11 Fruit Trees That Are Perfect To Espalier

When thinking about growing backyard fruit trees, most folks consider whether they have enough space. Espalier is a French word adapted from Italian which means "to rest the shoulder on." This space-saving method has been common in Europe for many years. It's a way of training fruit trees laterally or vertically onto support structures, like walls, trellises, or stakes, pruning them to fit over time. This growing method is not only highly ornamental but also very practical — it makes fruit tree growing adaptable for a small or narrow space, and is suitable for many fruit tree varieties.

I saw my first espaliered apple trees growing on a fence while working on a gorgeous garden property in central New York years ago. This client also had a glass greenhouse and a small windmill! As a professional gardener and orchardist, I was captivated and immediately started learning more. Though you can espalier existing trees, it's easier to plant young trees which are more pliable. Dwarf or semi-dwarf trees are easier to prune and work well in small urban spaces. Many fruit trees also need a second variety nearby for cross-pollination (apples, pears, peaches, plums, apricots) to help set fruit, though some varieties are self-pollinating. 

Fruit tree that are already espaliered tend to be expensive, often priced between $250 and $300. Buying a young tree and doing it yourself is more cost effective (closer to $35 to $95). This also gives you more flexibility with the size and shape of your structure. This method does take some time and effort, but espaliered trees are a handsome addition to any garden.

Apple trees are the most common fruit tree for espalier growing, and are available in pre-espaliered form for planting. Plant more than one variety for cross pollination, or plant self-pollinating cultivars, like Golden Delicious, Braeburn, Granny Smith, or Grimes Golden. If you're planting multiple trees, choose varieties that blossom in early, mid, and late spring. My favorite early cultivars include Paula Red, Ginger Gold, Pristine, and Zestar, all ready in late August. Macoun, Cortland, and Jonathan are my September faves, and for October, I love Cameo, Winesap, and Jonagold. Ripening times may vary depending on your region.

Pear trees are also a common espalier tree, especially in Europe. Their fragrant white blossoms are a delight in spring. Their growth habits and sizing are similar to apple trees, and dwarf and semi-dwarf cultivars are available. Orient, Spalding, Baldwin, and Kieffer are self-pollinating varieties, and all are cold hardy to USDA Zones 4 or 5. Early fruiting pears like Seckel are ready to harvest in August, while Bosc pears ripen in October, depending on your area's climate. Some nurseries like Saint Lawrence specialize in cold-hardy pear varieties, which tend to be more vigorous for espalier growing.

Though fig trees are usually associated with a Mediterranean climate, there are some cold-hardy varieties. The large, shapely leaves make them a showy espalier tree, whether against a wall, or on a lattice or trellis to maximize a small outdoor space. Most fig trees perform best in USDA Zones 8 to 10; growers in colder zones often grow them in containers, moved indoors for winter. Some figs are hardy in USDA 6 with some winter protection, including Chicago Hardy, Brown Turkey, and Negronne. Espalier growing lets you train fig trees lower to the ground, making winter protection easier.

Plum trees, with their fragrant blossoms and colorful fruits, are wonderful trees for the home garden, and a great choice to espalier. European plum trees (Prunus domestica) are a good choice for beginner gardeners as they're cold hardy, not too tall (12 to 15 feet), and most varieties are self-pollinating. Planting a second variety will increase your fruit yields, however, and if you love plums, you may want more than one kind. Why not plant a pink Early Laxton plum (hardy to Zone 4!), the red-purple midseason Santa Rosa, and a late-blooming purple French plum side by side? 

Though peach trees are not terribly long-lived, the allure of fresh peaches in your own garden makes growing them well worth it. These multi-branching trees also work well for espalier growing. Though peaches are not native to North America, they've adapted well, and many cultivars are cold-hardy. Peaches can be susceptible to some of the more common fruit tree diseases, so be sure to do your research on how to identify and treat any problems. Get disease-resistant trees if you can: Both Belle of Georgia and Glohaven are resistant to brown rot and bacterial leaf spot.

Nectarines are very similar to peaches in many ways, though the smooth fruits are bit less prone to bruising when ripe than their fuzzy cousins. Despite this advantage, nectarine trees are generally a bit more challenging than peaches to grow, being less disease-resistant and less cold hardy. But don't let that deter you from growing espaliered nectarines. Some nectarine varieties hardy to USDA Zone 5 include Fantasia, Sunglo, Goldmine, and Red Gold. Like other fruit trees, nectarine trees are best planted during the dormant season in early spring.

You need a warm climate to grow lemon trees outdoors, as they're mostly hardy in USDA Zones 8 through 11. Most colder zone gardeners grow lemon trees in containers and overwinter them indoors. However, the Meyer lemon tree, an attractive dwarf tree with tasty fruit, can be grown outside all year in USDA Zone 7 with winter protection. Its compact size also makes it a good candidate for espalier. Locate it away from open areas so it's protected from harsh winds in winter. 

The crabapple is the only apple tree native to North America, and it's a robust, resilient tree. The gorgeous pink blossoms and abundant fruit (great for wildlife) are enough to recommend it, but its compact size also makes it perfect for espalier. Some varieties have small fruits, loved by birds and other animals, but if you're going to espalier a crabapple tree, get one with larger fruit for a fuller, more abundant look. Larger-fruited crabapple varieties include Whitney, Chestnut, Callaway, Jelly King, and Transcendent.

Apricot trees are not as commonly grown by American gardeners, but these delicious summer stone fruits are starting to find their way into home orchards. Their growing conditions are similar to those for peach and nectarine trees: full sun, and a rich, well-draining, neutral to slightly acidic soil. Most varieties are self-pollinating, but adding a second tree of another variety results in better fruit yields. Some of the best apricot trees for home growers are Moorpark, Goldcot, and Harcot (all hardy to Zone 4), as well as Blenheim, which is hardy to Zone 5.

Quince trees (Cydonia oblonga) are a different plant from flowering quince shrubs (Chaenomeles), although some heirloom varieties of the latter will produce small fruits. Quince are often grown as ornamental trees in botanical gardens, prized for their showy blossoms and large, aromatic fruits. I love to place some quince in a bowl in autumn: They perfume the house for weeks as they ripen and mellow. Quince trees are cold hardy, self-pollinating, and vigorous. Semi-dwarf trees are best for espalier growing. Try Smyrna, Limon, or Ekmek, all available from Raintree Nursery.

Last but not least, cherry trees make gorgeous espalier trees. I first saw one in England at the Walpole Estate, which had a lovely large old cherry tree among many espaliered fruit trees in their enclosed garden. Sweet cherries are usually eaten fresh, while sour cherries are used for cooking purposes. For growing, sour cherry trees are more cold hardy (USDA Zones 4 though 6), and are self-pollinating. Stella is a dwarf sweet cherry cultivar that is self-pollinating, hardy to Zone 5, and very suitable for espalier. Sweet cherry trees need at least two varieties for pollination.