Potted Plants

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Vaccinium corymbosum x V. angustifolium

History: Northcountry was bred by the University of Minnesota as part of a hybrid blueberry breeding program that started in 1967. The goal of the program was to cross highbush and lowbush blueberries in order to create high-quality cold hardy varieties. Northcountry itself was created in 1968 and was introduced in 1986.

Why We Grow It: Northcountry produces small to medium blueberries with a sweet flavour akin to that of wild blueberries. For those looking to enjoy fresh blueberries as soon as possible each year, this variety is an excellent choice since it ripens quite early. The compact bush is also quite cold hardy and productive!

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Species: Amelanchier alnifolia (aka Western Serviceberry)

History: Northline was developed by John Wallace at Beaverlodge Nursery in Beaverlodge, Alberta during the 1950s. Selected for its large berries and good flavour, Northline was later introduced in 1960.

Why We Grow It: Northline's large, sweet purpley-blue berries are excellent enjoyed fresh! Northline grows in an upright fashion and reaches about 2.5m tall, this making for an ideal u-pick bush. The fragrant showy flowers add aesthetic charm to the bush, along with the deep green foliage which turns fiery orange in the fall. Saskatoons by nature are slow growing, and while they will bear fruit in 3-5 years, it can take up to 15 years for a full crop.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Picea abies

History: Norway spruce, aka European spruce, is native to Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. It is one of the most commonly planted spruce trees in the world, used as an ornamental landscape tree and as a Christmas tree. In fact, the Norwegian capital Oslo sends large Norway spruce trees as the central Christmas display in London, Edinburgh, and Washington DC every year as thanks for aid during WW2. The shoot tips have been used in traditional European medicines. 

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Species: Rubus sp.

History: Nova red raspberries were developed at the AAFC Research and Development Centre in Kentville, Nova Scotia as part of a breeding program. They were bred as a cross between Southland and Boyne raspberries and released in 1981.

Why We Grow It: These nearly thornless canes bear a plentiful yield of bright red, large-sized berries. The finer textured fruit is less crumbly and has a bold flavour. Nova red raspberries are very hardy and are summer-bearing in colder climates and ever-bearing in warmer ones!

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

History: Novamac apples were developed at the AAFC Kentville Research and Development Centre in Nova Scotia and introduced in 1978.

Why We Grow It: Novamac is a variety that definitely deserved more attention. They are generally disease resistant and have proven to be very easy to grow in our test orchard where they are performing well. This apple has a nice vibrant tang but also lots of sweetness and notes of berry. The flesh is firmer than its namesake McIntosh, which it is descended from. 

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Vaccinium corymbosum

History: Patriot was developed by the USDA and Maine Agriculture Experimental Station where it was first bred in 1954. It was selected for its cold hardiness and resistance to root rot. Patriot was released in 1976 and given its name to mark the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

Why We Grow It: Patriot produces large berries with excellent flavour that are a bit on the softer side. The fruit ripens early in the season and is great for fresh eating, baking, preserving, and freezing! It is more tolerant of the cold and of wet soils than other blueberries and can be grown even in a clay soil. 

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

History: Not to be confused with Pink Lady, Pink Pearl was developed by breeder Albert Etter who had the goal of creating red-fleshed apple varieties from seedlings of Surprise, a red-flashed variety. In 1940, he partnered with the California Nursery Company to bring some of these varieties to the public. Pink Pearl was selected as the best amongst his seedlings and released in 1945.

Why We Grow It: One of Steph's favourites! Pink Pearl is a delicious apple that is crisp with a pronounced unique fruity flavour and a nice blend of sweetness and sharpness. Its yellow-pink skin conceals a bright pink interior that is stunning to see compared to the white-ish flesh of most apples. It is great fresh or for applesauce, and it is relatively slow browning- it can be cut and bagged in the fridge the night before with very little change in colour the next day. Their pink colour adds a unique visual appeal to baked goods as well, such as with the gooseberry and Pink Pearl tarts Steph made pictured here!

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Cydonia oblonga

History: The seedlings were sprouted from seeds sourced from an old mother tree on a local farm. The previous owners have enjoyed the fruit for generations.

Why We Grow It: A clearly reliable variety that produces large crops of lovely fruits, it would have been a shame not to propagate it for others to enjoy. Like all quince, the fruit from your seedlings are best used for cooking, baking, and preserving since the intense, tart flavour is a bit much when eaten fresh.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

History: Rainier sweet cherries were created by Harold Fogle at the Washington State University research center in 1952 and released in 1960. They were named after Mount Rainier, the tallest mountain in the state. Due to their delicate nature, Rainier cherries tend to be a bit more expensive than other commercial varieties. 

Why We Grow It: Rainier are delicious yellow-skinned, yellow-fleshed sweet cherries. Some say they are the best tasting of all yellow cherries, and perhaps the best tasting cherry in general. Along with being great for fresh eating, they are also suitable for uses such as canning.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

History: In 1817 Joel Gillet accidentally received Rome Beauty as a seedling in a shipment of nursery trees. His son planted the seedling along the Ohio River in Rome Township. When it began producing lovely red apples, Gillet's cousin started a nursery to propagate and promote it. Originally named Gillet's Seedling, the name was later changed to Rome Beauty in 1832 to honour the township. The original tree collapsed in the 1850s due to bank erosion but the variety still remains popular in the United States today.

Why We Grow It: The fruit is deep red, large, and slightly conical with cream coloured flesh. It has a mild flavour compared to something with more character like a russet, though still an excellent snacking apple. It makes a good cooking apple too since it keeps its shape when cooked. It also stores exceptionally well, lasting all winter long.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

History: Romeo 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 Romeo was released as part of the Romance series in 2004.

Why We Grow It: Romeo boasts very dark red fruit that has a nice sweet-tart flavour and plenty of juiciness. It has a high flesh to pit ratio, making each cherry just that much more enticing. Although the bush only reaches 7-8ft at maturity, it still yields around 25lb of fruit per plant.        

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

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History: Royal Gala is a natural sport (mutation) of the Gala apple that was patented by Stark Bro's Nurseries in 1977. It boasts a deeper red colouring than the original Gala which makes it more visually appealing. In New Zealand, where the Gala apple originated, it has been almost entirely replaced by the Royal Gala in commercial growing operations.

Why We Grow It: Like the Gala apple, Royal Gala is popular for a reason. It is juicy and crisp with a sweet flavour and the fruit stores quite well.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Hybrid of Rubus idaeobatus and Rubus occidentalis

History: Royalty was bred at the Geneva Experiment Station in Geneva, New York as a cross between red and black raspberries. It was released in 1982 and is the most popular purple raspberry variety on the market for both its productivity and sweetness. 

Why We Grow It: Royalty is an excellent summer-bearing variety, producing ample crops of large (some get an inch long!), purple berries that are very sweet. Purple raspberries are a unique hybrid which can be picked while a little unripe and still red for a classic raspberry flavour or when fully ripe and purple for a sweeter taste more akin to black raspberries. Steph is impressed with the quality, flavour and long harvest window of this variety.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Prunus pumila var. besseyi (Western sandcherry) x P. salicina (Japanese Plum)

History: Sapa (translated as 'black' from Lakota) was developed at the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station in the US by renowned plant breeder N. E. Hansen and released in 1908. His goal was to create plants hardy enough to grow in the harsh, northern prairies and was one of the first people to start breeding chums. Hansen had a tendency to name his native plant crosses after words from indigenous cultures of the area, choosing the Lakota word for 'black' in this case due to the dark colour of the fruit. 

Why We Grow It: This small, hardy shrub produces purplish fruit with mauve flesh that has a sweet flavour with some tartness. It is good for fresh eating along with a variety of other uses such as cooking, baking, and preserving. It is also quite productive and tends to start bearing fruit at a young age! 

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Sambucus canadensis

History: Scotia was developed at the Kentville AAFC Research and Development Centre in Nova Scotia. It is a seedling of another variety, Adams 2, and was released by the research station in 1960, alongside the variety Nova. It is grown commercially in Canada.

Why We Grow It: Scotia elderberries ripen early in the season and have the highest sugar content of any named cultivar- though also some of the smallest berries. They are great for a variety of uses such as making juice and wine, baked goods, and even tinctures. Eating the raw elderberries can cause adverse reactions so it is recommended that you cook them first!

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Hippophae rhamnoides

History: Sea buckthorn is native to parts of Europe and Asia where it has been a source of food, medicine, and fodder for centuries. These mystery cuttings were grown by us so it will be a bit of a surprise to see what the mature plants are like!

Why We Grow It: If you're looking for a dense, fruiting bush, look no further! These cold-hardy plants are grown from cutting, although it is uncertain whether each plant is male or female. The nodules on their roots help fix nitrogen into the soil, and the resilient plants are salt tolerant. They can withstand the juglones from walnuts and will reach up to 6 meters tall, forming virtually impermeable thickets if left to their own devices. The berries have a wide range of uses and the leaves can be enjoyed in tea.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Actinidia kolomikta

History: September Sun is a Russian variety that was selected for its ample crops of large fruit. Its Russian name is Sentyabraskaya which translates to 'September' in English with a bit of a feminine sound to the name. 

Why We Grow It: September Sun is known for producing good-size crops of large, sweet fruits. These grape-like kiwis are a delightful treat for any yard, especially for growers in a colder area! It is also a great ornamental plant, featuring pinkish-white and green variegated leaves. 

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Carya ovata 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: Shagbark Hickory is native to parts of southern Ontario and much of the eastern United States. Much more common than the Shellbark Hickory, Shagbark Hickory is an important source of food for many species. Indigenous peoples also used the nuts as a food source and made the kernel milk into various dishes, along with using the wood to make bows. The strong wood is also used to make items such as tool handles and drumsticks that require extra durability. Check out this blog post by one of our customers to learn more cool history about these trees. 

Why We Grow It: Shagbark Hickory produces an abundant crop of small hickory nuts every year and the sap can also be boiled for a unique flavored syrup (we haven't tried this yet, but would love to hear about it if you have!). The tree gets its name from the unique peeling bark, adding extra visual appeal wherever the tree is planted.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Caragana arborescens

History: As the name implies, Siberian pea shrubs are native to Siberia but also parts of China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. They came to the US with Eurasian immigrants who used the pods as a source of food while traveling. It has been planted ornamentally and as bonsai, and can be used as erosion control. It is also unfortunately invasive in some parts of the US.

Why We Grow It: A classic permaculture plant! Siberian pea shrubs are nitrogen fixing, very hardy, disease and drought resistant, and, above all, edible. The flowers and young pods can be eaten fresh while the older pods are cooked. The plants are also attractive to pollinators.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Acer saccharinum

History: Silver maples are native to southeastern Canada and the central and eastern US and is one of the most common trees in its range due to its quick growth and tolerance of a wide range of conditions. Indigenous peoples traditionally use the trees as a source of food, medicine, and wood for weaving, carving, and lumber. The tree was also commonly planted ornamentally, especially after the decline of elm trees due to Dutch Elm Disease, but fell out of favour due to their need for pruning and weak branches. However, their visual appeal means they are still cultivated and they can be found growing in a variety of climates around the world including Norway, Jerusalem, and Argentina. 

Why We Grow It: These fast growing soft maples aren't without their issues. Special care needs to be taken when planting one since they require a lot of space, can clog drain pipes with their roots, and have weak limbs which need to be pruned lest they break off and/or make the tree unsightly. They are also not nearly as useful for maple syrup as their cousin the sugar maple. However, they are an excellent wildlife tree, providing ample habitat and an early source of food. With their height, unique leaves, and general visual appeal, along with their tolerance of many conditions, it is also easy to see why they were once so popular as urban trees.

Seasonal Bonus! We have an abundance of Silver Maples this year, we are offering 40 packs of 30cm+ grade for $240 (50% off!)!

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Vitis labrusca x Vitis riparia x Vitis vinifera, and small amounts of other Vitis species from North America

History: Bred by Elmer Swenson in Wisconsin, Somerset is one of numerous varieties he created for growing in our cooler North American climates. This cultivar has become increasingly popular in recent years and has good potential for commercial growing. The variety was released in 2002.

Why We Grow It: One of the hardiest, highest quality seedless grape varieties out there, this is an excellent table grape: sweet, spicy, with strong notes of strawberry. The grapes have beautiful pink flushed skin and are most decadent if allowed to sit on a sunny window sill for a week or so after harvest. Although the fruit is on the smaller to medium end of the scale, the vines produce large, heavy clusters that more than compensate for the size of the individual grapes. The grapes have a firm texture with some crunch.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Alnus incana (likely subsp. rugosa)

History: Native to large portions of the Northern Hemisphere including parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, this widespread tree is often divided into six subspecies. We likely offer Alnus incana subsp. rugosa but with seedlings it is hard to say for sure. Indigenous people have used these trees for medicine and dyes, and they can also be used for erosion control. This subspecies in general is unique for its cold hardiness and ability to fix nitrogen, making it a useful companion plant in permaculture settings.

Why We Grow It: Named for the white lenticels that dot the reddish-gray bark, Speckled Alders can make a useful addition to a permaculture with their ability to fix nitrogen. However, keep an eye on this tree as it tends to spread via suckering (sending up new shoots) and layering (branches rooting into the ground) and can form dense thickets.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Rhus typhina

History: Staghorn sumac is native to southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States. The red fruit is eaten by birds in winter and beekeepers will even occasionally use it in their smokers as fuel. Parts of the plant have been used to make dyes. 

Why We Grow It: Sumac is a useful plant for naturalizing areas as they tend to form thick groves, which, according to Steph, also make great play areas for children! The fruit can be made into a lemonade-like drink or jelly. Good forage source for honey bees as well.

Species: Helianthus tuberosus, Sunchokes are also known as Jerusalem Artichokes or J Chokes

History: Stampede apparently originated on a reserve in northern Ontario where indigenous peoples had been cross-breeding the earliest flowering sunchokes they could find. They succeeded with Stampede which is an early flowering and ripening variety. In 1978, only two tubers were sent to Johnny's Selected Seeds in Maine, producing enough tubers by the end of the year that the nursery was able to introduce the new variety commercially in 1979.

Why We Grow It: Stampede is an extremely productive variety and produces relatively large, if somewhat knobby, white tubers. Like other sunchokes, Stampede can be prepared and eaten in a variety of ways, similar to the many ways you can use a potato! The early flowering and ripening time of this variety is great for anyone with a limited growing season.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

History: Stella sweet cherries were developed by the Summerland Research and Development Centre in British Columbia in 1956 by K.O. Lapins, after whom Lapins cherries are named. These cherries were named and released in 1968, becoming the first named variety of self-pollinating sweet cherries. They have since become very popular, especially in the UK, and have been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. 

Why We Grow It: The Royal Horticultural Society was right to commend Stella. These large cherries have skin that is shiny yet extremely dark red, creating a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth! The flesh is medium firm and has a lovely sweet flavour, great for fresh eating as well as canning. Stella is self-pollinating and makes an excellent pollinator for other varieties.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

History: Strawberry Pippin is another variety whose history we know little about. All we know is that it likely originated in England where it was first recorded in 1874. The 'pippin' in its name indicates that it was grown from seed by chance. 

Why We Grow It: While we may not know much about its past, we do know why we are happy to grow it! Strawberry Pippin has an attractive red striped fruit which is quite firm and sweet. Its excellent flavour is best enjoyed picked fresh right off the tree. In our experience, Strawberry Pippin does well with minimal care, and is an excellent choice for the backyard.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

History: Summercrisp pears were developed by the University of Minnesota in an effort to create a cold hardy pear. They were successful in creating a hardy and delicious pear, releasing the variety in 1985. Its name is derived from the fact it ripens in summer (very early for a pear!) and that it is great right off the tree when still crisp.  

Why We Grow It: Summercrisp performs amazingly in our test orchard, producing lots of freckled beauties that ripen uniformly and hang well on the tree.  This early cold-hardy pear has a really sweet, pleasant flavour and is not gritty or dry. The fruit are average-sized with yellow skin and red blush. For optimal eating they should be picked before fully ripe and stored in the fridge until eating. This variety deserves to be more widely planted.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

Species: Rubus parviflorus

History: Thimbleberries are a native plant closely related to raspberries and blackberries. Cultivated for edible, ornamental, and ecological reasons today, they have also historically been used by indigenous peoples as a source of food and medicine.

Why We Grow It: This is an excellent under-story plant that produces smaller, flatter berries than cultivated raspberries, but with a delicious sweet-tart flavour. Apparently young shoots can be harvested in spring, lightly peeled, and then boiled for an asparagus-like 'vegetable'- we haven't tried this yet, but would love to hear from you if you have! The thornless bush grows up to 7 feet tall, though can be kept smaller with pruning/trellising/tying down. The fruit grows best on 2-3 year old canes unlike raspberries, which makes this an ideal plant for living fences.

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

History: Thunderchild is a crabapple that was developed by Percy Wright, a prairie plant breeder in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Although it is unknown when exactly Thunderchild was created, it likely came about in the 1900s and can still be seen as a common ornamental tree in the area.

Why We Grow It: Thunderchild makes for a lovely ornamental tree with a profusion of pink blossoms in the spring and deep red foliage. The tiny dark red fruits it produces can be used in cider blends and to make jellies with a gorgeous orange hue. The tree is quite cold hardy and generally disease resistant. 

Available only for pick-up at nursery.

History: Toka is a hybrid of an American plum (Prunus americana) and a Japanese plum (Prunus salicina) that was created by Dr. N.E. Hansen who is known for his extensive career in developing cold hardy plant varieties. He developed Toka at the South Dakota Experiment Station and introduced it in 1911. It is unclear what 'Toka' translates to in English but 'toka' can mean 'etc/among other things' or 'river crossing' in Japanese

Why We Grow It: Toka is also known as Bubblegum plum due to its flavour and smell which bears an uncanny resemblance to bubblegum. These plums are incredibly aromatic, and will fill your kitchen with their perfumed scent as they sit out to ripen. The semi-clingstone fruit features deep red skin and bright yellow flesh that is firm but juicy. It is good for fresh eating or preserving.