Fruit Trees

Fruit trees buying guide

Fruit trees give a garden maturity and offer a money saving alternative to expensive supermarket fruits. With just a little bit of space and planning you could be picking your own hazelnuts, figs and even exotics like pomegranates and citrus. To help you choose the right fruit tree, read some of our frequently asked questions and answers below.

Which fruit tree grows best in a pot?

Dwarf fruit trees are best for growing in a pot. Our fruit tree collection (Mini Fruit Tree) contains cherry, pear, apple and plum trees that are all specially bred for growing in containers. Their dwarfing rootstock keeps the top growth healthy but compact at under 2m tall.

Which fruit trees are self pollinating?

Patio trees plum 'Black Amber' and cherry 'Sylvia' are both self-pollinating varieties. This means they won’t need another tree of the same type to set fruit and crop. Apple 'Wonder Tree Elstar' is also self-pollinating, but will set even more fruit if grown close to other apple trees from pollination group three.

If you’re after a full size self-fertile apple, go for apple 'Greensleeves'. This is a fantastic self-fertile option for ‘Golden Delicious’ lovers that reaches a mature height of 4m and thrives in a cool climate. The fruits make delicious juice and ciders. Plum 'Herman' is a self-fertile plum variety that crops in July, with sweet, golden fleshed fruits with deep purple skins.

Best fruit tree for growing in shade

The best fruit tree to grow in a shady spot is the self-fertile sour cherry ‘Morello’. This hardy tree produces more reliable crops in semi-shade, with masses of shining dark purple fruits that are delicious in jams, pies and liqueurs. Nut trees like hazelnut perform very well in a shady spot. Enjoy both ornamental purple foliage and tasty crops of hazelnuts from a lovely self-fertile variety ‘Purple Filburt’.

Best fruit trees for small gardens

There are so many fantastic options for a small garden. It’s a good idea to choose a semi dwarfing rootstock that won’t swamp your small space. Or consider growing patio fruit trees in large containers. Fig 'Little Miss Figgy' is a great option for a warm sunny spot. This naturally compact fig tree thrives in small spaces like a courtyard, where the juicy figs ripen in the summer months.