When people think of fruit trees, they usually think of apples and pears. Understandably so, as these are the most commonly seen in orchards and gardens. However, there are more fruit and nut species hardy in our climate than you might expect. Species 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 being adopted by municipalities. Utrecht, Nijmegen, and Almere have incorporated food forests into their green policies. On estates, traditional orchards are being restored or expanded with unusual species. And in new housing developments, pick gardens are increasingly appearing where residents can harvest fruit and nuts. Many of these trees also bloom profusely, 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 a number of unusual fruit and nut trees that are worth knowing.