Pot Grown Trees - Form & Size Guide
These examples show the different pot-grown tree forms and sizes available from Southern Fruit Trees. The exact appearance of your tree may vary slightly depending on the natural characteristics of the individual variety.
Pot Grown Tree Forms
Use the examples below to compare the different forms available. The photographs give a useful indication of the shape and proportions you can expect when your tree arrives.
Choosing Your Fruit Tree
Two of the most important things to consider when choosing a fruit tree are pollination and rootstock.
Pollination
Unless a tree is self-fertile, it will need a compatible pollination partner in order to produce fruit.
Fruit trees are placed into flowering groups according to when they blossom. Trees will generally pollinate varieties in the same group and those in neighbouring groups. For example, a variety in Group 2 can usually pollinate with varieties from Groups 1, 2 and 3.
Triploid varieties cannot normally act as a pollinator for another tree and therefore require two compatible varieties nearby which can pollinate each other.
Pollination can sound complicated, but in many gardens nearby fruit trees will also help provide suitable pollination.
Rootstocks
Fruit trees are grown on different rootstocks which determine how vigorously the tree will grow and therefore its approximate mature size.
Choosing the correct rootstock allows you to select a tree that will suit the space available, whether you need a compact tree for a smaller garden or a more vigorous tree for a larger area.
The guide below shows the approximate mature height associated with the main rootstocks we supply.
Fruit Tree Size Guide
Compare the expected mature size of each rootstock below. Heights are approximate and can also be influenced by growing conditions and pruning.
Very Dwarf
Approx. 2 metres / 6 feet
Dwarf
Approx. 2.5 metres / 6–8 feet
Semi Dwarf
Approx. 3 metres / 8–10 feet
Semi Vigorous
Approx. 4 metres / 12–15 feet