Rootstock & Scionwood

Looking to graft your own apple trees? We're happy to offer rootstock!

While we have young stool beds growing, in the meantime we import rootstock from Oregon. Aside from the headache (paperwork and shipping) of importing and distance, we are very happy with our supplier's quality, and are happy to offer small scale and backyard operations with rootstock. Every August, we prepare a rootstock order for the following spring, and our order comes up on the pool truck with all the other Ontario orders. Because of this, we aren't able to guarantee ship dates with rootstock orders, as we are at the mercy of the nursery and pool truck; the shipment typically comes in March-April.

If you require more than 1000 rootstocks, we recommend importing it yourself.

We regularly offer the following rootstock varieties:

B9 - Dwarf:

• History: B9 (aka Bud 9 or Budagovsky 9) was developed at the Michurinsk College of Agriculture in Russia as part of a series of cold hardy rootstocks. It is a cross between M8 and Red Standard.
• Why We Use It: B9 is an extremely hardy variety that encourages early bearing and high yields. The red leaves and inner wood makes it easy to distinguish from the scionwood.
• Growth Habits: Dwarf, reaches 8-10ft tall, precocious, minimal suckering, requires permanent staking, suitable for espalier
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to fireblight and collar rot
• Graft Compatibility: Good

B10 - Dwarf, royalties are included in price:

• History: B10 (aka Bud 10 or Budagovsky 10) was developed at the Michurinsk College of Agriculture in Russia as part of a series of cold hardy rootstocks. It is a cross between M27 and Robusta 5.
• Why We Use It: B10 is quite similar to B9 (see description above) but with a little more vigour and fireblight resistance.
• Growth Habits: Dwarf, reaches 8-10ft tall, precocious, minimal suckering, requires permanent staking, suitable for espalier
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to fireblight and collar rot
• Graft Compatibility: Good

G.41 - Dwarf, royalties are included in price:

• History: G.41 (or Geneva 41) was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva as a cross between M27 and Robusta 5. It was selected for its disease resistance, winter hardiness, good productivity, and minimal suckering and released in 1998. This variety is still relatively new and experimental so more information may be available in the future!
• Why We Use It:  This rootstock produces hardy, precocious, and productive trees that are resistant to several apple tree pests and diseases. The trees are also known for producing branches with wide crotch angles which is desirable in apple trees. However, the trees can be brittle so handle them with care and stake them immediately upon planting to provide extra support. 
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
• Growth Habits: Dwarf, reaches 8-10ft tall, precocious, productive, minimal suckering, produces branches with wide angles ideal for fruit, trees tend to be brittle so require extra care when handling and should be staked immediately once planted and will require permanent support
• Disease Resistance: Very resistant to fireblight, rot, replant disease, and woolly apple aphid
• Graft Compatibility: Good but trees can be brittle at graft union which can lead to trees breaking prematurely

EMLA 26 - Dwarf/Semi-Dwarf:

• History: M26 was developed at the East Malling Research Station in England and is a cross between M9 and M16. In 1973, EMLA 26 was released as a virus-free clone of M26 and named EMLA after the East Malling and Long Ashton Research Stations that created it. It is considered a dwarfing rootstock although it is quite vigorous so the resulting trees are between dwarf and semi-dwarf height. It is commonly used around the world.
• Why We Use It: This rootstock produces a smaller tree that (depending on the area) doesn't need permanent staking like most dwarf rootstocks. It is very precocious and produces heavy crops.
• Growth Habits: Dwarf/semi-dwarf, reaches 8-12ft tall, very precocious, does not require permanent staking in sheltered locations, suitable for espalier, not particularly cold hardy
• Disease Resistance: Susceptible to to collar rot and fireblight
• Graft Compatibility: Compatibility issues with certain varieties including Golden Delicious and many triploid varieties

B118 - Semi-Dwarf:

• History: B118 (aka Budagovsky 118 and Bud118) was developed at the Michurinsk College of Agriculture in Russia as part of a series of cold hardy rootstocks. It is a cross between Moscow Pear, M8, and M9.
• Why We Use It: While we prefer EMLA 106 due to its superior graft compatibility, B118's excellent cold hardiness has made it our go-to for grafting our cold hardy semi-dwarf trees. It's red leaves and inner wood makes the rootstock much easier to distinguish from the scionwood.
• Growth Habits: Semi-dwarf, reaches 12-15ft tall, very cold hardy and vigorous
• Disease Resistance: Somewhat resistant to collar rot and fireblight
• Graft Compatibility: Medium - good take with certain cultivars

EMLA 106 - Semi-Dwarf:

• History: MM106 was released in 1932 as part of a joint breading program between the East Malling and Merton Research Stations. It is a cross between M2 and Northern Spy. In 1973, EMLA 106 was released as a virus-free clone of MM106 and named EMLA after the East Malling and Long Ashton Research Stations that created it. It is very commonly grown. 
• Why We Use It: EMLA 106 is our go-to rootstock when it comes to grafting semi-dwarf trees that are zone 4-5. It produces well and is decently vigorous, plus it has good graft compatibility.
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
• Growth Habits: Semi-dwarf, reaches 12-15ft tall, nice balance of vigour and production, trees are well-anchored, suitable for most soil types
• Disease Resistance: Somewhat susceptible to moisture/collar rot
• Graft Compatibility: Good

EMLA 111 - Semi-Dwarf/Full-Size:

• History: MM111 was released in 1952 as part of a joint breading program between the East Malling and Merton Research Stations. It is a cross between Merton 793 and Northern Spy. In 1973, EMLA 111 was released as a virus-free clone of MM 111 and named EMLA after the East Malling and Long Ashton Research Stations that created it. It was commonly used in the mid-Atlantic and California before orchards switched to using dwarf rootstock to speed up production.
• Why We Use It: EMLA 111 produces well-anchored and vigorous trees that are hardy and tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. 
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
• Growth Habits: Between semi-dwarf and full-size, reaches 14-20ft tall, tolerates wet, dry, and poor soils and encourages trees to start bearing at a young age, good anchorage.
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to collar rot and woolly apple aphid, and tolerant of fireblight. Moderate amount of suckering and burr knots. 
• Graft Compatibility: Good

G.969 - Semi-Dwarf, royalties are included in price:

• History: G.969 (aka Geneva 969) was developed at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva by Jim Cummins. It was first created in 1976 as a cross between Ottawa 3 and Robusta 5. This variety is relatively new so more information may be available in the future! 
• Why We Use It: G.969 produces well-anchored and precocious trees that are resistant to several disease including fireblight. It generally has good cold hardiness and is considered a good option for growing weaker vigour varieties like Honeycrisp. It also produces minimal suckering and burr knots. 
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
• Growth Habits: Semi-dwarf, produces a tree 12-15ft tall, precocious, good anchorage, minimal suckering and burr knots
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to fireblight, collar rot, and woolly apple aphid
• Graft Compatibility: G.969 generally has good graft compatibility but it recent tests have shown it may produce brittle graft unions when Chestnut Crab, Cox's Orange Pippin, Cortland, Fuji, Jonagold, Sansa, or Wickson Crab are chip budded on it. Other varieties may develop similar issues but have not been tested. Brittle graft unions do not appear to be a problem if the trees are grafted using the whip and tongue method. 

Antonovka - Full Size:

• History: Antonovka was developed by renowned Russian plant breeder I.V. Michurin and released in 1888. Although the fruit of this hardy variety is less popular outside of its homeland, it has been commonly used as rootstock due to its unique ability to stay almost true to type and its strong root system.
• Why We Use It: As a standard full-size rootstock, Antonovka became our go-to for full-size trees. The strong root system and decent cold hardiness makes it a good candidate for most locations.
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
• Growth Habits: Full-size, reaches 16-20ft tall, very vigorous, produces a strong and deep root system which makes it fairly drought tolerant

If any varieties you are interested in have sold out or you want rootstock for 2027, contact us to be added to our Spring 2027 request list!

Looking to graft your own pear trees? We're happy to offer rootstock!

While we have young stool beds growing, in the meantime we import rootstock from Oregon. Aside from the headache (paperwork) of importing and distance, we are very happy with our suppliers quality, and are happy to offer small scale and backyard operations with rootstock. Every August, we prepare a rootstock order for the following spring, and our order comes up on the pool truck with all the other Ontario orders. Because of this, we aren't able to guarantee ship dates with rootstock orders, as we are at the mercy of the nursery and pool truck; the shipment typically comes in March-April.

If you require more than 1000 rootstocks, we recommend importing yourself.

We offer the following rootstock varieties:

Provence Quince - Dwarf (see the quince rootstock listing HERE to purchase)

• History: Provence Quince is a quince rootstock that was selected by the Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique's Angers station in France. It was released in the 1960s and became especially popular in Europe in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Why We Use It: Provence Quince is easy to propagate and has decent vigour. Although it is incompatible with certain pear varieties, the issue can be overcome with the use of an interstem.
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 5
• Growth Habits: Dwarfing affect on pears, reaches about 10-15ft tall, precocious, produces good crops
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to crown gall, pear decline, and nematodes but somewhat susceptible to fireblight
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with most European pears including Anjou, Flemish Beauty, and Summercrisp. Incompatible with Bartlett, Bosc, Seckel and a few others, we use an Old Home interstem to graft these varieties to Provence Quince. Also compatible with quince and loquats.

OHxF 87 - Semi-Dwarf

• History: Old Home x Farmingdale 87 is part of the OHxF series that was developed by F.E. Reimer at Oregon State University in an effort to create fireblight resistant rootstock. Two fireblight resistant varieties, Old Home and Farmingdale, were bred to pass the resistance on to their seedlings, hence the name. OHxF 87 in particular was selected for its good productivity. 
• Why We Use It: A popular choice among the OHxF series, this semi-dwarf rootstock boasts high productivity and a good root system. 
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
• Growth Habits: Semi-dwarf, reaches 12-18ft, precocious and very productive, cold hardy, produces a good root system
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to fireblight and soil diseases
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with European pears and Asian pears, though some resources say Asian pears tend not to live as long on this rootstock.

OHxF 97 - Full Size

• History: Old Home x Farmingdale 97 is part of the OHxF series that was developed by F.E. Reimer at Oregon State University in an effort to create fireblight resistant rootstock. Two fireblight resistant varieties, Old Home and Farmingdale, were bred to pass the resistance on to their seedlings, hence the name. 
• Why We Use It: OHxF 97 is our go-to pear rootstock with its fireblight resistance, strong root system, and good vigour and productivity. Its compatibility with European and Asian pears makes it extra versatile, a feature we value with our large array of pear varieties.
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
• Growth Habits: Full-size, reaches 16-20ft, cold hardy, strong root system, produces good crops, vigorous, moderately precocious
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to pear decline and fireblight
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with all European and Asian pears

Pyrus betulifolia - Full Size

• History: Pyrus betulifolia (aka birchleaf pear) is native to parts of China and Tibet. This thorny cousin of the pear trees we grow is commonly used as rootstock for Asian pears.
• Why We Use It: Pyrus betulifolia is a vigorous and adaptable pear rootstock, compatible with both European and Asian pears. It is also a very thorny variety, making it useful for deterring critter damage on the rootstock. 
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
• Growth Habits: Full-size, produces Asian pears 15-20ft tall and European pears over 30ft, vigorous, highly adaptable to different soils, very thorny
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to fireblight and pear decline
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with European pears and Asian pears

If any varieties you are interested in have sold out or you want rootstock for 2027, contact us to be added to our Spring 2027 request list!

Looking to graft your own apricot and plum trees? We're happy to offer rootstock!

While we have young stool beds growing, in the meantime we import rootstock from Oregon. Aside from the headache (paperwork) of importing and distance, we are very happy with our supplier's quality, and are happy to offer small scale and backyard operations with rootstock. Every August, we prepare a rootstock order for the following spring, and our order comes up on the pool truck with all the other Ontario orders. Because of this, we aren't able to guarantee ship dates with rootstock orders, as we are at the mercy of the nursery and pool truck; the shipment typically comes in March-April.

If you require more than 1000 rootstocks, we recommend importing it yourself.

We offer the following rootstock varieties:

Marianna 2624 - Semi-Dwarf:

• History: Marianna 2624 was created by W.L. Howard of UC Davis at the California Agricultural Experimental Station. It was selected as an open-pollinated Marianna seedling in 1926 and was eventually released in 1940, likely due to its vigour, good disease-resistance, and tolerance of many soil types.  
• Why We Use It: For growers like us with heavier soil types, Marianna 2624 is a great choice for a semi-dwarf rootstock! It produces a well-anchored tree and is resistant to several diseases.
• Soil: Very adaptable to wide range of soil types, tolerates very heavy and wet soils well
  
• Growth Habits: Produces trees that can be maintained at 12-17ft tall, vigorous, well-anchored but needs staking first few years due to shallow roots, prone to suckering
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
  
• Disease Resistance: Somewhat resistant to pytophthora, crown rot, root rot, and oak rot fungus, and resistant to root-knot nematode. Susceptible to crown gall and bacterial canker. 
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with plums, apricots, and some almonds. Incompatible with peaches and nectarines. 

Myrobalan 29C - Full-Size:

• History: Myrobalan rootstock comes from seedlings of Prunus cerasifera (aka cherry or myrobalan plums) which are native to parts of Europe and Asia. Myrobalan 29C is an improved version of the original Myrobalan rootstock.
• Why We Use It: Myrobalan is our go-to rootstock for apricots and plums. It is adaptable and hardy, vigorous, and anchors quite well in the soil, although staking in the first few years is still recommended. In addition to these great traits, it is also resistant to several pests and diseases.
• Soil: Prefers sandy loam but somewhat adaptable to different kinds of soil
  
• Growth Habits: Produces a tree 16-20ft tall, highly vigorous, well-anchored but shallow roots so may need support in first few years, not overly precocious
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to crown gall and root knot nematode, somewhat resistant to crown and root rot, susceptible to oak root fungus
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with plums, apricots, and almonds but some apricot varieties have delayed compatibility issues

Krymsk 86 - see peach rootstock listing for more information and/or purchasing

If any varieties you are interested in have sold out or you want rootstock for 2027, contact us to be added to our Spring 2027 request list!

Looking to graft your own sweet or sour cherry trees? We're happy to offer rootstock!

While we have young stool beds growing, in the meantime we import rootstock from Oregon. Aside from the headache (paperwork) of importing and distance, we are very happy with our supplier's quality, and are happy to offer small scale and backyard operations with rootstock. Every August, we prepare a rootstock order for the following spring, and our order comes up on the pool truck with all the other Ontario orders. Because of this, we aren't able to guarantee ship dates with rootstock orders, as we are at the mercy of the nursery and pool truck; the shipment typically comes in March-April.

If you require more than 1000 rootstocks, we recommend importing it yourself.

We offer the following rootstock varieties:

Mahaleb - Full-size for sour cherries and semi-dwarf for sweet cherries:

• History: This rootstock is so old that its origins are a bit of a mystery, but it has been used in France since at least the end of the 1700s. It was eventually introduced to the US in the mid-1850s and by the 1900s it was more popular than Mazzard due to how easy it is to propagate from seed and its general disease resistance. However, this popularity declined when it was discovered that Mahaleb was incompatible with certain sweet cherry varieties. Despite this, it is still quite commonly used in many parts of the world today.
• Why We Use It: Mahaleb is a cold hardy and disease resistant rootstock that is also quite tolerant of drought. Cherries grafted on Mahaleb tend to be productive, vigorous, and precocious. However, Mahaleb is susceptible to crown and root rot so avoid planting it anywhere that is overly wet. 
• Soil: Loam and sandy soils, prefers soils that are deep and well-drained, very sensitive to waterlogged soils
• Growth Habits: Produces a sour cherry 15-30ft tall and a sweet cherry 15-20ft tall, vigorous and precocious, anchors very well in the soil and tolerant of drought, tends to sucker
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to crown gall, canker, and some nematodes but very susceptible to collar and root rot
• Graft Compatibility: Good graft compatibility with sour cherries but incompatible with some varieties of sweet cherries

Mazzard - Full-Size:

• History: Mazzard is the oldest known sweet cherry rootstock and can be dated back to Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Despite its age, Mazzard remains the standard for cherry rootstock and even millennia later it remains one of the most commonly used in the world. 
• Why We Use It: Mazzard is the most popular cherry rootstock in North America. Although not quite as drought tolerant or disease resistant as Mahaleb, it has better graft compatibility and is tolerant of a wider range of soils. The trees are highly vigorous and can get quite tall.
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 5
  
• Soil: Prefers loam and sandy loam but more tolerant of wet and heavy soils than Mahaleb
  
• Growth Habits: Produces a tree over 20ft tall, highly vigorous, some drought tolerance, few suckers
• Disease Resistance: Somewhat resistant to root rot
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with all sweet cherry varieties and sour cherries can also be grafted on it

Krymsk 6 - Semi-Dwarf:

• History: Krymsk 6 is part of the Krymsk series of rootstock developed at the Krymsk Experimental Breeding Station in Russia. 
• Why We Use It: This cold-hardy and heat-resistant rootstock produces a tree with good anchorage that is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions. So far it has performed much better in our clay soil than Mazzard!
• Soil: Adaptable to a variety of soil conditions
  
• Growth Habits: Semi-dwarf, produces a tree 18-25ft tall, produces some suckers which may be more numerous in heavy soils, fruit tends to ripen 1-3 days ahead of trees grafted on Mazzard
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to nematodes and bacterial canker but very susceptible to prunus necrotic ringspot virus and prune dwarf virus
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with sweet and many sour cherries although compatibility tests are still underway

If any varieties you are interested in have sold out or you want rootstock for 2027, contact us to be added to our Spring 2027 request list!

Peach rootstock availability for Spring 2026 should be updated within the next few weeks! 

Please Note: We will be receiving peach rootstock that is non-dormant and grown in ellepots. The rootstock will be too small for grafting the spring that you receive them and should be planted out instead. They may size up enough for summer grafting and would be suitable for grafting the following spring (provided no issues with growth conditions). Shipping fees may be adjusted in the spring since ellepots are more difficult to ship than our bareroot stock.

Looking to graft your own peach trees? We're happy to offer rootstock!

While we have young stool beds growing, in the meantime we import rootstock from Oregon. Aside from the headache (paperwork) of importing and distance, we are very happy with our supplier's quality, and are happy to offer small scale and backyard operations with rootstock. Every August, we prepare a rootstock order for the following spring, and our order comes up on the pool truck with all the other Ontario orders. Because of this, we aren't able to guarantee ship dates with rootstock orders, as we are at the mercy of the nursery and pool truck; the shipment typically comes in March-April.

If you require more than 1000 rootstocks, we recommend importing it yourself.

We offer the following rootstock varieties:

Krymsk 86 - Full-size:

• History: Krymsk 86 is a hybrid rootstock that is a cross between a peach and a plum, meaning it is compatible with peaches, plums, apricots, and almonds. It was bred at the Krymsk Experimental Breeding Station in Russia and is still undergoing many tests in Canada and the US to test its performance.
• Why We Use It: Krymsk 86 is a new but potentially promising rootstock that is compatible with many different Prunus species. It is tolerant of several diseases and some adverse environmental conditions. 
• Soil: Loam and sandy loam preferred but some tolerance of heavier soils
• Growth Habits: More vigorous than Bailey, few suckers, develops a strong root system and has some drought and wet tolerance
• Disease Resistance: Tolerant of oak root fungus and less susceptible to crown and root rot than some other varieties
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with peaches, plums, apricots, and almonds
  

Bailey - Semi-Dwarf:

• History: Bailey was released from West Branch, Iowa and for several decades it has been the predominant peach rootstock used in Ontario. 
• Why We Use It: Bailey is a reliable and cold hardy rootstock, great characteristics for Canadian growers where the colder climate can make growing peaches much more tricky.
• Growth Habits: Produces medium to large trees that are 90% the size of standard trees, produce reliable and and good-sized crops
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with most peach varieties grown in Ontario

If any varieties you are interested in have sold out or you want rootstock for 2027, contact us to be added to our Spring 2027 request list!

Looking to graft your own quince trees? We're happy to offer rootstock!

While we have young stool beds growing, in the meantime we import rootstock from Oregon. Aside from the headache (paperwork) of importing and distance, we are very happy with our suppliers quality, and are happy to offer small scale and backyard operations with rootstock. Every August, we prepare a rootstock order for the following spring, and our order comes up on the pool truck with all the other Ontario orders. Because of this, we aren't able to guarantee ship dates with rootstock orders, as we are at the mercy of the nursery and pool truck; the shipment typically comes in March-April.

If you require more than 1000 rootstocks, we recommend importing yourself.

We offer the following rootstock variety:

Provence Quince - Full-Size

• History: Provence Quince is a quince rootstock that was selected by the Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique's Angers station in France. It was released in the 1960s and became especially popular in Europe in the 1980s and 1990s.
• Why We Use It: Provence Quince is easy to propagate and has decent vigour. It is our go-to for grafting quince as well as dwarf pears.
• Canadian Hardiness Zone: 5
• Growth Habits: Full-size, reaches about 10-15ft tall, precocious, produces good crops
• Disease Resistance: Resistant to crown gall, pear decline, and nematodes but somewhat susceptible to fireblight
• Graft Compatibility: Compatible with quince, loquats, and most European pears (except Bartlett, Bosc, Seckel and a few others)

If any varieties you are interested in have sold out or you want rootstock for 2027, contact us to be added to our Spring 2027 request list!

History: Akane was developed in Japan in 1937 at the Morioka Experimental Station. It is one of several kinds of produce created to better feed citizens and troops during WW2. The name 'akane' literally translates from Japanese as 'deep red.'

Why We Grow It: This crisp, sweet apple is great for fresh eating and has bright red skin. It tends to begin bearing at a young age and is relatively diseases resistant.

History: Alkmene, aka Early Windsor, was developed by M. Schmidt and H. Murawski at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für Züchtungsforschung in Müncheberg, Germany in the 1930s.* It was named after Hercules' mother Alcmene. After the chaos of WW2, it took about 30 years for Alkmene to be introduced to the rest of the world. It was released in 1962 and given the name Early Windsor for better marketability. It remains a popular apple in Europe today.

Why We Grow It: Alkmene produces a medium-sized crisp, juicy apple that has yellow skin overlaid with red stripes. The aromatic fruit is known for its rich flavour that is both honeyed and notably sharp. The tree is known to be quite a heavy cropper! 

*While the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute was heavily involved with the Nazis during WW2, at the time of Alkmene's development the institute's president was Max Planck, a scientist who staunchly defended his Jewish colleagues. The institute was renamed in his honour following WW2. That is to say, we're not selling a Nazi apple.

History: Anjou is an older variety of pear that likely originated in France or Belgium in the mid-1800s. They were originally called 'Nec Plus Meuris' but at some point adopted the name Anjou (or d'Anjou or Beurre d'Anjou) after the French region when introduced to England or the US. Anjou pears are still quite popular and are one of the most commonly grown pears in the United States.

Why We Grow It: Anjou is a popular pear due to its good eating quality and flavour. The skin is greenish yellow, and the flesh is firm and sports a hint of yellow. The fruit keeps well and the tree is vigorous and hardy.

History: This unique apple, orangey-yellow-red undertones with russet over top, originated in the UK in the 1700s and has remained popular for over two centuries. There is some debate whether it was raised by a Dr. Ashmead or a lawyer named William Ashmead. 

Why We Grow It: This Old World English apple has stuck with us thanks to it's unique flavour: nutty with notes of pear and spice. Fantastic fresh off the tree, and also in cider blends, Ashmead's Kernel mixes well with Cox's Orange Pippin.

History: This classic American cooking apple was discovered by chance around 1740 in Massachusetts. It was eventually brought to the attention of a Col. Baldwin, after whom the variety was later named, who helped to spread it further. By 1850 this was one of the most commonly grown apples in the US, although its popularity began to decline by the 1900s, exacerbated by a terrible winter in 1934 that wiped out a significant number of trees. Despite this, Baldwin is making a bit of a comeback and a monument to this apple still stands in Wilmington, Massachusetts, around where it was discovered.

Why We Grow It: Baldwin apples produce large, greenish-yellow and maroon fruit with firm, sweet flesh that maintains its shape and crispness when cooked. The fruit produced in our test orchard has been attractive and blemish-free.

History: Bartlett pear, better known as William's Bon Chretien (translated from French as William's Good Christian) or William's pear in Europe, has a long history with unknown origins. What we do know is that in 1483 King Louis XI summoned holy man Francis of Paola to his deathbed and Francis offered the king a pear seed from his birthplace of Calabria in Italy. The name 'Good Christian' was given to the pear as a result. In 1799, this variety was brought to Roxbury, Massachusetts where it was planted and eventually renamed 'Bartlett' by Enoch Bartlett who was unaware of its origins. The mistake was not realized until 1828, by which time "Bartlett" pears were already popular in North America and the mistake could not be undone.

Why We Grow It: Bartlett is the most commonly grown pear in North America and with good reason. Not only is it productive and easy to grow, but it produces large yellow fruit with a delectable flavour. 

Note: We graft our Dwarf Bartletts with an Old Home interstem to maintain compatibility between Province Quince rootstock and Bartlett.

History: This cold-hardy apple was developed in the prairies and is for growing in colder, northern areas.

Why We Grow It: This unique apple produces a yellow fruit with red stripes. It is a rather uncommon variety and is great for sauce. It has begun producing reliably in our test orchard the last few years, and always has a bountiful crop.

History: Once one of the most popular commercial apples in the United States, Ben Davis apple trees were planted across the continent following its discovery around 1800. Due to its firm fruit and excellent keeping qualities, this apple was extremely easy to transport over longer distances which led to its popularity. Once storage and transportation improved, this apple was slowly replaced with better tasting varieties and it is now a relatively rare find. It's also a parent to Cortland.

Why We Grow It: The mellow, sub-acidic, mildly aromatic red fruit is not quite as flavourful as some apples but it stores exceptionally well, lasting into spring. Flavour improves in storage, like many heritage apples. The trees are reliable and heavy croppers, earning them the nickname of 'mortgage-lifters' when they were grown commercially. 

History: Beurré Giffard was discovered as a chance seedling by Nicolas Giffard in 1825 in France. "Beurré" translates from French as "butter-like," referring to the smooth, juicy flesh that was typical of pears developed at this time in France and Belgium. It was later introduced to the United States in 1850. 

Why We Grow It: This French heirloom pear is one of the earliest ripening pears we offer. Its sweet, melting yet crisp flesh is similar to Bartlett with an excellent flavour.

History: Beurré Hardy was cultivated in France around 1820 by a Monsieur Bonnet and was named after Julien Alexandre Hardy, the director of the Luxembourg Gardens located in Paris. "Beurré" translates from French as "butter-like," referring to the smooth, juicy flesh that was typical of pears developed at this time in France and Belgium. It is considered a classic French fresh-eating pear and remains popular to this day. 

Why We Grow It: Beurré Hardy produces a sweet, aromatic pear with white/pinkish flesh that has a hint of rosewater. It grows quickly but can take a while to start fruiting, although once it does it produces reliably heavy crops when grown in warm areas. Its blooms are tolerant of late spring frosts although it isn't always a very reliable pollination partner. 

History: The history of Blenheim Orange is a bit muddled depending on your source. We know it was discovered by George Kempster (either a baker, a tailor, or a basket weaver depending on who you ask!) in England in 1740 and it was originally named Kempster's Pippin. Some say he found it as a seedling growing along a wall of Blenheim Palace while others claim he grew it in his garden located near Blenheim, England. It was later renamed to Blenheim Orange in the early 1800s, likely when it was sold commercially through nurseries. This variety has many other names, including: Beauty of Dumbleton, Blooming Orange, and Northwitch Blenheim. The tree itself is also known for its sturdy wood and it was at one time popularly used to make railway cogs.

Why We Grow It: These large, somewhat flat apples feature orangey-red stripes over yellow skin with some russet. The fruit is good for fresh eating with a nutty taste and is quite nice when paired with cheese. It is also great for cooking and makes a stiff purée. The tree is highly vigorous but can be slow to come into production, although it has heavy crops once it does.

History: Bonne Louise de Jersey originated from Avranches in Normandy, France in the 1780s. It was originally known as Bonne Louise d'Avranches until it was taken to Jersey in the Channel Islands. As it grew in popularity in the UK, it was given the name Bonne Louise de Jersey instead.  

Why We Grow It: Bonne Louise de Jersey is a rich, buttery pear that produces a juicy, red blushed fruit. In spring, this pear is also adorned with a profusion of notably attractive blossoms, adding a nice touch to any landscape. Although the tree is less vigorous than some other pears, this makes it suitable for potting and espalier.

History: Bosc pears have an unclear history, either originating from Belgium or France. Some say that an M. Bosc in Belgium grew it from seed around 1807 while others believe it was found as an old tree in France in the 1830s and named after horticulturalist Louis Bosc. Bosc's alternate names 'Beurre Bosc' refer to its buttery texture and 'Calebasse Bosc' refers to its gourd-like shape.  Regardless of its origins, Bosc has remained popular and is grown in numerous countries around the world. 

Why We Grow It: Bosc pears are long and slender with golden brown russetted skin. The flesh is of high quality, very sweet, and the pears store much better than most varieties. They can also be used to make a lovely tart, with a sprinkle of thyme for a savory delight!

History: Discovered in New Zealand by farmer O. Moran in 1952, Braeburn took the world by a storm, becoming one of the most popular commercial apples in the United States and parenting many modern cultivars such as Jazz and Sweetie. 

Why We Grow It: Its winning sweet-tart flavour wrapped in an attractive orangey-red skin makes it an excellent fresh eating apple. It is firm and holds its shape well when cooked, and keeps about 4 months. This variety is fairly disease susceptible, meaning it is better for the experienced natural grower or conventional orchards. It is moderately vigorous and a heavy cropper.

History: Bramley's Seedling was first planted in the UK in 1809 by Mary Ann Brailsford-Trump and was later named after the butcher who bought the property. Long considered the definitive British cooking apple, Bramley's Seedling is celebrated with its own festival, a plaque, and a commemorative window that was installed on its 200th anniversary. The original tree is still growing where it was planted over 210 years ago.

Why We Grow It: With its strong flavour and acidity, this apple is hard to beat when used for cooking, although the fruit doesn't hold its shape as well as other varieties. The fruit is large, greenish-yellow with orange flush and broad red stripes and store all winter. The trees are quite hardy and heavy croppers.

History: Brettacher Sämling (sämling meaning seedling in German) originated as a chance seedling on a farm in Brettach, Germany in the early 1900s. It is possibly a descendent of the French cooking apple, Lebel. It is known for its excellent storage qualities and is still grown commonly in parts of Germany.

Why We Grow It: Brettacher Sämling produces large, juicy apples with a sweet-tart fruity flavour that has a hint of spice. The apples, green with a red blush, are best enjoyed after being stored for two months. They are fairly versatile, also considered suitable for sauce and juice/cider. Compared to other apple trees, this variety is relatively low maintenance and only requires a hard prune every two to three years. 

Photo credit: Sven Teschke 

History: Conference pears were found growing in the nursery of Thomas Francis River in the UK in 1884. The following year, he introduced the variety at the National British Pear Conference in London where it won fist place, solidifying its reputation and earning its name. Conference pears continue to be grown in several European countries today where it remains very popular. 

Why We Grow It: This old variety has remained popular due to its pleasant and sweet flavour. It can be eaten right off the tree and will keep for a couple months. The fruit itself has an elongated neck, giving it a rather odd appearance. 

History: Brown's Apple was discovered in Devon, UK, in the early 1900s and is considered a traditional English cider apple. It remains quite popular in the area.

Why We Grow It: This traditional variety boasts cold-hardiness and a resistance to scab. It is great for making cider thanks to being simultaneously high in both acid and sugar, an uncommon feature in most apples. Brown's Apple presses to a fragrant, vintage quality juice.

History: Bulmer's Norman was imported from Normandy, France to England in the early 1900s by the cider making company H.P. Bulmer. This variety didn't even have a name when it arrived but quickly grew in popularity for use in making cider. This apple has since fallen out of the limelight and is primarily used for grafting other varieties onto its sturdy trunk. 

Why We Grow It: Although less popular these days, this variety boasts vigorous growth, decent disease resistance, and a surprising tolerance for cold. This conical, green apple produces a bittersweet juice and is high in tannins.

History: This apple was developed in New York in 1974. It has never achieved major popularity but remains a curiosity due to the deep red colour of its skin which causes the flesh inside to become stained pink.

Why We Grow It: Along with its visual appeal, this apple boasts a sweet, sub-acidic flavour that makes it suitable for both fresh eating and making cider. Although these apples don't store well, the fruit hangs onto the tree for three weeks which helps to keep it available a little longer.

Picture of Burgundy apples on the tree courtesy of Shannon McInnis

History: Butirra Precoce Morettini was bred as a cross between Coscia and Bartlett in 1956 by A. Morettini as part of an Italian breeding program. It is mainly grown in Italy, Spain, and Portugal. 

Why We Grow It: This is an excellent early ripening pear that is sweet and juicy, with crunchy medium-fine grained flesh which mellows in storage to a delectable buttery texture. It has mild floral notes, with just the right amount of sweetness. The tree produces reliable and heavy crops of yellow fruit with a vibrant red flush that store decently well. 

History: Calville Blanc d'Hiver was discovered in France and first documented in 1598. It spread to other countries and was even grown by Thomas Jefferson in Monticello.

Why We Grow It: Known for its rather misshapen and lumpy appearance and the odd red splotches on its green skin, this apples exterior belies a strong, sweet-sharp flavour that makes it great for fresh eating, cooking, and cider. Some claim it rivals Bramley's Seedling as one of the best cooking apples with the added benefit that, unlike Bramley's, it holds its shape when baked or cooked. It is also boasts a high Vitamin C content.

History: Canadian Harmony peaches were developed at the Harrow Research and Development Centre in Ontario and released in 1968.

Why We Grow It: In our quest to bring the most cold-hardy peaches to our Canadian growers (you!), we added yet another excellent peach variety to the line-up. With large, freestone fruit of good quality, Canadian Harmony is hard to turn down. It is a great all-around peach that is good for eating, baking, and preserving; just about anything you can do with a peach. It is less suitable for big growers because of soft flesh, but well-suited for the backyard, yielding juicy, flavourful fruit with good sweetness. 

History: Chestnut crabapples were bred at the University of Minnesota in 1949. They are one of about thirty varieties that have been produced by the university's breeding program since it started in 1888. 

Why We Grow It: The rosy-red Chestnut crabapple produces fruit that is unusually large for a crabapple with a nutty taste. Unlike other crabapples, it is sweet enough to eat fresh and can be used in cider while still being good for traditional crabapple recipes such as making jellies.