When people think of fruit trees, they often think of apples and pears. Understandable, as these are the most commonly seen in orchards and gardens. However, there are more fruit and nut varieties hardy in our climate than you might expect. Varieties that grow well here, produce interesting fruits, and add something extra to a project as trees. 

Why are edible trees increasingly included in specifications?

In recent years, food forests and pick gardens have significantly increased in the Netherlands. What started as small-scale initiatives by individuals and foundations is now also seen in municipalities. Utrecht, Nijmegen, and Almere have incorporated food forests into their green policies. On estates, traditional orchards are being restored or expanded with special varieties. And in new residential areas, pick gardens are increasingly appearing where residents can harvest fruit and nuts. Many of these trees also bloom abundantly, making them valuable for pollinators. Nut trees like walnut and hazel are also strong, drought-tolerant trees that can withstand the changing climate well. This makes them interesting for projects where you want more than just ornamental trees. In this article, we describe several special fruit and nut trees worth knowing.