RETAIL NURSERY VARIETY LIST

Orchard Keepers

116 McPherson St Unit F

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

831.854.7811

Plant varieties ordered from Dave Wilson Nursery for 2024:

Ashmead's Kernel Apple Widely regarded as one of the all-time best-flavored apples. Small to medium-sized fruit. Greenish to golden brown russet skin with reddish highlights. Creamy yellow flesh is aromatic, crisp and sweet. Fruit picked early is somewhat sharp and acidic, but mellows after a few weeks off the tree. Ripens after Red Delicious, about with Golden Delicious. Keeps 3-4 months. Used for dessert, cider and sauce. Resistant to powdery mildew, somewhat resistant to apple scab. Winter hardy tree, begins bearing at young age. From England, discovered in the early 1700s. Estimated chilling requirement 800-1000 hours. Partly self-fruitful, biggest crops with cross-pollination.

Beverly Hills Apple Long-time favorite summer apple for coastal So. Calif. Pale yellow, red blush or stripes. Medium size, slightly tart. Fresh/cooked. 300 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-10.

Cox Orange Pippin Apple Old favorite dessert apple: firm, juicy, sweet, rich flavor, not tart, distinctive aroma. Skin is orange red to bright red over yellow. Prefers moderate climate. Midseason. 800 hours. Proven very productive in trial with much less chilling than the estimated requirement. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 4-8.

Fuji Apple Introduction from Japan that quickly became California’s favorite apple. Sweet, very crisp and flavorful, excellent keeper. Dull reddish orange skin, sometimes russeted. Ripe mid-September. Excellent pollenizer for other apple varieties. Low chilling requirement - less than 500 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 4-9.

Honeycrisp Apple Winter hardy tree from the University of Minnesota. Fruit is crisp and juicy with an aromatic flavor. Striped red over yellow color. Stores well. Ripens mid-August. Pollenized by Gala, Granny Smith, Empire, McIntosh and Red Delicious. USDA Zones 3-9.

Jonagold Apple Superb flavor, a connoisseur's choice. A cross of Jonathan and Golden Delicious. Yellow with red-orange blush. Crisp, juicy, subacid, all-purpose. 700-800 hours. Proven very productive in trial with much less chilling than the estimated requirement. Pollenized by Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith or Red Delicious, but not Golden Delicious.

King David Apple Originated in 1893 as a chance seedling discovered on the orchard property of farmer Ben Frost of Durham, Arkansas. Fruit is medium size and round in shape. Exterior color is yellow with red to orange blush and striping. Flesh is pale cream yellow, firm and crunchy. Flavor is a balanced sweet and tart. Juicy and aromatic with hints of spice and wine. Some have proclaimed King David to be one of the best flavored apples available. This heirloom selection is good for fresh eating, sauce, baking and cider. Fruit harvests fall into winter. Pollination required with other mid to late season blooming varieties. Some pollinators include Fuji, Granny Smith, Lady Williams and Pink Lady. Once thought to have a high chill requirement. Recent studies have proven King David to be fruitful under very low winter chill conditions. Shows resistance to most common diseases and fireblight. Adaptable in USDA Zones 4 to 10

Lady Williams Apple Originated about 1935 as a chance seedling found growing on the Williams farm in Donnybrook, Western Australia. Medium sized rounded fruit becomes much larger when thinned. Exterior color is a bright pink - red with striping. Firm white flesh is crisp and juicy. Flavor is pleasant, sweet and balanced. Quality improves the longer the fruit hangs on the tree. This heirloom variety is good for all uses, fresh, sauce, baking and cider. Fruit harvests fall into winter. Pollination required with another mid to late season blooming variety. Some pollinators include Fuji, Granny Smith, King David, Pink Lady and Sundowner. Low chill requirement of 200 to 300 hours. Adaptable to USDA zones 4 to 10

Mutsu Apple A favorite of connoisseurs: very large, crisp and flavorful. Late September/October harvest. Pick when green or wait until partly yellow. Large, vigorous tree resists powdery mildew. 500 hours. Proven very productive in trial with much less chilling than the estimated requirement. Pollenizer required: Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala. USDA Zones 4-8. A.k.a. Crispin.

Pink Lady® Apple Hot climate apple from Western Australia. Very crisp, sweet tart, distinct flavor, good keeper. Skin reddish pink over green when ripe. White flesh resists browning. Harvest begins late October in Central CA, about three weeks after Fuji. Self-fruitful in many western U.S. climates; pollenizer recommended for best production. 300-400 hours. USDA Zones 6-9.

Yellow Newton Pippin Apple Yellow green, late, firm, crisp, slightly tart, superb flavor. For peak flavor and acid/sugar balance, wait to harvest until cheeks are blushed yellowish-green (late Oct./early Nov. in Central CA). Good keeper. Famous for cooking, excellent fresh or dried. Vigorous tree. 700 hours. Proven very productive in trial with much less chilling than the estimated requirement. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-9.

Blenheim (Royal) Apricot All-purpose freestone. Sweet, aromatic, flavorful - the long-time No. 1 apricot in California. Early bloom. Late June harvest in Central CA. 400 hours or less. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-9.

Flavor Delight Aprium® Interspecific Apricot Apricot-plum hybrid. Resembles an apricot but with a distinctive flavor and texture all its own. High taste-test scores, one of the most flavorful early season fruits. Early June. Very low chilling requirement, less than 300 hours. Self-fruitful, but largest crops when pollenized by another apricot. (Zaiger)

20th Century Asian Pear Juicy, sweet, mild flavored fruit is crisp like an apple. Early to mid-August in Central CA. Keeps well. Easy to grow, heavy bearing small tree. 300-400 hours. Self-fruitful or pollenized. by Shinseiki, Bartlett, or other.

Shinseiki Asian Pear Juicy, sweet, refreshing, crisp like an apple. Easy to grow. Keeps well. Harvest late July/early August in Central CA. Bright yellow skin. Vigorous, heavy bearing (usually by 2nd year). 250-300 hours. Self-fruitful.

Lapins Cherry Self-fruitful, dark red sweet cherry from Canada. Large, firm, good flavor. Similar to Van in color, Bing in shape. Sometimes sold as ‘Self-fertile Bing.’ Ripens 4 days after Bing. 500 hours or less. USDA Zones 5-9.

Stella Cherry Self-fruitful - no pollenizer needed. Large, nearly black, richly flavored sweet cherry similar to its parent, Lambert. Late harvest. 400 hours. Pollinates Bing, except in mild winter climates. USDA Zones 5-9.

Black Jack Fig Large, purplish-brown figs with sweet, juicy, strawberry-red flesh. Harvest August to October in Central CA. Naturally small (semi-dwarf) tree. 100 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-10.

Black Mission Fig The industry standard. Purplish-black skin, strawberry-colored flesh, rich flavor. Heavy bearing, long-lived, large tree. Coast or inland. Coast or inland. Fresh/dry/can. 100 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-9.

Osborne Prolific Fig Large fruit with very attractive purplish-brown skin, amber pulp. Especially pleasing flavor. Long time favorite in cool coastal areas, excellent inland as well. Prune to any shape. 100 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-9.

Arctic Jay White Nectarine Taste test winner. Very attractive, firm, freestone fruit is richly flavored, with a balance of acid and sugar. Ripens between Arctic Glo and Heavenly White white nectarines. 500 hours or less. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)

Double Delight Nectarine Sensational fruit: consistently the best flavored yellow nectarine plus magnificent, double pink flowers. Dark red-skinned, freestone fruit is sweet, with unusually rich flavor - very high scoring in taste tests. Heavy-bearing tree. Harvest early to mid-July in Central CA. 300 hours. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)

Fantasia Nectarine Popular, large, yellow freestone. Early harvest fruit is firm-ripe and tangy, later harvest is sweet with rich flavor: high scoring in taste tests. Late July/early August in Central CA. 500 hours or less. Self-fruitful.

Snow Queen White Nectarine Taste test winner. Sweet, juicy, early season white freestone. Late June harvest in Central CA, 2-3 weeks ahead of Babcock peach. Long-time favorite in So. Calif. Low chilling requirement, 250-300 hours. Self-fruitful.

Baby Crawford Peach The best-flavored peach, according to California Rare Fruit Growers in the Santa Clara Valley area. Small, intensely flavored yellow freestone. Golden orange skin with slight blush. Harvest late July in Central CA, about one week before Elberta. 800 hours. Self-fruitful.

Donut (Stark Saturn) White Peach Also called Saucer or Peento peach. Unique white-fleshed fruit with a sunken center (shaped like a doughnut). Sweet, with a mild flavor described by some as almond-like. Ripens late June/early July in Central CA. Estimated chilling requirement 200-300 hours. Self-fruitful.

Elberta Peach Famous yellow freestone. Classic, rich peach flavor: high scoring in taste tests. Use fresh, canned or cooked. Ripe late July/early August in Central CA, up to 3-4 weeks later in colder climates. 600 hours. Self-fruitful.

Redhaven Peach Long one of the world’s most widely planted peaches. High quality yellow freestone. Ripens early July in Central CA. Frost hardy, excellent producer. Fresh/freeze. 800 hours. Self-fruitful.

Warren Pear Excellent quality dessert pear, tree is highly resistant to fire blight. Medium to large, long-necked fruit with pale green skin, sometimes blushed red. Smooth flesh (no grit cells) is juicy and buttery with superb flavor. Good keeper. Cold hardy to -20 deg F. From Mississippi. 600 hours. Self-fruitful

Fuyu (Jiro) Persimmon (“Apple Persimmon”) Medium size, flat shape, still crunchy when ripe, non-astringent. Cool or hot climate. Hardy, attractive tree, practically pest free. Fall harvest. 200 hours. Self-fruitful.

Hachiya Persimmon Large, deep orange-red, acorn-shaped. Hot summer required to mature the fruit. Sweet, flavorful, astringent until soft ripe. Mature fruit can be frozen and thawed to ripen. Productive, ornamental tree. 200 hours. Self-fruitful.

Golden Nectar Plum Popular yellow dessert plum. Large, oblong fruit with waxy, thin, amber skin. Amber flesh is firm, sweet and flavorful. Very small pit. August harvest in Central CA. 400 hours or less. Self-fruitful.

Santa Rosa Plum Most popular plum in California & Arizona. Juicy, tangy and flavorful. Reddish purple skin, amber flesh tinged red. Late June in Central CA. 300 hours. Self-fruitful.

Flavor Grenade Pluot® Interspecific Plum Elongated green fruit with red blush. Crisp texture, explosive flavor. Taste test winner. Hangs on the tree for 4-6 weeks. Pollenized by Flavor King Pluot®, Dapple Dandy Pluot®, Emerald Drop Pluot® or Santa Rosa plum. 300-400 hours. (Pat. No. 12097) (Zaiger)

Flavor King Pluot® Interspecific Plum Taste test winner. Unique plum-apricot hybrid with sensational bouquet and sweet, spicy flavor. Reddish-purple skin, crimson flesh. Harvest mid-August in Central CA. Naturally small tree. 400 hours or less. Pollenized by Flavor Supreme Pluot® or Dapple Dandy Pluot® and Santa Rosa or Late Santa Rosa plum. (Zaiger)

Dwarf Everbearing Mulberry Morus sp. 'Dwarf Everbearing' (Morus nigra) This bush form of mulberry continuously produces sweet blackberry-like fruit throughout the spring and early summer. A great choice for container growing, minor pruning will keep the plant compact. Mature height 10-20ft. if grown in the ground. Widely adapted, self-fruitful.

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