manchurian Apricot (Prunus armeniaca ‘Mandshurica’):  This is a seedling apricot with more potential to bear crops in hard years of variable frosts.  While the fruits are not huge like supermaket apricots, they are less prone to fruit rots/diseases and also insect damage.  Our seed supplier notes that this is a true to name Manchurian source and thus dependably hardy.  We will be grafting cultivated varieties of apricots onto some of these to be available in the future.  Somewhat self-fertile.  Full to part sun; Zone 4-6; Height 20-30’ gal pots $12

 

Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas):  An edible dogwood tree that is one of the first plants to bloom in the spring (but won’t get damaged by frosts)!  Less showy bloom than native dogwoods, but pretty in their own right with clusters of yellow flowers.  Nice fall color too.  More upright columnar growth.  Fruits are around 3/4” and have a deep tart cherry-like flavor to them.  Great for jams and preserves. Very easy to grow in a variety of soils and can take shade.  These are seedlings from both yellow and red-fruited trees, so plants may be either.  Plant two for pollination. Heavy shade to full sun; Zone 4-7; Height 10-20’.  4” pots $6; gal pots $12

 

Japanese Raisin Tree (Hovenia dulcis):  A very rare tree—I know of only two other nurseries who offer it.  Unlike most fruits, raisin tree produces edible STEMS (peduncles) of the fruit, with tasteless seeds attached!  The peduncles are swollen, juicy and very sweet, tasting a bit like raisins.  The tree looks a lot like a small basswood (Tilia americana) with light green leaves and upright growth.  Trouble free care from what I’ve heard.  Self-fertile; Full to part sun; Zone 6-10; Height to 30’ 4” pots $6; gal pots $12

 

Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum): Not a true cranberry but much easier to grow!  This is a good edible landscaping accent with its clusters of white flowers in spring and red leaves/bright red edible berries in the fall.  Berries are great dried, very tart right off the bush.  High in vitamin C.  Self-fertile; Full shade to full sun; Zone 3-9; Height 8-12’ 4” pots $6; gal pots $12

 

Nursery Stock

Brambleberry Permaculture Farm LLC