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 2023:

Chico Jujube (G17-62) “Chinese date.” Round, flat-bottomed, sweet fruit of medium size. 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. 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 4-9.

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 - proven very productive in trial with much less. 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. Proven very productive in trial with much less chilling than the estimated requirement. Pollenizer required: Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala. USDA Zones 4-8. A.k.a. Crispin.

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 in many western U.S. climates; pollenizer recommended for best production. 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.

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 7-9.

Gold Kist Apricot Excellent backyard apricot for warm winter climates. Freestone, very good quality. Heavy bearing. Early harvest, 3-4 weeks before Blenheim (Royal). 300 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-9. (Zaiger)

Katy Apricot Large, all-purpose, flavorful freestone. Tree-ripe fruit is subacid (not tart). A favorite apricot for warm-winter climates. Early harvest, 3-4 weeks before Blenheim (Royal). 200 to 300 hours. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-9. (Zaiger)

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 Medium-large fruit, yellow with orange-red blush. Ripens late June. Exceptional flavor. Discovered at Camarillo, CA. Low-chill, 350 hours or less. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 7-9.

Cot-N-Candy White Aprium® Interspecific Apricot White flesh apricot-plum hybrid. Medium-sized with incredible flavor, very sweet and juicy. Ripens early- to mid-July. Self-fruitful. 400 hours. 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. Shows fire blight resistance. 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 fruit ripens late May. 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. 500 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 and Royal Crimson. 200-300 hours. (Pat. No. 12942) (Zaiger)

Royal Lee Cherry Medium-sized red cherry, very firm with excellent flavor. Ripens 11-14 days ahead of Bing, Tree is very productive with a low chill requirement. Pollenized by Minnie Royal and Royal Crimson. 200 to 300 hours. (Pat. No.12417) (Zaiger)

Desert King Fig (A.k.a. “King”) 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. 100 hours. Self-fruitful.

Panache Fig (A.k.a. “Tiger”) 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.

Violette de Bordeaux Fig Small to medium size purple-black fruit with a very deep red strawberry pulp and distinctive, sweet, rich flavor. Brebas are pear-shaped with a thick, tapering neck; main crop figs are variable, often without neck. Medium eye. Excellent fresh or dried. A naturally small (semi dwarf) tree. Frost hardy. Good for container culture or small spaces. Self-fruitful. USDA Zones 5-10.

Contorted Jujube “Chinese date.” 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. Early fall harvest. 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 “Chinese date.” Outstanding, two-inch elongated fruit is exceptionally sweet with apple-like flavor. Ripens mid-autumn. Partly self-fruitful or pollenize with another jujube. 200 hours. USDA Zones 5-9.

Shanxi Li Jujube “Chinese date.” 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.

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' Small sour plum. Crisp, dark yellow flesh. Widely grown and recognized among Middle Eastern cultures. Early ripening. Best crops when pollenized by another late blooming plum. 400-600 hours. USDA Zones 6-9.

Tea's Weeping Mulberry Morus alba 'Pendula' (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 Hybrids. White-fleshed, nectarine x plum. 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. The 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 Also called Saucer or Peento 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.

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)

Red Baron Peach Flowering/fruiting. Large, juicy, firm, richly flavored yellow freestone fruit. High-scoring at DWN fruit tasting. 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 (Jiro) Persimmon (“Apple 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. USDA Zones 5-9.

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.

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 dependably sets a heavy crop. 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.

O'Neal Southern Highbush Blueberry Southern Highbush (low chill, tolerates heat). Large fruit is especially sweet and flavorful. Early season. Soil must be acidic, high in humus. 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 sweet, medium size 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. Self-fruitful. U.S. Plant Pat. No.23325.

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.

Baba Red Raspberry Everbearing Red Raspberry - Extra large berries up to 1 1/2" long. Wonderful warm weather variety particularly well suited to Southern California’s coastal and inland valleys. Fine flavor and good for all uses. Bears heavy crop May-July with a smaller late summer crop through fall. Hardy to zero degrees. Self-fruitful. Best in zones 6-11.

Baby Cakes® Blackberry A dwarf, bush blackberry perfect for the patio pot. This thornless variety produces large, sweet berries in the summer often with a second crop in most regions. U.S. plant patent # 27,032. Self-fruitful. Zones 4-9. Est. chill requirement 400 hours.

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.

All-in-One Genetic Semi-Dwarf Almond No. 1 almond for home orchards. Heavy crops of soft shell nuts with sweet, flavorful kernels. Hot summer required to ripen. 15 ft. tree, very winter and frost hardy. 300-400 hrs. Self-fruitful. (Zaiger)

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Exotica Rare Fruit Nursery

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