We Picked the Varieties. You Pick the Fruit.

Fresh fruit trees and berry plants have arrived at Shades of Green in Celina.

Your future peach cobbler has to start somewhere. We suggest your backyard.

Our latest shipment includes peaches, plums, pears, apples, nectarines, figs, persimmons, blackberries, grapes and pomegranates. Whether you’re dreaming of a backyard orchard or just want something sweet to pick with the kids, we can help you get started.

And fall is a great time to plant container-grown fruit trees. Cooler weather gives them time to begin establishing roots before another North Texas summer rolls around.

Good Fruit Starts With the Right Plant

There’s more to choosing a fruit tree than finding a familiar name on the tag. Winter temperatures, soil drainage, sunlight and pollination all affect how well it produces.

We’ve done the homework so you don’t have to start from scratch. Come tell us what you like to eat and where you want to plant. We’ll help you sort through the choices.

Here’s a look at what’s in this shipment.

Peaches: Your Future Cobbler Starts Here

Few things beat a ripe peach picked from your own tree.

• Belle of Georgia: Sweet white flesh and a freestone pit. Approximately 850 chill hours.
• La Festival: Large, yellow-fleshed freestone peaches. Approximately 450 chill hours.
• La Peche: Yellow flesh flecked with red and a semi-freestone pit. Approximately 450 chill hours.
• Sam Houston: Firm, yellow-fleshed freestone peaches. Approximately 500 chill hours.

Do you need two? No. These peaches are self-fruitful.

Good to know: Peaches need annual pruning, fruit thinning and attention to pests and diseases. Belle of Georgia’s higher chill requirement can make production less consistent after mild winters.

Plums: Small Tree. Big Snack Potential.

Sweet, juicy and pretty hard to walk past without picking one.

• Bruce: Early-season red fruit. Approximately 500 chill hours.
• Methley: Sweet, juicy red flesh. Approximately 250–350 chill hours.
• Ozark Premier: Large red fruit with yellow flesh. Approximately 700–800 chill hours.
• Santa Rosa: A favorite for sweet-tart flavor and fresh eating. Approximately 300 chill hours.

Do you need two? Bruce needs a compatible plum nearby. Methley and Santa Rosa can fruit alone, but another compatible variety can improve production. A partner is also recommended for reliable crops from Ozark Premier.

Good to know: Bloom times need to overlap for cross-pollination. Let us help you choose a pair.

Pears: Pick a Pear. Better Yet, Pick a Pair.

Pears bring spring flowers, summer shade and something good to eat.

• Ayers: Sweet, smooth flesh with good fresh-eating quality. Approximately 500–700 chill hours.
• Bartlett: The familiar juicy pear with a soft, buttery texture. Approximately 800 chill hours.
• Kieffer: Firm fruit that shines in preserves, canning and cooking. Approximately 350–400 chill hours.
• Orient: Large fruit and a useful choice for preserves. Approximately 300–400 chill hours.

Do you need two? Plan on a compatible partner for Ayers, Bartlett and Orient. Kieffer can produce alone, but another compatible pear helps.

Good to know: Fire blight matters in North Texas. Kieffer and Orient have better tolerance, while Bartlett is highly susceptible. Ask us about that difference before choosing.

Nectarines: All the Juicy. None of the Fuzz.

Love peaches but prefer smooth skin? Meet their close cousins.

• Fantasia: Large, yellow-fleshed freestone fruit. Sweeter when fully ripe and tangier when firm. Approximately 600–650 chill hours.
• Red Gold: Yellow freestone flesh with rich flavor. Approximately 850 chill hours.

Do you need two? No. Both are self-fruitful.

Good to know: Nectarines need care similar to peaches and can be especially prone to fruit rot. Red Gold’s higher chill requirement can affect cropping after mild winters.

Figs: Sweet Little Fruit. Big Backyard Energy.

Celeste produces small, sweet brown-purple figs with approximately 100–150 chill hours. Its tight fruit opening helps reduce souring.

Do you need two? No. Celeste is self-fruitful.

Good to know: Figs appreciate a sunny spot with good drainage. Hard freezes can damage stems and reduce the following crop.

Persimmons: Fall Fruit Worth Getting to Know

If you’ve never had a properly ripe persimmon, you might be missing your next favorite fruit.

• Fuyugaki, also called Fuyu: Enjoy fully colored fruit while it’s still firm. Approximately 200 chill hours.
• Saijo: Rich, honey-sweet flavor when fully ripe. Approximately 200 chill hours.
• Native Sweet: Sweet native persimmon fruit when fully ripe. Chill needs depend on the selection.

Do you need two? Fuyu and Saijo can fruit on their own. Native persimmons usually need male pollen, although exceptions exist. Ask our team about the native selection and its pollination needs.

Good to know: Saijo and native persimmons need to become very soft before eating. Patience makes a big difference!

Blackberries: Big Berry Dreams. No Thorns Required.

All three varieties in this shipment are thornless:

• Arapaho: Early berries on erect canes. Approximately 400–500 chill hours.
• Natchez: Large, early berries and heavy production. Approximately 500 chill hours.
• Ouachita: Sweet, firm berries with an extended harvest. Approximately 300–500 chill hours.

Do you need two? No. All three are self-fruitful.

Good to know: A trellis is helpful, especially for Natchez. Keep new canes growing and remove spent fruiting canes after harvest.

Grapes: Your Snack Aisle Could Use a Trellis

Mars Seedless produces blue-purple grapes with a sweet, Concord-like flavor. Enjoy them fresh or turn them into juice and jelly.

Do you need two? No. One vine can produce fruit.

Good to know: Mars is commonly listed as low-chill, although published hour estimates vary. A sturdy trellis, annual pruning and disease management are essential parts of growing grapes.

Pomegranates: A Little Unexpected. A Lot Delicious.

• Russian Hardy: Showy orange-red flowers and full-sized fruit, with better cold tolerance than many pomegranates.
• Wonderful: Large red fruit with sweet-tart juice.

Do you need two? No. Both are self-fruitful, although a second variety may improve fruit set.

Good to know: Grower references commonly list approximately 150–200 chill hours, while some Extension guidance lists little or no chilling requirement. Here, winter injury and having a long enough warm season are bigger considerations.

A Quick Word About Chill Hours

Chill hours measure the winter cold a plant needs to complete its dormant rest and grow normally in spring. They’re commonly counted at temperatures around 32–45°F.

The numbers above are estimates, and published figures vary. A higher number doesn’t mean a better tree—or a more cold-hardy one. The goal is matching the variety to your growing conditions.

Let’s Get Something Good Growing

Bring us your questions. How much room do you have? How sunny is the spot? Does water stand there after a rain? What fruit would your family actually enjoy eating?

We’ll help you choose a plant, sort out pollination and understand the care it needs.

Come see the fresh fruit selection at Shades of Green in Celina. Your backyard might have room for something delicious.

Selection is subject to availability. Fruit production varies with weather, plant maturity and care.