Community and Resources for Home Gardens
RETAIL NURSERY VARIETY LIST
Sierra Azul Nursery
2660 East Lake Avenue
Watsonville, California 95076
831.728.2532
Plant varieties ordered from Dave Wilson Nursery for 2021:
Braeburn Apple
New, from New Zealand. Superb late season fruit: very crisp and tangy, more flavorful than Granny Smith. Excellent keeper. Green with dark red blush. October-November harvest. 700 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.
Gala Apple
Wonderful dessert apple from New Zealand. Crisp, nice blend of sweetness and tartness, rich flavor. Skin reddish orange over yellow. Early harvest, 2 - 3 weeks before Red Delicious. Good pollenizer for other varieties. Adapted to cold- and warm-winter climates. Chilling requirement less than 500 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 4-10.
Golden Delicious Apple
Long-time favorite for its sweetness and flavor. Reliable producer, adapted to many climates. Pollenizer for Red Delicious. Midseason harvest (September in Central CA). 700 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-10.
Granny Smith Apple
From New Zealand. Large, late, green, all-purpose. Crisp, tart, excellent keeper. Requires long summer. Thrives in hot climates. 400 hours. Prolonged bloom: good pollenizer for other apples. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 6-9.
Gravenstein Apple
Famous for sauce and baking, also used fresh. Crisp, juicy, flavorful & tart. Early bloom, early harvest. 700 hours. Pollenizer required: Empire, Fuji, Gala, Red Delicious. Not a pollenizer for other varieties. USDA Zones 2-9.
Multi-Bud Apple, Fuji-Gala-Golden Delicious-Granny Smith
Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith budded onto M-111 rootstock. Finished trees include 4n1's plus assorted 3n1's and 2n1's.
Red Fuji Apple
Redder skinned bud sport of Fuji. Sweet, very crisp and flavorful, excellent keeper. Ripe September-October in Central CA. Excellent pollenizer for other apple varieties. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-9.
Winter Banana Apple
Large, round, especially beautiful apple: pale yellow waxy skin blushed with rosy pink. Crisp, tangy, juicy flesh is highly aromatic with a mild, banana-like flavor. Long time favorite dessert apple in CA's mild winter coastal climates. Good cider apple. Harvest mid to late-September in Central CA. Good keeper. Vigorous, spreading tree bears at young age. Excellent pollenizer for other apples. Originated in Indiana, introduced in 1890. Low winter chilling requirement, less than 400 hours. Partly self-fruitful, biggest crops if cross-pollenized. USDA Zones 4-9.
Yellow Newton Pippin Apple
Yellow green, late, firm, crisp, slightly tart, superb flavor. For peak flavor and acid/sugar balance, wait to harvest until cheeks are blushed yellowish-green (late Oct./early Nov. in Central CA). Good keeper. Famous for cooking, excellent fresh or dried. Vigorous tree. 700 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-8.
Autumn Glo Apricot
Late season apricot with tremendous flavor. Ripens in the first two weeks of August. Fruit is medium-sized with good color. One of the highest scoring apricot varieties to date at Dave Wilson Nursery fruit tastings. 500 hours or less. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-9. (Zaiger)
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.
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)
Flavor Delight Aprium® Interspecific Apricot
Apricot-plum hybrid. Resembles an apricot but with a distinctive flavor and texture all its own. High taste-test scores, one of the most flavorful early season fruits. Early June. Very low chilling requirement, less than 300 hours. Self-fruitful, but largest crops when pollenized by another apricot. (Zaiger)
Summer Delight Aprium® Interspecific Apricot
New introduction for 2016. This late-season Aprium® is a reliable bearer with very juicy flesh and great apricot flavor. Ripens late July-early August at Hickman, California. Self-fruitful, chilling requirement 500 hours or less. Best in zones 7-10. U.S. Plant patent pending (Zaiger)
Shinseiki Asian Pear
Juicy, sweet, refreshing, crisp like an apple. Easy to grow. Keeps well. Harvest late July/early August in Central CA. Bright yellow skin. Vigorous, heavy bearing (usually by 2nd year). 250-300 hours. Self-fruitful.
Craig's Crimson Cherry
Taste test winner. Self-fruitful, natural semi-dwarf sweet cherry. Dark red to nearly black, medium to large size, wonderful spicy flavor, very firm texture. Mature tree size about 2/3 of standard (smaller when budded onto Colt or Mahaleb rootstock). Harvest begins early. 500-600 hours. USDA Zones 5-9. (Zaiger)
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.
Royal Crimson Cherry
The long-awaited low-chill self-fruitful sweet cherry from Zaiger Genetics, Royal Crimson is a consistent producer of large, tasty, crimson-red fruit. Harvest is early to mid May. This important new variety is also an excellent pollenizer for Minnie Royal and Royal Lee. Estimated chill requirement 200-300 hours. Patent applied for. (Zaiger)
Royal Rainier Cherry
Large yellow cherry with slightly more red blush than Rainier. Excellent flavor, taste test winner. Ripens early, about 3-5 days ahead of Rainier. Chill requirement 500 hours. Pollenized by Bing, Black Tartarian and Lapins. USDA Zones 5-9. (Zaiger)
Black Mission Fig
The industry standard. Purplish-black skin, strawberry-colored flesh, rich flavor. Heavy bearing, long-lived, large tree. Coast or inland. Two crops per year. Fresh/dry/can. 100 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-9.
Improved Brown Turkey Fig
Large, brown skin, pink flesh. Sweet, rich flavor, used fresh. Widely adapted - coast or inland climate. Small tree, prune to any shape. 100 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-9.
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.
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)
Double Delight Nectarine
Sensational fruit: consistently the best flavored yellow nectarine plus magnificent, double pink flowers. Dark red-skinned, freestone fruit is sweet, with unusually rich flavor. Very high scoring in taste tests. Heavy bearing tree. Harvest early to mid-July in Central CA. 300 hours. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
Necta Zee Miniature Nectarine
Sweet, very flavorful yellow freestone, beautiful red skin. Mid-June to early July in central CA. Strong, vigorous tree to 6 ft. Best self-fruitful miniature nectarine. 400 hours or less. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
Arctic Sprite Miniature White Nectarine
The perfect complement to the early, super-sweet Arctic Babe. Arctic Sprite yields a white-fleshed freestone fruit with delightfully tangy-sweet flavor, ripening in late midseason. Spectacular spring bloom. Self-fruitful. Harvest begins early August at Hickman, CA. Estimated chilling requirement 450 hours. Developed by Zaiger Genetics. Patent Pending.
Sol Dorado Miniature Nectarine
Early mid-season yellow-fleshed freestone fruit with especially nice acid-sugar balance and wonderful, rich nectarine flavor. Spectacular spring bloom. Self-fruitful. Harvest begins early July at Hickman, CA. Estimated chilling requirement 450 hours. Developed by Zaiger Genetics. Patent Pending.
Arctic Supreme White Peach
Two-time taste test winner. Large, white flesh, nearly freestone when fully ripe. Red over cream colored skin. Sweet and tangy, fine delicate flavor, firm texture. Peak quality reached a short while after picking. Harvest late July/early August in Central CA. 700 hours. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
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.
Garden Sun Miniature Peach
Yellow freestone, ripe one week after Elberta. Sweet, mild, low acid. 4-5 ft. tree. Showy blossoms. 500 hours or less. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)
Honey Babe Miniature Peach
Sweet, yellow freestone, rich peach flavor. Heavy bearing 5 ft. tree. Early to mid-July in Central California. Excellent choice for home orchard. 400 hours or less. Partly self-fruitful, sometimes shy-bearing without a pollenizer. (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.
Snow Babe Miniature White Peach
The first Zaiger miniature white peach! Doubly unique for its peach-plum ancestry. Smoothly sweet, flavorful mid-season white-fleshed freestone with a pleasing, plummy after taste. Spectacular spring bloom. Self-fruitful. Harvest begins late July at Hickman, CA. Estimated chilling requirement 450 hours. Developed by Zaiger Genetics. Patent Pending.
Bartlett Pear
World's most popular pear. Early midseason, high quality, tolerates hot summers. 500-600 hours. Self-fruitful in most climates of Western U.S. Elsewhere, pollenized by Bosc, D'Anjou, Winter Nelis.
Bosc Pear
Long and narrow shape, brown skin. Superb quality, one of the best. Harvest late October. Use fresh or cooked. Susceptible to fire blight in warm, moist climates. 500-600 hours. Pollenized by Bartlett or other pear.
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 (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.
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.
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.
Satsuma Plum
Long-time favorite plum in California. Mottled maroon over green skin, dark red meaty flesh. Sweet, mild, not tart. Excellent for jam. Harvest late July. 300 hours. Pollenized by Santa Rosa or Beauty.
Flavor Supreme Pluot® Interspecific Plum
Taste test winner. Plum/apricot hybrid with sweet, richly flavored, firm red flesh. Greenish-maroon mottled skin. June harvest in Central CA, about two weeks before Santa Rosa. 700-800 hours. Pollenized by Santa Rosa and Late Santa Rosa plums, or Flavorosa, Flavor Queen and Geo Pride Pluot®. (Zaiger)
Grenada Pomegranate
A darker, less tart bud sport of Wonderful. Can be grown as a bush or in tree form. Harvest 30 days before Wonderful. Long-lived, any soil. 150 hours. Self-fruitful. (Pat. No. 2618)
Jewel Southern Highbush Blueberry
One of California's leading commercial varieties due to its high adaptability. Exceptional growth and high yields. Midseason harvest of large to very large berries with tangy sweet flavor. Chill requirement estimated at 200 hours. Self-fruitful, zones 7-10. (U.S Plant Patent #11807)
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.
Sharpblue Southern Highbush Blueberry
Southern highbush. Excellent flavor. Nearly evergreen in mild winter climates. Bears fruit nearly year-round. Vigorous plant to 6 ft. Dime-sized dark blue fruit. 200 hours.
Black Satin Blackberry
Vigorous, very productive plant. Large berries. Midseason producer, July in most areas. Requires some support due to heavy cropping and limber, semi-trailing plant structure. USDA zones 6-9.
Canby Thornless Raspberry
Thornless - the only red thornless raspberry. Large to very large fruit are firm, juicy and of fine flavor. Good for all uses. Viroid and aphid resistant. Very winter hardy, grows best in cooler summer areas. Harvest June, July. Self-fruitful, best in zones 4-9.
Fall Gold Raspberry
Everbearing - Hybrid of Taylor X wild Korean mountain berry X Fall Red. Large to very large golden berries of excellent flavor. Extremely sweet and soft textured. Very adaptable and winter hardy. Harvest June through fall. Self-fruitful. Best in zones 4-11.
Heritage Raspberry
Everbearing - Large, sweet, dark red berries. Mild flavor and excellent quality. Good for all uses. Moderate early crop in June, July. Heavier late crop August through fall. Berries keep well on or off the vine. Upright growth habit. Self-fruitful. Best in Zones 4-11.
Olallieberry
A cross between Youngberry and Loganberry, classified as a blackberry. Large, elongated fruit with unique sweet-tart flavor: a long-time California fruit stand favorite for fresh-eating, pies and jams. Vine-like (trailing) structure, requires support. Lower chilling requirement than Boysen. Takes up to two years to bear. Zones 7-9, possibly 6-10.
Princess Seedless Grape
Large, white, mid season. Fruit stores well and hangs on the vine for an extended period. Best for fresh eating and raisins. Cane prune. Ripens mid to late August after Thompson Seedless. Hardy to Zone 7.
Chandler Walnut
Developed by U.C. Davis. Heavy bearing (bears on lateral buds, not just terminals like Hartley). High quality light-colored nuts. Smaller tree than Hartley, good choice for backyard walnut. Fall harvest. 700 hours. Self-fruitful. (Rootstock: NCB walnut or Paradox.)
Forest Pansy Redbud
Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'
Striking scarlet-colored new foliage turning maroon then green as the leaves mature. Highly valued as a landscape accent. Swelling buds break pinkish-red along the bare branches, similar to Eastern redbud. Moderate grower to 20 ft. with a spreading habit. Sunset Zones 1-3, 7-20.
Western Redbud, clump
Cercis occidentalis
Single or multi-trunked tree to 15 by 15 ft. Spectacular, bright purplish-pink sweet-pea-shaped flowers. Yellow to red fall color. Drought tolerant, resistant to oak root fungus. Sunset Zones 2-24. Clump form is a multi-trunked tree.
Royal Purple Smoke Tree, bush form
Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'
Purple foliage, rich purple "smoke": hazy-appearing clusters of fuzzy, purple flower stalks. Multi-trunked shrub or small tree to 20 by 20 ft. Likes cold, needs good drainage, resists oak root fungus. All zones.