{"title":"Nut Trees","description":"\u003cp\u003eCold-hardy nut trees and shrubs for Montana and the northern Rockies.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"black-walnut-bundle-of-3","title":"Black Walnut (Bundle of 3)","description":"\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough these nuts may be a challenge to crack, with the right tools the reward presents itself, a sweet nut that has been a staple food for North American peoples for millennia. Snack on the nutritious walnuts out of hand, add them to soups and stews, or grind them into meal for baking. The hard shells provide a perfect package for storing the nuts over winter. Also makes for some of the finest and sought after wood for next generations. Massive carbon storing potential. Hardy to zone 3.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSeedlings Offered\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eThese black walnut seedlings from unnamed parents. The tree grows 40-65 feet and bears fruit in late September here in Western MT. Black walnuts in this bundle will all pollenize themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eTrees are 3-5 ft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Note\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCheck out in the second photo the Black Walnut Ice Cream that the former Missoula Sentinel Creamery had advertised 100 years ago in the Missoula Sentinel newspaper dated April 30,1926.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eImages Courtesy of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/138014579@N08\" target=\"\"\u003ePlant Image Library\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/people\/54238124@N00\" target=\"\"\u003eJim Linwood\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"3-5 ft.","offer_id":42498926411842,"sku":null,"price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/black-walnut-nut-on-branch.webp?v=1789019221"},{"product_id":"snowczar-almond","title":"SnowCzar Almond","description":"\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eIntroducing SnowCzar: A Cold-Hardy Almond 5 Years in the Making\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eThis almond has been five years in the making—although that's not long relative to typical research breeding operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eDisclaimer: This variety is still in trial, and we make no guarantees. That said, read on if you're interested in our efforts to breed almonds for cold climates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eThe Breeding Journey\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eWe began with 800 seeds. Through a specific “Antifreeze Protein Selection” process developed by Luke (see below), 40 seedlings survived. After two years, we culled 32 of them, leaving us with just 8 elite selections. SnowCzar comes from this final group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eAntifreeze Protein Selection Process\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOur cold hardiness selection process is based on Luke’s “Antifreeze Protein Selection” method. Here's how it works:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeed Selection: \u003c\/strong\u003e800 seeds were deliberately frozen and thawed during cold stratification.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInitial Survivors: \u003c\/strong\u003eThe 40 seeds that germinated were planted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSecond-Year Selection:\u003c\/strong\u003e During the following winter, trees were left unprotected in pots to simulate natural freeze-thaw cycles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Culling:\u003c\/strong\u003e We selected only those seedlings that exhibited strong antifreeze protein secretion, similar to what we see in native cold-hardy species like chokecherry and serviceberry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eAfter culling at both the seed and juvenile stages, the remaining almonds have proven to be the strongest and most cold-hardy survivors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eSnowCzar's Ancestry\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eSnowCzar descends from NC1, a seedling selection of the Titan almond developed by Doug Collins in Ontario, Canada. NC1 produces average-sized nuts in well-sealed shells. It is self-fertile, with reportedly good disease resistance and dependability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCold Hardiness Potential\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eWe believe SnowCzar is hardy to -25°F, and potentially even -30°F or lower, as there was no tip dieback observed at -25°F.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eRootstock and Tree Sizes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eSnowCzar is grafted onto Manchurian Apricot, a rootstock significantly hardier than almond itself, as well as Siberian C Peach, which is also hardier than the almond. Manchurian is known to tolerate temperatures well into the -40F range whereas Siberian C has survived sub -35F temps (the only peach known to survive such temps).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Manchurian Full Size: ± 2 ft.","offer_id":42504626372674,"sku":null,"price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Siberian C Full Size: 4-5 ft.","offer_id":42504626405442,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Siberian C Full Size: 5-6 ft.","offer_id":45134715617346,"sku":null,"price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/snowczar-almond-on-tree.webp?v=1789021077"},{"product_id":"ultra-northern-english-walnut-bundle-of-2","title":"Ultra Northern English Walnut (Bundle of 2)","description":"\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese English Walnuts come from a Carpathian English Walnut mother tree that has been growing and producing nuts prolifically for nearly 30 years in a windy, exposed Zone 5 site. After nearly eight years of trial and error growing English walnuts in Montana, with many failures along the way, these genetics stand out as the most promising we have found for northern conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eBackground \u0026amp; Selection\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have tested multiple English walnut sources over the years, including Carpathian English Walnut seedlings from Lawyer’s Nursery and Idaho Carpathian English Walnuts, none of which survived in our trials. Based on long-term observation, these walnuts appear to be the best candidates we have encountered for Montana and other northern growing regions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFlavor \u0026amp; Nut Quality\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a taste test conducted in Fall 2023, Luke and Elizabeth described the nuts as “sweet, creamy, pleasant, and not bitter. Buttery and earthy. Light. Wonderful flavor.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese English Walnuts are hardy to Zone 5a and may be suitable for colder sites approaching Zone 4b or even 4a with careful siting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor best nut production, plant these trees together to improve pollination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTree Size \u0026amp; Availability\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrees are offered in three different bare-root size classes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"2-4 ft. (4th year)","offer_id":42508240584770,"sku":null,"price":94.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"4-5 ft. (4th year)","offer_id":42508240650306,"sku":null,"price":129.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"5-6 ft.: 4th year (Pruned to 5 ft. for shipping)","offer_id":42508240683074,"sku":null,"price":159.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/english-walnut-nuts-on-branch.webp?v=1789021269"},{"product_id":"american-hazelnut-bunde-of-3","title":"American Hazelnut (Bundle of 3)","description":"\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmerican Hazelnuts are super bulletproof in terms of hardiness, being able to handle well  into -40°F temps. Rod McIver grew them in Kalispell for years and consistently saw a crop—at least when the squirrels didn’t beat him to them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFlavor \u0026amp; Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are very tasty nuts, and you’ll enjoy them as long as you can net them. The only downside is that the nuts are very small. Great for fresh eating, in salads, or roasted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy Grow Them\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmerican Hazelnuts are hardier than all the other hybrid hazelnuts. So if you’re in an area that can drop below -40°F—where even the hybrid hazelnuts might struggle—these are the ones to grow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eZone 2 hardy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border:1px solid #cfcfcf;border-left:4px solid #8a1c1c;background:#faf7f6;padding:14px 18px;margin-top:28px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShipping restrictions — Eastern filbert blight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 10px;\"\u003eOregon operates a statewide Hazelnut Nursery Stock Control Area (OAR 603-052-0825) and Washington requires a Certificate of Quarantine Compliance for all incoming \u003cem\u003eCorylus\u003c\/em\u003e nursery stock, both aimed at Eastern filbert blight. We \u003cstrong\u003ecannot ship live hazelnut plants to Oregon or Washington\u003c\/strong\u003e. (Hazelnuts shipped as nuts or seed are exempt from these rules.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0;font-size:0.9em;color:#555;\"\u003eOrders placed to a restricted state will be cancelled and refunded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Tree Co.","offers":[{"title":"2-3 ft.","offer_id":42535386644546,"sku":null,"price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/american-hazelnut-nuts-on-branch.jpg?v=1789019153"},{"product_id":"purvis-hardy-english-walnut-bundle-of-3","title":"Purvis Hardy English Walnut (Bundle of 3)","description":"\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePurvis Hardy English Walnut seedlings are seed-grown Juglans regia selections originating from Bob Purvis’ farm, chosen for its smooth-flavored nuts, good kernel quality, and demonstrated cold tolerance for an English walnut. These seedlings represent a rare cold-climate lineage and are well suited for growers who want to trial English walnuts beyond their typical comfort zone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin \u0026amp; History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese seedlings come from nuts collected in Fall 2023 from a mature English walnut growing on the farm of our dear friend Bob Purvis. They represent a later-generation seedling population derived from Garfield Shults’ original English walnut seed line, which he promoted as cold-hardy “dwarf” Juglans regia—making these trees part of a multi-generational, open-pollinated selection adapted to colder climates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the mother tree does not express true dwarfing, it clearly shows reduced vigor compared to most standard English walnuts, topping out at roughly 12–14 feet tall. This makes the line especially interesting for cold-climate growers seeking more compact English walnut genetics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mother tree produces smooth, mild-flavored nuts with a pleasant nutty profile and little to no bitterness. Kernel quality is strong, with a good meat-to-shell ratio. These traits make Purvis English Walnut promising for fresh eating, baking, and general culinary use. As with all seed-grown walnuts, some variation should be expected among offspring—but the parent tree sets a high bar for flavor and kernel quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on the mother tree, this line exhibits noticeably lower vigor than most English walnuts. Rather than becoming a massive canopy tree, the parent has stabilized around 12–14 feet, suggesting a naturally smaller growth habit (though not genetically dwarf). Final size of seedlings will vary, but growers can reasonably expect moderate vigor compared to typical Juglans regia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause these are seedling English walnuts with moderate vigor, a practical spacing recommendation is 12-15 feet between trees. If you plan to prune and manage canopy size, you can lean toward tighter spacing; if left largely unmanaged, give them more room to develop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnglish walnuts are wind-pollinated and generally benefit from having multiple trees for improved nut set due to timing differences between male and female flower maturity (dichogamy). Purvis English Walnut seedlings are not considered self-fertile in isolation; so planting the trees in this bundle together is strongly recommended to ensure reliable pollination and production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold Hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mother tree has survived into the -20°F range on Bob Purvis’ farm with no reported winter injury. How far below -25°F this genetic line can tolerate is not yet known. For now, we'd place this Purvis Hardy English Walnut conservatively at USDA Zone 4b. As more growers trial these seedlings in colder climates, we’ll learn whether this line can reliably push beyond that threshold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn especially interesting aspect of this walnut line is its combination of reduced vigor and clean, non-bitter flavor—two traits rarely found together in English walnuts grown this far north. As with all seed-grown walnuts, these are best viewed as a small breeding population: each tree is genetically unique, and part of the value here is discovering exceptional individuals for future cold-climate walnut improvement.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"1-2 ft.","offer_id":42977859403842,"sku":null,"price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/purvis-hardy-english-walnut-nuts.jpg?v=1789020871"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/collections\/nuts.oembed","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}