Rootstocks, Dwarf and Semi-Dwarf Fruit Trees

Frequently asked questions: “Where on the Dave Wilson Nursery website are the dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit trees?”, “What variety-rootstock combinations are grown?”.

Novice home fruit growers soon learn that for home planting, dwarf and semi-dwarf fruit trees are highly desirable. This is certainly true for trees on rootstocks that are adapted to the soil and climate of their planting site. Among the keys to success for establishing healthy, productive fruit trees are informed variety and rootstock selection - and regular pruning, including summer pruning if small-sized, easy-care trees is the goal. This means there may be trade-offs to consider when there is a choice for rootstock, such as the perceived easier maintenance of a smaller-growing tree that is less well suited to the site in some way vs. the overall easier maintenance (with a little more summer pruning) of a more vigorous tree with characteristics better suited to the site. The better adapted tree will have fewer problems, be easier to maintain and more likely to become a strong and healthy, productive fruit tree.

For sites with poor drainage, wet soil tolerant rootstocks (and/or planting on mounds, a berm or raised bed) is a top priority. Sometimes a more vigorous rootstock is necessary to conquer weak soil. Pest/disease resistance is often a key factor. See Selecting Varieties & Rootstocks, Backyard Orchard Culture, and Nursery Rootstocks for related information and recommendations.

If you are choosing home fruit trees for the first time, in addition to basic information about rootstock strengths and weaknesses, local information is extremely valuable; you should consult your local or area retail nurseries and the Cooperative Extension services for your state or region (Google search: cooperative extension [state]). Ideally, the best retail nurseries and garden centers in your area will have learned over time which rootstocks are the best choices locally- they have done the homework and you have the good option of simply following their lead.

The old site home orchard product pages show variety rootstock combinations grown for the current season. For example, go to the Where To Buy Variety Finder, click on Apples, Apply, Anna, then Anna Apple to go to the old home garden Anna Apple page. At the bottom are the rootstocks Anna has been grown on for the current season, listed in order of quantity grown (i.e. relative availability).

Offered as a reference, the list below includes the 2018-19 top-selling 50% of Dave Wilson Nursery miniatures, dwarfs, and semi-dwarfs that are 3/4 of standard size or less, plus a few qualified varieties described as “relatively small trees”. Also included are some leading cold-country dwarf/semi-dwarfs. These trees represent DWN’s most popular, more commonly available small-stature fruit trees. Remember too that all figs and pomegranates are easily kept small.

DWN Top-Selling Dwarf and Smallest Semi-Dwarf Fruit Trees

Included are semi-dwarfs that are described as 3/4 of standard size or less. Relative tree sizes (unpruned) are approximate, varying with variety and location.

Almonds, Dwarf & Semi-dwarf (standard root)

All-In-One (semi-dwarf)
Garden Prince (dwarf)

Apple, Dwarf on M-27 (6-8 ft., staking required)

Fuji

Apples, Dwarf on Geneva 935 (1/3 TO 40% of standard size)

Fuji
Gala
Golden Delicious
Granny Smith
Honeycrisp
PinkLady®

Apples, Semi-dwarf on M-7 (2/3 of standard size)

Anna
Dorsett Golden
Fuji
Gala
Golden Delicious
Granny Smith
Honeycrisp
Pink Lady®
Sundowner®

Apricot, Genetic Semi-dwarf on Citation

Pixie-Cot™

Apricot, Semi-Dwarf on Citation (3/4 of standard size)

Autumn Glo
Blenheim
Brittany Gold
Chinese
Earli-Autumn
Gold Kist
Harcot
Harglow
Katy
Moorpark
Perfection
Royal
Royal Rosa
Tilton
Tomcot™
Wenatchee Moorpark

Apricot, Semi-Dwarf on St. Julian (3/4 of standard size)

Goldcot
Harcot

Aprium® Interspecific Apricot, Semi-Dwarf (3/4 of standard size)

Cot-N-Candy
Flavor Delight
Leah Cot
Summer Delight

Cherry, Sour, Dwarf (8-10 ft., standard root)

North Star

Cherries,Dwarf on Newroot-1 (8-12 ft.)

Bing
Black Tartarian
Craig’s Crimson
Lapins
Rainier
Royal Rainier
Stella
Utah Giant

Cherries, Semi-dwarf on Maxma 14® (2/3 of standard size)

Bing
Craig’s Crimson
Lapins
Minnie Royal
Rainier
Royal Lee
Royal Rainier
Stella
Utah Giant
Van

Cherries, Semi-dwarf (relatively small tree, any root)

Bali (sour)
Compact Stella
Craig’s Crimson
English Morello (sour)

Figs, Semi-dwarf (relatively small tree, own root, potted)

Black Jack
Brown Turkey
Violette de Bordeaux

Jujube, Semi-dwarf (relatively small tree, seedling root)

Honey Jar

Mulberry, Dwarf (6-8 ft., own root, potted)

Dwarf Everbearing

Nectarines, Genetic Dwarf/Miniature (4-7 ft., standard root)

Garden Delight
Necta Zee
Nectar Babe

Nectarines, Semi-dwarf on Citation (1/2 to 2/3 of standard size)

Arctic Glo
Arctic Jay
Arctic Rose
Arctic Star
Double Delight
Fantasia
Goldmine
Harko
Heavenly White
Honey Kist
Liz’s Late
Mericrest
Panamint
Snow Queen

Nectarine, Semi-dwarf on St. Julian (1/2 to 2/3 of standard size)

Harko

NectaPlum™, Semi-dwarf on Citation (1/2 to 2/3 of std. size)

Spice Zee

Peaches, Genetic Dwarf Miniature (4-7 ft., standard root)

Bonanza
Garden Gold
Honey Babe
Pix Zee

Peaches, Semi-dwarf on Citation (1/2 to 2/3 of standard size)

Arctic Supreme
August Pride
Babcock
Contender
Cresthaven
Donut ‘Stark Saturn’
Elberta
Eva’s Pride
Fay Elberta
Frost™
Gleason Early Elberta
Indian Free
J. H. Hale
July Elberta
Loring
May Pride
Mid-Pride
Muir
O’Henry
Polly
Red Baron
Redhaven
Reliance
Sauzee Swirl
Snow Beauty
Suncrest
White Lady

Peaches, Semi-dwarf on St. Julian (1/2 to 2/3 of standard size)

Frost
Gleason Early Elberta
Reliance
Veteran
White Lady

Peach, Semi-Dwarf (relatively small tree, any root)

Rio Oso Gem

Peach Peacotum, Semi-dwarf (naturally small tree)

Bella Gold

Pear, Semi-dwarf on OHxF333 (2/3 of standard size)

Bartlett
Blake’s Pride
Bosc
Comice
D’Anjou Red
Flordahome
Harrow Delight
Kieffer
Seckel
Sensation
Red Bartlett
Southern Bartlett
Warren

Pear, Asian, Semi-dwarf on OHxF333 (2/3 of standard size)

20th Century
Hosui
Shinseiki

Pear, Asian (relatively small tree, any root)

20th Century

Persimmon (small tree, standard root)

Izu

Pomegranate (relatively small tree, own root, potted)

A.C. Sweet
Red Silk
Sweet

Pluerry™ Interspecific Plum, Semi-Dwarf on Citation (3/4 of standard size)

Candy Heart
Sugar Twist

Plum, Semi-Dwarf on Citation (3/4 of standard size)

Beauty
Burgundy
Elephant Heart
Emerald Beaut
Golden Nectar
Laroda
Late Santa Rosa
Mariposa
Methley
Santa Rosa
Satsuma
Shiro
Superior

Plum, Semi-Dwarf (relatively small tree, any root)

Burbank

Plum Plum/Prune -European/Damson, Semi-Dwarf on Citation (3/4 of standard size)

Blue Damson
Early Italian-Richards
French Improved
Green Gage-Bavay’s
Italian

Pluot® Interspecific Plum, Semi-Dwarf on Citation (3/4 of standard size)

Candy Stripe
Dapple Dandy
Dapple Supreme
Flavor Grenade
Flavorich
Flavor King
Flavor Queen
Flavor Supreme

Pluot® Interspecific Plum, Semi-dwarf (small tree, any root)

Flavor King

Multiple-Budded, Semi-Dwarf

Apricot/Aprium® on Citation
Cherries on Maxma 14®
Peaches, Cold Hardy on Citation
Pears on OHxF333
Pears, Disease Resistant on OHxF333
Pears, Asian on OHxF333
Plums on Citation
Plums, Low-Chill on Citation
Fruit Salad, Cold Hardy on Citation
Pluot® Interspecific Plums on Citation
Zee Sweet® Nuggets Pluot® Interspecific on Citation
Cherry-Plums on Citation

last edit 4/30/2021