It’s fruit tree time! That is right, hopefully your fruit tree selection is planned and you are ready to head down to Franz Witte, because we have what you need. If not, here are the hottest, sweetest, and most popular fruit trees best suited for Idaho in their respective categories. Early spring is the perfect time to plant fruit trees in the Valley, and while they might not bear fruit right away, a spring flowering show in your yard is always a nice way to welcome the season.
Note: Many fruit trees require cross pollination from one or more compatible cultivars with the same bloom period.
Apricot
‘Sungold’
Cross pollination required: Yes
Height: 12-15’
Width: 12-15’
Bloom color: White
Fruit color: Orange
Harvest: July
Years to bear: 2-5
Medium-sized, orange fruits with mild, sweet flavor and freestone pit. Best enjoyed fresh or used for preserves. Apricots are the earliest blooming fruit trees and may suffer from wind, snow, and frost damage. Fruit production may be minimal with late frosts, but the fruit is well worth it! ‘Sungold’ does best in protected areas with full sun exposure.
Apple
‘Honeycrisp’
Cross pollination required: Yes
Height: 15-20’
Width: 15-20’
Bloom color: White
Fruit color: Red
Harvest: September-October
Years to bear: 3-7
Crisp and sweet blush red fruits are borne on this cold-hardy apple cultivar. Fruit keeps extremely well and is perfect for fresh eating, salads, and sauces. ‘Honeycrisp’ is a high maintenance fruit tree that requires annual winter pruning to promote light exposure and air flow. Plant in full sun for maximum flowering.
Peach
‘Snow Beauty White’
Cross pollination required: No
Height: 12-15’
Width: 12-15’
Bloom color: Light pink
Fruit color: Blush red
Harvest: June-July
Years to bear: 2-3
A semi-dwarf peach tree with large fruit, creamy white centers, and velvety red skin. Flavor is low-acid and sweet with a freestone pit. This cultivar is the winner of many blind taste tests and best enjoyed fresh. It performs best in full sun and well-drained soil.
Cherry
‘Rainier’
Cross pollination required: Yes
Height: 20-30’
Width: 20-30’
Bloom color: White
Fruit color: Golden-yellow
Harvest: July
Years to bear: 4-5
Large, beautiful, golden-yellow fruit with rosey-red overtones make for one of the most popular sweet cherry trees. Fruit is great for fresh eating, baking, canning, and preserves. ‘Rainier’ cherries are juicy, richly flavored, firm, and abundantly sweet. Plant in full sun away from walkways.
Pear
‘Bartlett’
Cross pollination required: Yes
Height: 12-20’
Width: 12-20’
Bloom color: White
Fruit color: Yellow
Harvest: August
Years to bear: 4-6
A multi-purpose pear tree excellent for fresh eating, canning, baking, and preserves. Sweet, juicy, and tender golden yellow-green fruits are ready for harvest by late summer and fill the yard with a delicious aroma. Best grown in a protected area with full sun exposure.
Plum
‘Santa Rosa’
Cross pollination required: No
Height: 15-20’
Width: 10-20’
Bloom color: White
Fruit color: Purplish-red
Harvest: August
Years to bear: 3-5
Plant this Japanese plum for an abundant harvest of round, juicy, aromatic, and sweet fruit. Best grown for fresh eating and canning along with drying and baking. Cross pollination is not necessary with ‘Santa Rosa,’ but fruit production increases with a second plum tree nearby.
By Riley Rehberg
