These Incredible Space-Saving Fruit Trees Let You Grow a Pint-Sized Orchard in Patio Pots – They’re Perfect for Small Gardens

If you’ve always dreamed of growing fruit but never quite had the space – or time – for a tree, listen up! A columnar fruit tree naturally grows in a tall but narrow pillar shape so it's perfect for a pot and, only reaching 2–3 feet wide, doesn't take up much room at all. And although a columnar tree is petite, you still get full-sized fruit. And plenty of it, too – a mature columnar apple tree may give you 50 pounds of fruit in one season.

In spring, these upright trees also bring a striking display of white or pink blossom, so they're a real asset in a small garden.

What are Columnar Fruit Trees?

Columnar fruit trees are the result of a chance mutation noticed on an apple tree in British Columbia, Canada, back in 1963. The gene that caused the mutation turned out to be highly heritable, and plant breeders have since made all sorts of successful crosses to create a variety of columnar tree cultivars. Breeding new varieties isn't a speedy task though, but there's finally a good range available to buy.

Not only do these slender trees bring an abundant harvest in a small space, they require minimal pruning and the fruit is easy to pick.

Are Other Fruits Available on Columnar Trees?

Apple trees are the most commonly available columnar fruit trees. Other fruits such as peaches, nectarines, cherries and plums are also grown in a columnar form, but they're not so readily available and typically sell out fast as soon as they come into stock – it’s best to register your interest and ask to be notified as soon as they’re restocked. Nature Hills offers Nectarine ‘Flavor Gold’; and both Nature Hills and Fast Growing Trees stock Peach ‘Blushing Pearl’ (all suitable for zones 6–9).

Can I Grow Only One Fruit Tree?

Most columnar fruit trees are not self-pollinating, which means you’ll need a second tree of the same species but a different variety that produces blossom at the same time for cross-pollination to happen. Most garden centers and online nurseries list compatible varieties so it's easy to work out the best options. Bees will do the task of pollinating the blossom, and then fruit will grow. The two trees don’t have to be together but do ensure they’re within 50 feet of each other, and the closer, the better.

How Do I Plant a Columnar Fruit Tree in a Pot?

You’ll need a pot around 15–20 inches in diameter (which will be around 15–20 gallon capacity). Choose one with a broad base to ensure your tree doesn’t topple over in strong winds: this 20-inch corten steel cube planter from Amazon would be a great choice, as would this round concrete planter, also from Amazon. Plant your tree in any good-quality potting soil, with the graft union (that’s the knobbly bit on the trunk near the bottom) just above the soil surface.

Give it a sheltered spot in your backyard in full sunlight, which means 6–8 hours of sunshine a day.

Most columnar apple trees are suited to zones 4–9, but do check your variety. In colder zones, you’ll need to move your tree to a frost-free place (a garage works well) once leaves drop in fall. Keeping the pot on a plant caddy with lockable wheels, like this one from Amazon, makes it easy.

Regular watering is essential, especially when your tree is fruiting. Most columnar fruit trees are typically sold as 2–3-year-old saplings which will fruit in their first year after planting, though it will usually take 3–5 years before a tree crops to full capacity. Check how old the plant you’re buying is, if you don’t want to wait for a young tree to start fruiting.