Baking & Cooking Favourites

History: Granny Smith was discovered by Maria Ann "Granny" Smith as a chance seedling on her and her husband's farm in Australia in 1868. Having grown from apple seeds she had tossed, she found it to be an exceptional apple. She propagated it and brought the apples to market, earning the variety local popularity. She passed away two years later but local growers kept the variety going until it was noticed by the New South Wales Department of Agriculture in 1895. Thanks to its excellent shelf life, it became an important agricultural export and remains one of the most popular apple varieties in the world today. There has been an annual Granny Smith Festival in Eastwood since 1985 to commemorate Maria Ann Smith and her apple that attracts over 80k attendees each year.

Why We Grow It: This classic green apple barely needs an introduction! It is well known for its sweet and sharp flavour that is a delight for fresh eating and for its usage in cooking and baking. As an added bonus, Granny Smith also keeps well in storage and tends to start producing fruit at a young age.

History: Greengage plums are a European variety that originated in Iran, although it is unclear exactly how old they are. They were introduced to England via France in 1724 by Sir William Gage, after whom they were named in English when the French labels were supposedly lost in transit. These sweet plums were later brought to North American colonies where they were grown by prominent figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Although they have since fallen out of favour in North America, they are still quite popular in western Europe and occasionally referenced in pop culture. Greengage plums are the namesake of The Greengage Summer, a 1958 novel and subsequent 1961 film, and are mentioned in a Monty Python sketch. 

Why We Grow It: It is a shame this plum's popularity declined in North America since it is considered a high-quality dessert fruit, possibly even the best dessert plum. Their bright green flesh is incredibly sweet and can also be used for cooking and preserving. Greengage plum trees tend to have a compact growth habit, great for anyone without a lot of space.

Species: Prunus dulcis x P. persica

History: Little is known about the origins of Hall's Hardy almonds aside that they are actually a hybrid between an almond and peach. This hybridization allows them to better withstand colder temperatures that normal almonds cannot. 

Why We Grow It: Hall's Hardy is a cross between an almond and a peach, giving it the cold hardiness to grow and produce small almonds in our climate. Although the nuts take quite a bit of effort to extract from their shells compared to regular almonds, they have a nice bitter-sweet flavour. They have higher levels of amygdalin than regular sweet almonds, so it is recommended to boil or roast them to remove the toxicity just to be safe, especially if consuming larger quantities. The trees are also quite attractive with ornamental pink blossoms in the spring. 

Bareroot Peach & Almond Trees
We are very pleased to be able to offer almond trees to our customers. They are both challenging and rewarding plants to grow. However, due to the unique challenges of growing these trees, and the increased care required for their success, we regrettably cannot offer our standard 90 day guarantee. Please inspect your almond trees to your satisfaction when you pick them up at the nursery, or immediately upon arrival if they are shipped. For shipped trees, make your claim within 7 days of receipt of the trees. After 7 days of receipt, you will have been deemed to have accepted the trees in as-is condition.

History: Haralson apples were developed at the University of Minnesota in 1922 and named after Charles Haralson who was superintendent of the university's fruit breeding farm. It is one of almost 30 apple varieties the university has developed in its breeding program since it began in 1888.

Why We Grow It: The skin of this variety is striped red with russet dots and the flesh is white, juicy, and of pleasant albeit mild flavour. Haralson boasts excellent cold hardiness and general disease resistance.

Species: Rubus sp

History: Hardy Black originated in Nova Scotia. As the name implies, the variety was selected for its hardiness along with excellent fruit. 

Why We Grow It: This hardy variety produces large, dark berries that are sweet and juicy. To make it even better, they bear fruit over a long period of time which gives you that much more of an opportunity to enjoy these lovely berries.

Species: Prunus persica

History: These seedlings are grown from Harson peach seeds collected from mother trees growing in Ontario. Harson was developed at the AAFC Harrow Research and Development Centre in Ontario and released in 1982.

Why We Grow It: Seedling fruit trees are a great way to add some diversity and mystery to your garden or orchard! We expect that seedling peaches will be even hardier trees than their parents! Harson produces a freestone peach that is great for fresh eating and canning. It is quite similar to Redhaven.

Please Note: Since peaches tend to stay true to type more than apples, these seedlings will likely bear a strong resemblance to their parent variety. However, any specific information listed on this page should be taken with a grain of salt as there may be some variation from the parent tree.

Species: Juglans ailantifolia var. cordiformis or hybrid. Our seeds are collected from trees that may have been cross-pollinated by closely related species so the resulting seedlings may be hybrids. 

History: Heartnuts are a sport of the Japanese Walnut that have a heart-shaped shell and kernel instead of the usual elliptical shell. They have good commercial potential in the Great Lakes area where the climate is similar to that of Japan.

Why We Grow It: These trees produce an abundance of tasty nuts that are sweet than other walnuts and lack the bitter aftertaste. Ideally, they will produce heart-shaped nuts but since they are seedlings they may produce the usual rounder nuts of the regular Japanese walnut. They are sensitive to spring frosts for nut production, so they are best planted in a sheltered location.

Species: Prunus avium

History: These seedlings are grown from Hedelfingen seeds from sweet cherries sourced in Ontario. First discovered in Germany in 1850, Hedelfingen has become a popular variety in Ontario.

Why We Grow It: Seedling fruit trees are a great way to add some diversity and mystery to your garden or orchard! The parent variety, Hedelfingen, is well-regarded due to its great flavour and later bloom time which makes it more tolerant of late spring frosts. 

Please Note: Since sweet cherries tend to stay true to type more than apples, these seedlings will likely bear a strong resemblance to their parent variety. However, any specific information listed on this page should be taken with a grain of salt as there may be some variation from the parent tree.

Species: Rubus sp.

History: Heritage raspberries were developed by Cornell University in New York and introduced in 1969. It is one of the most widely grown raspberry varieties in the world due to the quality of its fruit and its extended bearing season. This variety is considered the standard for everbearing varieties and in 2004 it even received the Outstanding Fruit Cultivar Award from the American Society of Horticultural Sciences.

Why We Grow It: On top of the accolades mentioned above, these medium-sized red berries can also be harvested within the first year! You can enjoy them fresh or in baked goods, or freeze, dry, or preserve them to enjoy in the winter months. We find these to be sweeter than Nova, but with a milder flavour and slightly crumbly texture. The canes are thorny so exercise caution when working around this variety! You can cut down the canes in the winter for a large fall crop, or enjoy a more spread out crop from June to September. We have found cutting the patch down annually also helps with borer problems.

The second product photo shows Nova (right) compared to Heritage (left).

The third photo shows a Heritage and Nova raspberry tart Steph made!

Species: Viburnum trilobum

History: Highbush Cranberry is actually a viburnum and not a cranberry, despite its name. It earned its name due to the resemblance of the berries to cranberries in appearance and flavour. This shrub is native across southern Canada and and the northeastern US, and in sporadic locations in the prairies and BC. The berries have traditionally been used by indigenous peoples and European colonizers alike. 

Why We Grow It: Fans of cranberries will enjoy this native plant! The bright red berries are high in vitamin C and can be eaten fresh, although like regular cranberries are best when made into sauces and preserves. They do contain a fairly large pit that has to be removed beforehand though! The shrub itself gets about 4m tall and has ornamental appeal with its showy white 'flowers' (they are actually bracts surrounding the smaller clusters of flowers within).  

History: Holstein was discovered in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany in 1918 and became one of the most popular varieties in the country. It is possibly a seedling of Cox's Orange Pippin.

Why We Grow It: This popular German variety sports attractive yellow skin with an orange/red blush. The flesh is firm, juicy, and aromatic in a way that is reminiscent of Cox's Orange Pippin. In general, this variety is easy to care for and grows vigorously. 

Species: Lonicera caerulea

History: Little is known about the origins of Honey Gin aside from the fact it originated in Russia.

Why We Grow It: This variety boasts a unique sweet flavour with hints of smoked plum. Honey Gin's berries are 2cm long and deep blue and juicy. They can be used in a wide variety of ways such as fresh eating or cooking but are generally noted for their excellence in wine, gin, and vodka production. 

Species: Gleditsia triacanthos

History: Honey Locust is native to the central United States where it has been used by indigenous peoples as a source of food and medicine. Its name is derived from the pulp inside the pea pods which is quite sweet and crisp. It has been commonly planted as a landscape tree in many places around the world due to its ability to survive many conditions too harsh for other trees. Unfortunately, Honey Locust's tenacious nature has caused it to become invasive in some places.

Why We Grow It: Reaching 30 meters tall, this native nitrogen fixing tree benefits many including bees, wildlife, and even humans: we can use the sweet (honey flavoured) pulp inside their pods in baking, tea or for brewing beer. Honey Locusts grow impressive thorns, 3-10 cm long which can be used for pins or nails in a pinch and the durable, rot-resistant wood has a variety of uses.

History: Honeygold apples were developed by the University of Minnesota and introduced in 1970. It is one of nearly 30 varieties that have been developed by the university's breeding program since it began in 1888. This apple is a cross between Golden Delicious and Haralson, designed to combine the taste of the former with the cold hardiness of the latter. Honeygold is also famous for being mistakenly identified as one of the parents of Honeycrisp, although that has since been rectified.

Why We Grow It: With the sweet taste and appealing look of Golden Delicious but the cold hardiness of Haralson, this is an excellent apple for anyone living in colder hardiness zones. It is great for fresh eating as well as making pies and applesauce. The tree is also somewhat scab resistant.

Species: Armoracia rusticana

History: Horseradish originated somewhere in the Mediterranean and has been well known since ancient history, appearing in writings from Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and the Renaissance. It has historically been used for both culinary and medicinal purposes in Europe and was introduced to North America by European colonizers where indigenous peoples also adopted it for medicinal use. Today, horseradish is commonly grown around the world and used in cooking or to make sauces. An enzyme in horseradish also has applications in molecular biology and biochemistry! 

Why We Grow it: Horseradish is a root vegetable with a distinctly pungent and sharp taste. As a result, it is most often used in cooking and making sauces/condiments. It is a hardy vegetable and has a tendency to spread through the garden so extra care should be taken to keep it contained when planting it.

History: Idared apples were developed at the University of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station in 1942. Although its flavour is generally considered average, its excellent storage qualities have made it one of the most popular apple varieties in North America.

Why We Grow It: Idared's best quality is its ability to easily last six months when stored in a fridge, potentially until June under optimal storage conditions. The flesh tends to be softer and is white with some tinges of green. The flavour is described as sprightly, moderately acidic, and tangy, and this apple boasts a high Vitamin C content. It is great for baking and making applesauce. The tree's naturally somewhat smaller size makes Idared easier to prune and train.

Species: Rubus sp.

History: Illini Hardy was developed as a cold hardy variety by the University of Illinois and released in 1988. It is a cross between Chester Thornless and NY 95.

Why We Grow It: This variety produces very large and abundant berries late in the summer. The dark berries are sweet with some tartness, resembling the flavour of wild blackberries. Its cold hardy nature makes it hard to turn down for Canadian growers.

Pictured on the left: top: Chester, bottom: Illini Hardy

Species: Morus rubra x M. alba

History: Illinois Everbearing was discovered in Illinois, US by the Wabash River and is a natural cross between red mulberries (M. rubra) and white mulberries (M. alba). It was discovered by Peter Glaser in 1947 and likely selected for its excellent fruit quality and everbearing nature. Named for its State of origin and long harvest window, Illinois Everbearing was released in 1958 by Burgess Seed and Plant Co. in Michigan and has since become one of the most popular mulberries in North America.

Why We Grow It: Illinois Everbearing produces large, almost seedless mulberries with an excellent flavour. They are great for eating fresh, baking, or making into jams. Better yet, these excellent mulberries ripen from July into September, providing a wide window to enjoy these tasty treats. The tree itself is hardy and vigorous but is relatively easy to keep pruned to a smaller size. 

Species: Lonicera caerulea

History: Indigo Gem was bred by Bob Bors at the University of Saskatchewan as part of the Indigo Series, a series of five varieties that all share the same parents. They were bred sometime in the mid to late 2000s and released around 2010/2011. Indigo Gem is the most productive variety of the series.

Why We Grow It: Indigo Gem produces fairly round berries that are sweeter and smaller than most haskaps, although they still have that characteristic tartness to them! It is considered one of the better options for fresh eating and like other haskaps is also great in baking, making preserves, etc. 

Species: Amelanchier x wiegandii (likely a hybrid of A. arborea and A. sanguinea)

History: There is little information on the origin of Isaac although it is believed to be a cross between the Common Serviceberry (A. arborea) and the Roundleaf Serviceberry (A. sanguinea). It was likely selected for its large, sweet berries.  

Why We Grow It: Isaac produces very large berries with a lovely sweet flavour. Like other serviceberries they are great for fresh eating, cooking, baking, and preserving. Isaac makes a nice ornamental shrub with its rounded shape and white blooms in the spring. It is generally an adaptable and cold hardy plant as well!

History: This McIntosh type apple was developed in New Jersey at the Rutgers Agricultural Experiment Station in 1956. It was released commercially in 1971.

Why We Grow It: For McIntosh lovers this is a great apple to grow since it ripens before actual McIntosh apples. It is a bit more tart than McIntosh which makes it great for cooking, baking, and applesauce. It is recommended to use a thickener when baking pies since the flesh cooks down quickly. This tree is also a good cropper.

Species: Rubus occidentalis

History: Jewel black raspberries were bred by Cornell University in New York in an effort to create productive and vigorous black raspberry varieties. It was bred in 1954 as a cross between Bristol and Dundee black raspberries.

Why We Grow It: Black raspberries are a special treat with less tang than red raspberries, and more of that musky sweetness that black berries (mulberries, blackberries, etc.) have. Steph eats these berries by the handful - delicious! This variety produces nice clusters of sweet juicy berries. The plant itself reaches about a meter high and wide. It can spread over the years, creating a most delicious fence line if you let it!

History: Jonagold, a cross between Golden Delicious and Jonathan, was developed in 1953 at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station at Cornell University. With its large size and sweet flavour, it has become one of the most popular apples in North America and is especially popular in Belgium.

Why We Grow It: The fruit is attractive with a red blush over yellow skin. It has a pleasant sweet-sour flavour that makes it a great multi-purpose apple. 

History: Jonathan has an interesting history since there are two potential origins. One story says that Rachel Higley collected apple seeds from the local cider mill which she later grew on her new property in Ohio in 1796. She named one of the new varieties Jonathan after a young boy who often visited her orchard. The second, and more likely story, is that it was grown by farmer Philip Rick in the 1820s in New York. Originally named Rick, the apple was renamed Jonathan after the man who brought it to the attention of the Albany Horticultural Society.  

Why We Grow It: These cheery red apples are crisp, juicy, and sweet. They are good for fresh eating as well as turning into pies and sauce. The fruit also stores quite well, lasting until January/February under optimal conditions.

2025 Staff Favourite

Jostaberries are Wayne's favourite this year! He enjoys them because "they have the best qualities of both black currants and gooseberries."

All Staff Favourites are 20% off. The Staff Favourite Discount cannot be combined with other quantity discounts.

Species: Ribes x nidigrolaria, a cross between Ribes nigrum (black currants), Ribes divaracitum (black gooseberries), and Ribes uva-crispa (European gooseberries)

History: Jostaberries were created in West Germany in 1955 by Dr. Rudolph Bauer, although attempts to cross these three plants had begun as early as 1883 without success. They were eventually released to the public in 1977.

Why We Grow It: Jostaberries are a unique cross between three plants: black currants, black gooseberries, and European gooseberries. The berries taste like gooseberries at first and transition to a black currant taste as they ripen and darken. 

History: Juliet dwarf sour cherries are one of several dwarf sour cherries developed and released by the University of Saskatchewan with the goal of creating sour cherries that were cold hardy, shorter in stature, and produced good quality fruit. This initiative began in the 1940s and Juliet was released as part of the Romance series in 2004.

Why We Grow It: With good yield and deep red medium-sized fruit, Juliet is a favourite for those that enjoy the sweet-tart flavour! This is an excellent variety for the fresh market or processing. For anyone short on garden space, these cherry bushes reach 6-8 feet at maturity.

 Check our our blog post with some tasty sour cherry recipes!

Species: Prunus cerasus

History: These sour cherry seedlings are grown from Juliet seeds we've collected here at Silver Creek Nursery from our own trees! Juliet, is one of the members of the Romance Series released in 2004 from the University of Saskatchewan.

Why We Grow It: Seedling fruit trees are a great way to add some diversity and mystery to your garden or orchard! The parent variety, Juliet, has a sweet/tart flavour that some enjoy for fresh eating and is great for processing. A naturally dwarfing and bush-like variety. For a full description, see our Juliet page here. 

Please Note: Since sour cherries tend to stay true to type more than apples, these seedlings will likely bear a strong resemblance to their parent variety. However, any specific information listed on this page should be taken with a grain of salt as there may be some variation from the parent tree.

History: Kandil Sinap* originated in the early 1800s around the Black Sea, although it is debated whether it originally came from the Crimean Peninsula in the Ukraine or the Sinop Peninsula in Turkey. It was at one time commonly exported into Russia.

*There are different thoughts on what Kandil Sinap translates to, some say it is 'candle of Sinop,' others 'sweet apple of Sinap,' and it translates directly from Turkish as 'oil lamp' 

Why We Grow It: Kandil Sinap's most prominent feature is the odd shape of the fruit, strangely oblong and conical, almost resembling a candle in appearance. The odd green fruit have a sweet, sprightly flavour and are quite aromatic, although they do bruise easily. The tree naturally stays smaller but produces heavy crops and is great for backyard orchards.

Species: Gymnocladus dioicus

History: Kentucky Coffeetrees are native to the southernmost parts of Ontario and the midwestern United States. Despite its fairly large range, it is relatively rare today likely due to evolutionary anachronism. It is believed Kentucky Coffeetrees co-evolved with megafauna that are now extinct, so previously beneficial traits like the thick leathery pod around its seeds now hinder seed dispersal. Indigenous peoples have used the tree as a source of food by roasting the seeds and making a coffee-like drink, and the seeds have also been used as pieces in games and to make jewellery. Nowadays, the tree is planted ornamentally in urban areas.

Why We Grow It: This nitrogen-fixing, Carolinian tree produces seeds that may be roasted and used as a coffee substitute, but be aware the raw seeds are toxic! This tree boasts the largest leaves of any native tree, and it's considered a threatened species.