Glossary of Terms
Tree Sizes
It is essential that you choose the right size for your space. Whether you're planting an acre, a suburban yard or a small urban plot, we've got the perfect size tree for you. When they mature, they will be one of three sizes*:
Dwarf
Matures to be about 8-10' tall and wide. Provides an abundance of full-size fruit in a minimal amount of space.
Semi-Dwarf
Matures to be about 12-15' tall and wide. Gives maximum fruit yield per square foot. Most of the fruit can be harvested while standing on the ground.
Standard & Unmarked
Matures to be at least 18' tall and wide. (Standard peach and nectarine trees mature to be 12-15' tall and wide.) A multi-purpose fruit and shade tree.
*Tree sizes may vary by variety.
Potted Trees
EZ Start® Potted Trees
Trees that are grown in a bottomless 4x4x10" pot, which encourages dense feeder-root growth for a quick, strong establishment. When shipped, they are about 1½ - 3' tall.*
Supreme EZ Start® Potted Trees
Top-grade trees are grown in a bottomless 5x5x12" pot, which creates an advanced root system. When shipped to you, they are about 3 - 4' tall.*
Supreme XL Potted Trees
Grown in a 9x9x12" pot filled with high-grade soil, these trees are even larger than our Supreme EZ Start® trees. When shipped to you, they are 4-5' tall.*
Ultra Supreme XL Potted Trees
Trees shipped in our Ultra Supreme XL 7 gallon pots fruit two years sooner! Like the Supreme XL Potted trees, these are also shipped to you 4-5’ tall, but they are our biggest and most robust trees grown in even larger 7 Gallon pots that allow the trees to develop a massive root system.
* While we strive for accuracy, ship heights may vary. Always refer to the product page for the most current height information when adding to your cart.
Grow Bag Trees
1 Gallon Grow Bag Trees
Trees shipped in our 1 gallon grow bags arrive in a 5x5x12” felt aeration bag. Bag must be removed before planting.
3 Gallon Grow Bag Trees
Trees shipped in our 3 gallon grow bags arrive in a 10x8½” felt aeration bag. Bag must be removed before planting.
5 Gallon Grow Bag Trees
Trees shipped in our 5 gallon grow bags arrive in a 11x10¼” semi-degradable fabric root pouch. Bag must be removed before planting.
Ultra Supreme XL Grow Bag Trees
Trees shipped in our Ultra Supreme XL 7 gallon grow bags fruit two years sooner! They are our biggest and most robust trees and arrive in a 14x11¾" semi-degradable fabric root pouch that allow the trees to develop a massive root system. Bag must be removed before planting.
Bare-Root Trees
Trees that are shipped without soil to ensure good contact with soil in your yard. When shipped, they are about 3-4' tall and/or with a 3/8" or larger trunk diameter.
Stark Supreme Tree®
This season's top-grade, bare-root trees that give you a head start on growing. When shipped, they are about 4-5' tall and/or with a 5/8" or larger trunk diameter.
Supreme XL Trees
We don't call them "XL" for nothing! Supreme XL trees are our biggest and most robust bare-root trees: they ship 5-6' tall and/or with a 1" or larger trunk diameter.
USDA Certified Organic Trees
If you're inclined toward organic gardening, browse our selection of non-GMO, certified USDA Organic fruit trees. Our fields and trees undergo annual inspection to maintain their certification, and are grown without chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides on pure pastureland.
Grafted Trees
Grafting is the process of taking cuttings from a single "parent" tree known for its fruit taste, size, bloom period and ripening time, and joining it with the root system and trunk base (rootstock) of another tree also known for its desirable qualities. This process has been used for thousands of years to produce fruit that is consistent in flavor, shape and size. Most of our trees are grafted, creating this kind of consistency and allowing us to produce different mature tree sizes. While seed-grown fruit trees might give you unpredictable variations or a lack of results, grafted trees will give you the fruit you want and the tree size you expect.
Stark® Custom Graft® Trees
Limited space doesn't have to mean a limited selection of fruit. Stark® Custom Graft® fruit trees have two (or more) varieties carefully grafted onto one tree. These multi-grafted fruit trees require less space to grow than separate trees, and also provide compatible pollinators -- built right in! To ensure success growing multiple varieties on your Stark® Custom Graft® fruit trees, be sure to prune to keep all varieties in balance.
Professional Pruning
Pruning is one of the most important ways to help ensure that your tree gets off to the right start and has the best chance for success. That's why Stark Bro's professionals prune many of our fruit trees before shipment — at no cost to you!
We get you started, but you will need to prune throughout the life of your tree. Doing so will help eliminate extra buds that can slow development and allow your tree to form a strong framework by removing weak, narrow and competing branches. Proper pruning will give your tree the perfect shape and branching structure for maximum fruit production.
Self-pollinating
Indicates tree or plant will pollinate itself and doesn't need another tree or plant near it in order to bear fruit. In many cases, you may still want to plant pollinating partners to increase the size of your crops, but with self-pollinating varieties doing so is optional. You'll get fruit with only one tree!
Starkspur®
A Stark patented product since 1952! "Spurs" mean bigger harvests! Starkspur® trees are different from regular trees which bear fruit only on the outside limbs. The spur allows fruit to form on each limb and bear from the trunk out - doubling the amount of fruit.
Stark® Colonnade®
Grow full-sized fruit on narrow columnar-shaped trees. Perfect for growing fruit on a balcony, patio, or sliver of ground - even if you live in an apartment or condo. They make a particularly impressive "living fence" when planted in a row - consider using them to disguise eyesores on your property and grow fruit at the same time!