Where to buy rare fruit plants outside France ? Non-French nurseries

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Home > Non-French items > Where to buy rare fruit plants ? Or Home > Nurseries > Where to buy rare fruit plants ?		First version: 2003, last update: 2024. Author: François DROUET. All rights reserved.

Where to buy rare fruit plants ? (Non-French nurseries) In order to have a forest garden the more diversely planted, I think that it is important to know the nurseries in the world that can provide rare fruit plants. I give you a list of the main ones I know, focused on Europe and including an American nursery which belongs to the few ones accepting to ship to Europe for retail orders. Of course, this list is not exhaustive. It exists numerous other nurseries, especially in America and in Eastern Europe, which have an outstanding offer of rare fruit plants. For the French nurseries offering rare fruit plants, see the article published on our website. For the sources of Pomegranate cultivars in France and in other countries, see specific article. PÉPINIÈRE BOIS DE RODE BOS 99 drève de Linkebeek 1640 Rhode-St-Genèse Belgium Website This Belgian nursery, located near Brussels, deserves a special mention because of its pedagogical activities for the promotion of rare fruit trees, which are added to a wide offer of unusual fruit trees for temperate climate with short summer. A website section contains numerous articles dedicated to rare fruit plants (species and varieties, botany, ethnobotany, agroforestry, cultivation experiments, propagation, interviews...), as well as comparative tables of varieties. In season, guided tours of the nursery, including fruit trees being tested. Grafting and training workshops (coming soon). Outstanding collection of fruiting mulberries, including M. alba x M. rubra 'Illinois Everbearing', its very compact replica 'Gerardi's Dwarf', Morus alba 'Big White', Morus nigra 'Dr Montbalieu'. Large choice of persimmons: Diospyros virginiana (note 'Prok'); Diospyros kaki, non astringent and astringent cultivars, in particular D. kaki x D. virginiana ' Nikitskaya Bordovaya' ('Nikita's Gift', hardy, early, very good fruit). Pawpaws (Asimina triloba), including 'Summer Delight' (very early), 'Halvin' (very early and robust), 'Prima 1216' (self-fertile). Hardy citrus, including Citrus 'US-119', Changsha Mandarin tree, 'Thomasville' Citrangequat Citrus x junos (Yuzu, 3 variétés). 'Sverkhrannyi' pomegranate (very early). Jujube trees, especially 'Shanxi Li'. Feijoas (Acca sellowiana, note 'Unique'). Wide range of fig trees, notably 'Ronde de Bordeaux', 'Pastilière' (Rouge de Bordeaux), 'Bécane'. Nashis (Pyrus pyrifolia), especially two hybrids: 'Rouge-gorge' (reddish skin, red flesh) and 'Max Red Bartlett' x 'Nijisseiki' (orange-red skin). Rare cherry trees. Dwarf cherry trees, notably Prunus tomentosa with white fruits, and the 'Carmine Jewel' hybrid. Quince trees whith fruits that can be eaten raw (Aromatnaja, Miagkoplodnaja, Cydopom). European walnuts, especially 'Lange van Lod' (huge nuts) and 'Sychrov' (self-fertile, red kernels). Japanese walnuts (Juglans ailantifolia). Chestnuts. Kiwis, one with two varieties on a single plant. Smooth-fruited Actinidia cultivars, in particular 'Chang Bai'. Large choice of grapes (including varieties resistent to diseases), American grapes with foxy taste (note early 'Isabelle' and seedless 'Isabelle'). Wild fruit trees, including a large collection of cornelian cherries (Cornus mas, red fruits, yellow fruits), service trees (Sorbus domestica, cultivars), medlars (Mespilus germanica, note 'Süssmispel'), x Sorbopyrus auricularis 'Shipova', Crataegus mexicana (Manzanilla), Amelanchier alnifolia (cultivars), sexed sea-buckthorns (Hyppophae rhamnoides, note 'Cusjko'), edible honeysuckles (Lonicera spp., numerous cultivars). Hardy fruiting passionflowers (P. incarnata, P. 'Fata Confetto'). Ornamental plants with edible fruits, including large-fruited Japanese quinces, Gleditsia triacanthos (note 'Millwood'), Akebia quinata 'Silver Bells', Rosa villosa 'Karpatia' (large-fruited rose bush). Unusual small fruits. Goji berry (red, yellow, black). On-site sales (see opening days), online sales (no delivery, collection at the nursery), possibility of pre-ordering fruit plants not in stock and rootstocks (collection at the nursery). DE MOERBEIBOOM Oudenaardsestraat 310 9500 Geraadsbergen Belgium Website This Belgian nursery is specialized in rare fruit plants for the edible landscaping. Outstanding collection of species and varieties of fruiting mulberries (Morus spp.), including two Morus macroura cultivars (a red fruited and a white fruited ones), the hybrid Morus alba x Morus rubra 'Illinois Everbearing' and its compact replica 'Gerardi's Dwarf'. One of the largest offers in Europe for Asimina triloba cultivars. An important choice of rare Diospyros kaki cultivars (astringent and non astringent), including the curious black fruited 'Kuro Gaki'. Numerous Diospyros virginiana cultivars. Two very cold resistant Diospyros kaki x Diospyros virginiana hybrids. Diospyros lotus 'Maalte' (a female form selected for its fruits quality). A fine selection of ornamental and good fruiting Hawthorns (Crataegus spp.). Other species of ornamental plants with edible fruits and wild fruit trees (Decaisnea fargesii, Hovenia dulcis, x Sorbopyrus auricularis 'Shipova', Sorbus domestica var. pyriformis, Sorbus domestica var. maliformis...). A very rare Cudrania tricuspidata selected specimen (no particular name on the nursery catalog, but also known with the name 'Seedless'). It has three outstanding features: it is self-fertile (the type species is dioecious), with seedless fruits (the type species fruits contain a lot of seeds) and almost spineless when adult (the type species is very spiny). Moreover, it is grafted on Maclura pomifera rootstock in order to prevent the very numerous suckers which appear when grafted on the type species. Other rare fruit plants are included in the nursery catalog (red fleshed apple variety 'Dries', for example). Shipping to European Union countries. KRUISBESSEN PROEF'TUIN Bauwerwaan 62 9930 Zomergem Belgium Website This Belgian nursery offers a wide range of rare fruit plants. Outstanding collection of small fruit plants, including Lonicera, with very rare cultivars. Large collections of pawpaw (Asimina triloba) cultivars and Diospyros kaki cultivars (including the very rare weeping one). Other Diospyros species. Actinidia species and cultivars. Numerous wild fruit trees, including Cornus officinalis. Important choice of disease resistant vine varieties for the table, including the Vitis labrusca hybrid variety 'Isabelle' with its foxy taste. Note also 'Philipp' and 'Souvenir', two varieties with an original shape for the berries and the clusters. Export all around the world. HORTENSIS Gartenweg 6 37136 Waake Germany Website This German nursery provides, besides a good range of flowering plants, an outstanding selection of mostly hardy fruit plants from around the world. For many of these plants, the nursery is the only one offering them in Europe. Plant names are listed in Latin and in alphabetical order. Note that, where possible, plants are grown on their own roots. Direct access to fruit plants list. In this list and in other lists of the web site, most remarkable: Musa 'Rajapuri' (Indian Moutain Banana, rather frost hardy, with seedless tasty fruits), collection of disease-resistant and hardy cultivars of Vitis spp., Amelanchier alnifolia cultivars, Citrus australasica (Australian finger lime), Cydonia oblonga 'Krimsk' (fruit can be eaten raw), Elaeagnus multiflora 'Sweet Scarlet', several cultivars of Elaeagnus umbellata, collection of very hardy Ficus carica cultivars, collection of Ficus palmata cultivars, hardy Fuschia cultivars, collection of Morus spp. cultivars, Prunus jacquemontii x Prunus japonica 'Jan' and 'Joel' cultivars (American shrub cherry, very late ripening), very rare Prunus spp. and cultivars, Ugni molinae 'Elite' (selection for harvest abundance), hardy Punica granatum cultivars. The nursery offers a seedless and self fertile cultivar of Cudrania tricuspidata (Che), but on its own roots. This is not the best choice because this plant is highly suckering. It would be better to order the same cultivar in a nursery which offers it grafted on Maclura pomifera rootstock, such preventing suckers. Shipping to European Union countries. SZKÓLKA CARYA ul. Wylot 8a 05-822 Milanówek Poland Website (English version) This Polish nursery offers a very interesting choice of wild fruit trees (and of hybrids from the former USSR). Especially: outstanding collection of Cornus mas cultivars (red fruited and yellow fruited); Mespilus germanica cultivars, including 'Süssmispel' with a sweet fruit which can be consumed before being overripe; Amelanchier cultivars; two Ukrainian cultivars of Chaenomeles x californica; Sorbus domestica 'Sossenheimer Riesen' (big fruited cultivar) ; x Sorbopyrus auricularis cv. Bulbiformis. Shipping to European Union countries. KWEKERIJ ARBOREALIS Dirk de Ruiterpad 2 8384 DD Wilhelminaoord Netherlands Website (English version) This Dutch nursery offers numerous rare fruit plants, especially: Pinus koraiensis 'Silveray'; Sorbus devoniensis 'Devon Beauty'; Juglans regia 'Broadview' (more compact than the species, starts to carry fruits at an early age); Diospyros kaki 'Dunaj'; Prunus x 'Carmine Jewel' (dwarf hybrid Cherry tree, self-pollinating); Actinidia arguta 'Ananasnaya'; Asimina triloba (6 cultivars); Amelanchier species and cultivars (including 6 Amelanchier alnifolia cultivars); Elaeagnus umbellata (8 cultivars, including the yellow-fruited 'Amber'); Mespilus germanica (4 cultivars); + Crataegomespilus 'Jules d'Asnières'; Cornus mas (4 cultivars); Sorbopyrus auricularis 'Shipova' and several Sorbus hybrids (obtentions from the former Soviet Union: 'Burkinsa', 'Granatnaja', 'Rubinovaja'...); Ugni molinae; Chaenomeles cathayensis; Cornus kousa 'Milky Way'; Cornus x 'Porlock'; Prunus spinosa 'Purpurea'; Lonicera caerulea (7 cultivars); Rubus nepalensis; Rubus phoenicolasius (Japanese Wineberry); Gaultheria shallon; white-flowered Akebia quinata (2 cultivars); Akebia trifoliata; Stauntonia hexaphylla; Schisandra rubriflora; Mahonia aquifolium (2 cultivars); Rosa rugosa (big-fruited cultivars). Shipping to European Union countries. KWEKERIJ DE SMALLEKAMPE Hardenbrinkweg 24 8071 SM Nunspeet Pays-Bas Website Dutch nursery specializing in nut trees, the range of which includes rare species and cultivars. Very interesting offer of Pecan cultivars - Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K.Koch. For the north (northern pecans), including 'Kanza' and 'Pawnee', which completely cross-pollinate each other. And for the far north (ultra northern pecans), including 'Campbell NC 4', 'Carlson 3', 'Snaps', 'Deerstand', 'Lucas', 'Warren 346'. Other Carya species: Carya laciniosa (cultivars 'Fayette', 'Henri'); Carya ovata (cultivars 'Glover', 'Weschke', 'Yoder'). Hybrids (hicans), especially Carya ovata x Carya illinoinensis 'Burton' (self-fertile; for the far north). Very important collection of European Walnut cultivars (Juglans regia L.), including several self-fertile ones. Note: several cultivars with red kernels; 'Hansen' (with walnuts in clusters) ; 'Mini Multiflora nr. 14' (dwarf walnut, self-fertile, very early fruit set) ; two dwarf walnut trees of Ukrainian origin, which interpollinate each other ('Karlik 3' and 'Karlik 5'); four unusual varieties: Juglans regia var. pendula (weeping walnut); Juglans regia var. laciniata (laciniate leaves); Juglans regia var. monophylla (simple leaves) ; Juglans regia var. purpurea (red foliage). Other Juglans species: Juglans nigra (cultivars 'Emma Kay', 'Thomas', 'Bicentennial') ; Juglans nigra var. laciniata (laciniate leaves) ; Juglans ailantifolia (cultivars 'Grimo Manchurian', 'Imshu', 'Shubert', 'Campbell CW 1', 'Campbell CW 4') ; Juglans cinerea (cultivars 'Beckwith', 'Kenworthy', 'Chamberlin') ; Juglans ailantifolia x Juglans cinerea 'Mitchell Buartnut' ; Juglans ailantifolia x Juglans regia 'Notha' ; Juglans microcarpa 'Dolly' ; Juglans cathayensi. To be also noted: Platycarya strobilacea. Species and cultivars of the genus Castanea (Chestnut), including Castanea sativa 'Vincent Van Gogh' (compact habit, 4 m high, small fruits). Large selection of Hazel (Corylus avellana L.) varieties, including 'Emoa nr. 1', 'Fruhe Von Frauenhof', and two with red foliage. Shipping to European Union countries. PLANTENTUIN ESVELD Rijneveld 72 2771 XS Boskoop Netherlands Website This Dutch nursery offers many rare fruit plants, especially: Asimina triloba (Pawpaw - 19 cultivars, some of them little known); Crataegus azarolus 'Geraki' (big yellow fruits); Cudrania tricuspidata 'Seedless Che' (parthenocarpic variety, seedless); Cydonia oblonga 'Krymsk' (syn. 'Aromatnaja'), the quinces of which can be eaten raw; Diospyros kaki x D. virginiana 'Nikita's Gift', very cold hardy; Ficus carica, the dwarf variety with laciniated foliage 'LMF01' ('Little Miss Figgy'), two other laciniated foliage varieties 'Icecrystal' and 'Laciniata'; Hovenia dulcis; Juglans (several species and cultivars, including J. nigra var. laciniata, J. regia var. laciniata and J. regia var. purpurea); Mespilus germanica (several cultivars, in particular the very rare seedless variety Mespilus germanica var. apyrena); + Crataegomespilus 'Jules d'Asnières'; Morus (several species and cultivars, including the very rare dwarf mulberry Morus alba x Morus rubra 'Gerardi Dwarf', Morus alba 'Nana Issai' and Morus alba var. pendula); Pseudocydonia sinensis; Sorbus 'Burka'; Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 'Vancouver Jade'; Ribes alpinum 'Schmidt'; Rubus x fruticosus 'Hull Thornless' (excellent cultivar that has become rare); Rubus arcticus 'Sofia'; collections of species and cultivars belonging to the genera Actinidia, Amelanchier, Arbutus (especially A. x Marina), Aronia, Corylus, Malus (in particular 'Butterball' and 'John Downie'); ornamental plants with edible fruits, especially Akebia quinata 'Cream Form', Aristotelia chilensis, Decaisnea fargesii, Ficus tikoua, Holboellia coriacea, Leycesteria formosa 'Notbruce' ('Golden Lantern') and 'Purple Rain', Luma apiculata, Myrtus communis var. variegata, Stauntonia hexaphylla, Ugni molinae (cultivars ' Bella Berry', 'Butterball', 'Flambeau'), Xanthoceras sorbifolium. Shipping to European Union countries. KWEKERIJ BULK Rijneveld 115 2771 XV Boskoop Netherlands Website This Dutch nursery offers little known wild fruit plants and rare ornamental plants with edible fruits, especially: several Actinidia species and cultivars - with smooth fruits (including Actinidia kolomikta 'Tomoko'), Amelanchier alnifolia 'Obelisk', Arbutus unedo var. quercifolia, Aronia melanocarpa 'Hugin', Celtis tetandra, Chaenomeles superba 'Cameo' (big fruits), Cornus capitata 'Kilmacurragh Rose', Cornus kousa (13 cultivars, including 'Xanthocarpa' - yellow fruits), Cornus capitata x C. kousa 'Porlok', Cornus mas ('Jolico' and 'Kasanlak'), Crataegus tanacetifolia, Descainea fargesii, Rubus phoenicolasius (Japanese wineberry), Vitis vinifera 'Purpurea'. Shipping to European Union countries. VIVAIO NOARO Via Vittorio Emanuele 151 18033 Camporosso (IM) Italy Website This Italian nursery provides fruit plants for tropical and subtropical climates, fruiting Passiflora spp., species and varieties of Myrtus, Eugenia, Syzygium, Ugni, cultivars of pecan (Carya illinoinensis), an Olea europaea cultivar bearing white olives, Hovenia dulcis. Shipping to European Union countries. EDIBLE LANDSCAPING 361 Spirit Ridge LN Afton VA 22920-0077 USA Website This american nursery has a arge offer of rare fruit plants. Especially: pawpaw (Asimina triloba) cultivars, pecan cultivars chosen for cross pollination and suitable for colder areas, cold hardy pomegranate cultivars, Elaeagnus umbellata 'Amber' with yellow fruits, Elaeagnus multiflora 'Sweet Scarlet' with sweet fruits, a rare self fertile and seedless cultivar of Che (Cudrania tricuspidata) grafted on a non suckering rootstock, contorted Ziziphus jujuba 'So', Morus alba x Morus rubra 'Illinois Everbearing', Morus macroura 'Pakistan Red', Diospyros virginiana 'Meader', Passiflora incarnata. This nursery belongs to the few ones which accept to ship to Europe for retail orders. BERNHARD VOß Moorende 149 21635 Jork Germany Website This German nursery offers an outstanding collection of hardy Citrus. No shipping outside Germany. AGROFORESTRY RESEARCH TRUST 46 Hunters Moon Dartington, Totnes Devon TQ9 6JT United Kingdom Website This efficient English nursery and Forest Garden centre offers a large rare fruit plants choice: cultivars of unusual (for Europe) cultivated fruit trees, wild fruit trees and ornamental plants with edible fruits. Most remarkable: Sorbus devoniensis 'Devon Beauty'; x Sorbopyrus 'Shipova'; Cydonia oblonga 'Aromatnaja' (syn. 'Krymsk') and 'Iranian', two cultivars with non-astringent fruits that can be eaten raw; Fuchsia magellanica 'Vielebachen', selected for its fruit value; cultivars of Cornus mas selected for the fruits (including one yellow fruited specimen). Beware: as the years pass, this nursery replaces grafted cultivars by seedlings of these cultivars, keeping the cultivar name. But, unlike most of the nurseries that do the same thing, it demonstrates botanical rigor and honesty specifying the concerned plants. And everyone can make it's own purchasing choice... No more deliveries to Europe since Brexit. KORE WILD FRUIT NURSERY Warren Fields Farm Trellech Monmouth Gwent NP25 4PQ United Kingdom Website Small scale Welsh (UK) nursery with a large offer only devoted to wild fruit trees and wild ornamental plants with edible fruits for temperate climate. The plants are classed as: trees, larger shrubs, smaller shrubs perennials and tender. Some species are quite rare and difficult to find elsewhere. Plants are seedlings; plants of dioecious species are unsexed; no cultivars - only type species. Under the heading "Tender" you will find plants for the warm Mediterranean climate or greenhouse. No more deliveries to Europe since Brexit. BEWARE: TWO AMERICAN NURSERIES TO BE AVOIDED The nurseries to which I bought plants proved to be honest. That was not the case for two American nurseries. I sent them an important amount, and they have both of them cashed in down payments without ever sending the ordered plants or refunding the payment made, despite my repeated requests. You must avoid these nurseries: OREGON EXOTICS NURSERY (1065 Messenger Rd. Grants Pass OR 97527 USA), and EXOTICA RARE FRUIT NURSERY (2508-B E. Vista Way Vista CA 92085 USA). Top of article Nurseries Non-French items