Community and Resources for Home Gardens
RETAIL NURSERY VARIETY LIST
Exotica Rare Fruit Nursery
2508 East Vista Way
Vista, California 92085
760.724.9093
Plant varieties ordered from Dave Wilson Nursery for 2020:
Chico Jujube
(G17-62) Round, flat-bottomed fruit of medium size. Known for its rich, sweet and tangy flavor. Ripens late season. Partly self-fruitful. 200 hours. USDA Zones 5-9.
Anna Apple
Remarkable fruit for mild winter climates in So. Calif., So. Ariz. Heavy crops of sweet, crisp, flavorful apples even in low desert. Fresh/cooked. Keeps 2 months in refrigerator. 200 hours. Self-fruitful or pollenized by Dorsett Golden or Einshemer. USDA Zones 5-10.
Ashmead's Kernel Apple
Widely regarded as one of the all-time best-flavored apples. Small to medium-sized fruit variable shape, often lop-sided. 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.
Dorsett Golden Apple
Outstanding sweet apple for warm winter areas. Firm, very flavorful, sweet like Golden Delicious. Productive throughout So.CA and Phoenix, AZ. Good early season sweet apple for Central CA. 100 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-10.
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 6-9.
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 3-8.
Hudson's Golden Gem Apple
One of the largest and best-flavored russet apples. Crisp, sugary, juicy flesh with flavor described as nutty by some, pear-like by others. Conical in shape with a very distinctive appearance: a smooth, uniform, grayish-gold or light yellowish-brown russet over the entire surface. Ripens after Jonagold, about with Melrose. In most climates where it is grown, the fruit hangs on the tree into winter. Good keeper. Medium-sized, vigorous, winter hardy tree. Resistant to scab, mildew and fire blight. Fruit tends to crack the first two or three years only. Chance seedling discovered in a fence row at Tangent, Oregon. Introduced in 1931. Estimated chilling requirement 800-1000 hours. Partly self-fruitful, biggest crops with cross-pollination. USDA Zones 3-9.
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. Pollenizer required: Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala. USDA Zones 4-8.
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. 300-400 hours. USDA Zones 6-9.
Pink Pearl Apple
Unusual pink fleshed, highly aromatic fruit. Medium-sized, cream and pale green skin, sometimes blushed red. Tart to sweet-tart, depending on time of picking. Early fall harvest. Good keeper. Makes colorful, tasty applesauce. Early, profuse, pink blossoms in spring. 600 hours. Pollenizer required. USDA Zones 4-8.
White Winter Pearmain Apple
High quality, all-purpose apple - an old favorite, especially for fresh use. Widely adapted, including CA's mild-winter coastal climates. Medium to large size, round to oval shape, pale yellow skin with dull red blush. Cream colored flesh is fine grained, crisp, juicy and aromatic with a rich, subacid to sprightly flavor. September/October harvest, good keeper. Healthy, vigorous, spreading, heavy-bearing tree. Excellent pollenizer for other apples. Believed to be the oldest known English apple, dating back to 1200 A.D. Low winter chilling requirement, about 400 hours. Self-fruitful.
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 7-8.
Hunza Apricot
Native to northwest Pakistan, the fruit is sweet and flavorful. Very cold hardy.
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 7-8.
Royal Rosa Apricot
Extremely vigorous - more disease tolerant than other apricots. Bears young and heavy. Especially nice fruit: sweet, low acid, fine flavor. Very early harvest (late May in Central CA). Excellent backyard apricot. 500 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-9. (Zaiger)
Tropic Gold Apricot
Reliable producer of medium-large yellow fruit with orange-red blush and exceptional flavor. Ripens late June. Discovered at Camarillo, CA. Low-chill, 350 hours or less. Self-fertile. USDA Zones 7-9.
Cot-N-Candy White Aprium® Interspecific Apricot
Wonderful new fruit from Zaiger Hybrids. White flesh apricot-plum hybrid. Medium-sized with incredible flavor, very sweet and juicy. Ripens early- to mid-July. Self-fruitful. 400 hours or less. USDA Zones 7-10. (Pat. No. 17827) (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.
Hosui Asian Pear
Consistently rated the best-tasting Asian pear at Dave Wilson Nursery fruit tastings. Large, juicy, sweet, flavorful, refreshing, crisp like an apple. Brownish-orange russeted skin. Harvest early to mid-August in Central CA. 300-400 hours. Pollenized by Shinko, Chojuro, Bartlett, or 20th Century.
Shinko Asian Pear
Late ripening - September in Central CA - and excellent quality. Juicy, sweet, flavorful, refreshing, crisp like an apple. Golden brown russeted skin. 450 hours. Pollenized by Hosui, Chojuro, Kikusui, Bartlett
Ya Li (Chinese) Asian Pear
High quality greenish-yellow, pear-shaped fruit is juicy, sweet, refreshing, crisp like an apple when ripe. Vigorous tree. Harvest in September in Central CA. 300 hours. Pollenized by Tsu Li.
Compact Stella Cherry
Compact growth habit, semi-dwarf to 12 ft. Large, dark red, tasty fruit ripens late May and early June. Self-fruitful. 500-800 hours. UDSA Zones 4-9.
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. 400 hours or less. USDA Zones 5-9.
Minnie Royal Cherry
Medium-sized red cherry, firm with good flavor. Ripens 11-14 days ahead of Bing, tree is very productive with a low chill requirement. Pollenized by Royal Lee. 200-300 hours or less. (Pat. No. 12942) (Zaiger)
Royal Lee Cherry
Medium-sized red cherry, very firm with excellent flavor. Ripens 11-14 days ahead of Bing, Very low chilling requirement, excellent pollenizer for Minnie Royal. Pollenized by Minnie Royal. 200 to 300 hours. (Pat. No.12417) (Zaiger)
Desert King Fig
Light green 'white' skin, strawberry colored pulp. Rich flavor, excellent fresh eating quality. Large breba (spring) crop. Later crop is light in hot climates, heavier in coastal climates. Prune only lightly, occasionally. (Heavy winter pruning removes breba crop.) 100 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-9.
Excel Fig
Medium sized, yellow fruit with amber pulp. Sweet rich flavor. Resistant to splitting even under adverse conditions. Superb, all purpose fig. Introduced in 1975. Considered very hardy. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-10
Flanders Fig
Medium-sized, long-necked fruit with violet stripes and scattered white specks. Amber to white meat with light strawberry pulp. Rich flavor, split resistant, highly productive. Two crops per year. 100 hours. Self-fruitful.
Panache Fig
Especially fine flavor! Small to medium-sized fruit with green color and yellow Tiger stripes. Strawberry pulp is blood-red in color. 100 hours. Self-fruitful.
Contorted Jujube
Interesting ornamental form: twisted, contorted branching. Round-shaped edible fruits similar to Li. Fruits reddish-brown when ripe, eaten firm and crunchy or room-dried to date-like chewy sweetness. Prolonged harvest beginning early fall. Attractive, easy-to-grow tree: hardy, drought resistant, virtually pest and disease free. Requires long, hot summer. Very low chilling requirement. Partly self-fruitful or pollenized by Lang.
GA 866 Jujube
Two-inch elongated fruit is exceptionally sweet with an apple-like flavor. Ripens mid-autumn. Partly self-fruitful or pollenize with another jujube. 200 hours. USDA Zones 5-9.
Honey Jar Jujube
Extremely sweet, juicy, small to medium sized fruit. Ripens early season. Compact tree-form. Party self-fruitful. 200 hours USDA Zones 5-9.
Shanxi Li Jujube
Largest of the popular jujube varieties (over 2 inches), round shape. Apple-like flavor, sweetens when dried. Self-fruitful and a good pollenizer for other varieties. 200 hours. USDA Zones 5-9.
Sugar Cane Jujube
Round fruit is smaller than Li. Sweet, crunchy flesh. Tree is precocious, hardy, drought resistant, virtually pest and disease free. Requires long, hot summer. Very low chill requirement. Partly self-fruitful.
Black Beauty Mulberry
(Morus nigra sp.) Large, shiny fruit similar to Persian, known for its flavor. Can be grown as a tree or large shrub. Ripens early summer. Attractive to birds. Self-fruitful. 200 hours or less. USDA Zones 7-10.
Pakistan Fruiting Mulberry
Morus alba 'Pakistan'
Long (3 inches), firm, red to black, sweet fruit. Non-staining juice. Month-long early summer harvest. Fruit used fresh and for pies, jams and jellies. Large, vigorous, disease-resistant tree.
Persian Fruiting Mulberry
Morus nigra 'Persian'
Densely foliated tree to 25-30 ft. Large heart-shaped leaves. Large fruit is juicy, dark red to black and good for jam. USDA Zones 7-9.
Tea's Weeping Mulberry
Morus alba 'Pendula'
Fast growing, heat-loving tree with blackberry-like fruit. Mature tree size 20 by 20 ft. Low chilling requirement. USDA Zones 4-9.
Spice Zee NectaPlum® Interspecific Nectarine
The first NectaPlum® from Zaiger Genetics: a white-fleshed, nectarine-peach-plum hybrid. Skin is dark maroon at fruit set, and turns pale pink when ripe. Fully ripe fruit is unparalleled in flavor, and both nectarine and plum traits are easily detectable. Tree is quite ornamental. Tremendous purplish pink bloom in the spring, followed by a flourish of red leaves which mature into lush green in late summer. Self-fruitful. Very productive. 200-300 hours. High chill adaptable. (Pat. No. 13503) (Zaiger)
Arctic Star White Nectarine
Earliest to ripen of the low acid, super-sweet white nectarines. Rave reviews in trial tastings. Beautiful dark red skin, snow white semi-freestone flesh. Ripens mid-June in Central CA, 4-5 weeks ahead of Arctic Rose. Low winter chilling requirement, about 300 hours. Self-fruitful. (Pat. No. 9332) (Zaiger)
Sauzee King Nectarine
First 'donut' style nectarine from Zaiger Hybrids. Outstanding early season variety has white flesh that is sweet and juicy. Red skin, blushed with yellow. Tree sets fruit at a young age and produces heavily. Thinning is required for large fruit size. Estimated chilling requirement 500 hours or less. (Pat. No. 16258) (Zaiger)
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.
Donut (Stark Saturn) White 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.
May Pride Peach
Very early peach for warm winter climates. Ripens in May, about with Desert Gold. Delicious, sweet and tangy, semi-freestone when fully ripe. Very large for such an early peach. Large, showy pink blossoms. 150-200 hours. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
Mid-Pride Peach
Best yellow freestone for warm winter climates of So. Calif., Phoenix, Houston, S.F. Bay Area. Also recommended for Central CA for its exceptional flavor and dessert quality. Midseason. 250 hours. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
Octoberfest Peach
Large, yellow-orange, firm, freestone peach with blushed red interior. Excellent true peach flavor with a sweet balanced taste. Ripens late season, September through October. Chilling requirement preliminary estimate 500-700 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-9. Patent pending. (Zaiger)
Red Baron Peach
Flowering/fruiting. Large, juicy, firm, richly flavored yellow freestone fruit. Highly rated in taste tests. Showy double red blossoms. Mid-July. Long-time favorite in Southern CA and Texas. Low chilling requirement, 250-300 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 (Imoto) Persimmon
Large size. Compared to Jiro, Imoto is more square and flattened. Non-astringent. (Good eating while still hard.) Self- fruitful. 200 hours. USDA Zones 7-10.
Fuyu (Jiro) 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.
Giant Fuyu Persimmon
Larger, not as flat as Fuyu. Crunchy when ripe like Fuyu. Sweet, flavorful, non astringent. Easy to grow, cool or hot climates. 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.
Burgundy Plum
Maroon colored skin and semi-freestone flesh. Sweet, with little or no tartness and a very pleasing, mild flavor. High taste test scores. Prolonged harvest, mid-July to mid-August in Central CA. Very productive tree with narrow, upright habit. 300 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.
Hollywood Plum
Fruiting ornamental. Introduced commercially in 1936. Very delicious fruit is medium-sized and round, with blood-red flesh and skin. Ripens in late June and hangs well on the tree. Good for jelly and canning. Red-leafed tree has upright growth habit. 300-400 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-9.
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.
Weeping Santa Rosa Semi-Dwarf Plum
One of the most flavorful, aromatic Japanese plums when fully ripe. Beautiful 8-10 ft. tree, weeping growth habit: long slender limbs bow gracefully to the ground. Easily espaliered. 200-400 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)
A.C. Sweet Pomegranate
Developed by Arthur C. Combe of Beaver Dam, Arizona. Exterior color is red to bright pink, arils are pink to light red. Flavor is sweet and refreshing, seeds are soft and edible. Ripe fruit can hang for weeks without splitting. Very hardy plant will take temperatures to below zero. One of Utah's favored varieties. Required chill hours 100-200. Self-fruitful, best in Zones 6-10.
Ariana Pomegranate
From the collection of Dr. Gregory Levin. Garygella Reasearch Station, Turkmenistan. Fruit size is large. Color is a bold, bright red. Seeds are soft, small and almost nondetectable. Flavor is rated as very good, sweet and punchy. Rated as one of the best tasting varieties in the U.C. Davis, Wolfskill collection. Ripens October through November. 100 hour chill rating. Self-fruitful.
Eversweet Pomegranate
Very sweet, virtually seedless fruit. (Even immature fruits are sweet.) Red skin, clear (non-staining) juice. Harvest late summer through fall. Coast or inland. 8-10 ft. arching shrub, or train as tree or espalier. Large, showy, orange-red flowers. 150 hours. Self fruitful.
Parfianka Pomegranate
Large size red fruit is sweet with a hint of acidity. Arils are red with very small edible seeds. Vigorous upright plant sets a heavy crop dependably. Maintain at any height with summer pruning. Consistently receives the highest praise for overall flavor. Great for juice or fresh eating. A Dr. Gregory Levin introduction through U.C. Davis. Very highly rated in U.C.Davis taste tests. Some rate Parfianka as the best tasting pomegranate. Required chill hours 100-200. Self-fruitful, best in zones 7-10.
Jelly Bean® Blueberry
Large, sweet, flavorful blueberries in mid-summer. Foliage has distinctive elongated, green leaves with highlights of red in cooler climates. Mounded, compact growth habit to 1-2 ft., well suited to patio container growing or decorative use in landscape. Est. chill requirement 1000 hours. USDA zones 4-8. U.S. Plant Patent #24662.
Jubilee Southern Highbush Blueberry
Southern Highbush. Midseason, sweet, firm berry. Upright and quite compact bush, with fruit borne on the outer periphery. Chilling requirement is estimated at 400-500 hours.
Misty Southern Highbush Blueberry
Southern Highbush. Early season. In the West Misty is quite vigorous, growing very well on the coast and in the inland heat. This especially flavorful fruit does well in areas with chilling as low as 150 hours and all areas with mild winters and hot summers.
O'Neal Southern Highbush Blueberry
Southern Highbush. Large fruit is especially sweet and flavorful. Early season. 5-6 ft. bush. 200 hours. Self-fruitful, but plant two varieties for largest crops.
Peach Sorbet® Blueberry
This compact-growing blueberry is a stunner: leaves of peach, pink, orange and emerald green. White bell-shaped flowers in spring, followed by flavorful, sweet blueberries in summer. Mounded shape, growing to 1 1/2 -2 ft. In most climates, the leaves are held throughout winter, turning to a rich purple color. Est. chill requirement 300 hrs or less. USDA zones 5-10. U.S. Plant Pat.#23325.
Pink Icing® Blueberry
Distinctive foliage colors and large, richly flavored berries. In spring, the foliage has many shades of pink, mixed with blue and deep greens. The leaves turn a showy iridescent turquoise blue in winter. Mounded, compact growth habit to 3-4 ft. Adapted to patio container growing or landscape use for year-round color. Est. chill requirement 500 hrs. USDA zones 5-10. U.S. Plant Pat.#23336.
Southmoon Southern Highbush Blueberry
Southern highbush. Exceptional berries with superb flavor. Florida native with vigorous, upright character. Performs well in California, both inland and coastal. Prefers light sandy soils. 200-300 hours. (Pat No. 9834)
Sunshine Blue Southern Highbush Blueberry
Southern highbush. Great flavored firm berries. Ripens May 10 through June 15 at Gainesville, Florida. Semi-dwarf evergreen bush with great fall color. Showy hot pink flowers fade to white in spring. Self-fruitful. Estimated chilling required 150 hours, but very cold hardy as well.
Baby Cakes® Blackberry
Dwarf, thornless blackberry with compact, rounded growth habit to 3-4 ft., ideal for patio pots. Large, sweet berries. Est. chill requirement 400 hours. USDA zones 4-8. U.S. Plant Patent #27032.
Raspberry Shortcake®
Raspberry Shortcake® offers a new, easy way to grow your own raspberries. Its compact, rounded, thornless(!) growth habit to 2-3 ft. is perfect for patio container growing or any sunny, well-drained spot in the landscape. Est. chill requirement 800 hours. USDA zones 4-9. U.S. Plant Pat. #22141.
Concord (Eastern) Grape
Versatile, long-time favorite American grape. Blue-black berry with rich, distinctive flavor, used for table, juice, jelly and wine. 100 hours. Self-fruitful. Cane prune.
Golden Muscat Grape
American/European hybrid. Large, eggshaped berries are pale golden yellow when ripe. Characteristic European muscat flavor and aroma. 100 hours. Self-fruitful. Spur prune.
Garden Prince Genetic Dwarf Almond
Compact, lushly foliated 10-12 ft. tree. Soft shell, kernels especially sweet and tasty. Bears young and heavy. Large, light pink blossoms. 250 hours. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
Double Purple Wisteria
Deciduous, fast-growing vine. Bears full double purple flowers like little pompons. Full sun, little summer watering when well established.