About our Stock
Planting Justice Nursery is proud to be the largest and most diverse collection of certified organic tree crops in North America . . . over 1100 varieties!
Each year our propagation team grafts over 20,000 fruit trees, roots countless cuttings, and sows endless seeds. We are constantly propagation plants throughout the year and are always looking for new varieties to add to our selection. Due to the nature of plant development, we always have hundreds of plants at our nursery that are not yet sellable or ship-able (as they are still too young and small) and many varieties will show as out of stock on our website because of this. Our inventory is constantly changing as we propagate more plants and as our plants reach the sizes and strengths for us to confidently offer them to you. It is highly likely that many of our out of stock varieties will be back within a year or less, so please add your email to the waitlist for any unavailable varieties you’re interested in and we’ll let you know when they’re back!
Since we ship our plants all over the continental US and all throughout the year, we have varieties suited for all of the climates throughout the country! If you’re looking for plants suited for the Bay Area where our organization is located (USDA hardiness zones 9-10), check out our Local Plant Guide for some suggestions of what will grow well here. To learn more about the climate in your area and USDA hardiness zones so you can pick the best varieties for your area, check out our Climate & Zones page.
All of our plants are grown using sustainable, organic practices, as we hold our relationship to the land we’re situated in and all the forms of life that inhabit it very dear. Our container-grown plants deliver a healthy and robust root system with no transplant shock, allowing for maximum growth once planted. The pots we use are called “tree-bands” which are deep, rectangular pots that have mostly open bottoms. We use tree-bands because they allow for air pruning of roots and prevent the circular pot-bound condition that can happen with traditional closed-bottom, cylindrical pots.
Container Sizes:
Please note: The following information is true for most but not all of the varieties within the below-listed categories. If you have specific varieties in mind, you can reach out to us at orders@plantingjustice.org for more detailed information.
- 5x5x12” tree bands = Most of our grafted fruit trees including Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Chestnuts, Filberts, Loquats, Medlars, Mulberries, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Persimmons, Plums, and Quince
- 4x4x10” tree bands = Avocados, Carob, Che, Chestnuts Seedlings, Cornelian Cherries, Dogwoods, Figs, Filberts, Hawthorns, Honey Locust, Jujube Seedlings, Mountain Ash, Mulberries, Olives, Pawpaws, and Pomegranates
- 4x4x6” tree bands = Aronia, Autumn Olives, Blackberries, Blueberries, Bush Cherries, Carob Seedlings, Cranberries, Currants, Dragon Fruit, Elderberry, Flowering Quince, Ginkgo, Gooseberries, Goumi, Grapes, Honeyberries, Jasmine, Kiwi, Prickly Pear, Pineapple Guava Seedlings, Raspberries, Roses, Rosemary, Sages, Sea Berries, Serviceberries, and Strawberry Guavas
- 3x3x9” tree band = Chinese Pistache Seedlings, Ginkgo Seedlings, Honey Locust Seedlings, Native tree seedlings, Pecan Seedlings, Raisin Tree Seedlings, and more
- 4” pots = most of our veggies (including tree kales and collards & our “spinach collection), herbs (including mint, lemon balm, etc), and many of our sub-tropical plants (including Yacon, Mashua, Pepino Dulce, etc)
Rootstocks:
Grafting is a common practice for many types of fruit and nut trees, as it allows growers to combine the best qualities of two unique plants into one tree! The tree that makes up the top of a grafted tree is called the “scion,” and this is the plant that will determine what the tree looks like and what fruit it will produce. The tree that becomes the bottom of a grafted tree is called the “rootstock,” and it will determine how large the grafted tree gets at maturity, what diseases it is resistant to, how much water it will need, and what type of soil and climate it can grow in.
We graft our fruit tree varieties onto standard or the more vigorous semi-standard rootstocks. The rootstocks we use were selected because they infer structural strength, disease resistance, and longevity to our grafted trees. Additionally, we prioritize rootstocks that establish quickly and require minimal inputs (water and fertilizer).
With light pruning these trees can be maintained to a standard or close to standard size. To create a more dwarfed tree for a small yard or an intensively managed high yield orchard, begin to summer prune when trees reach the desired height. We have hundreds of trees of all different sorts under this management and find it very satisfying, giving us the easy management and high yields of a traditional semi-dwarf planting with the sturdy trouble free drought resistant qualities of standards.
Rootstocks We Use:
Please note: The following information is true for many but not all of the varieties within the below-listed categories. If you have specific varieties in mind, you can reach out to us at orders@plantingjustice.org for more detailed information.
- M111 EMLA – The vast majority of our Apples are grafted on this well-tested, hardy, and drought tolerant clonal rootstock. M111 EMLA rootstock is a semi-standard rootstock, meaning our apple trees will grow to be 15-25 feet tall. This deeply rooted rootstock tolerates wet, dry, or even nutrient poor soils and very vigorous.
- Prunus avium ‘Colt’ – Most of our Cherry trees are on Colt rootstock. Originating in England in the 80’s, this rootstock produces trees resistant to Phytophthora root rot and gopher damage with little to no suckering.
- Russian Mulberry – Mulberries are grafted onto Russian Mulberry seedlings (Morus alba tartarica). Very drought tolerant and good for all Mulberry varieties.
- Nemaguard – Used for many Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots. Well suited for well-drainged soils, Nemaguard rootstock is resistant to root-knot nematode and will produce trees that grow to their standard height (15-25 feet).
- OHxF 97- Used for most of our Pears. OHxF 97 is resistant to fire blight and cold hardy down to USDA hardiness zone 4. Produces full-sized pear trees (15-20 feet).
- BA29C Province – Used for our fruiting Quince trees. Resistant to crown gall, can tolerate wet soils, and produces semi-dwarf trees (10-15 feet tall).
- Mariana 2924 – Used for most of our Almonds and Plums. Mariana 2924 produces vigorous, semi-dwarf trees. Can be somewhat shallow-rooted during first few years, so staking may be necessary as roots slowly establish.
- Lotus – Standard persimmon rootstock. Makes a strong, drought tolerant tree.