Collections
The library, pre-sorted. Each collection is a filter over the same extension-checked plant data — by what a plant is, what it tolerates, or which USDA zone it fruits in — plus cultivar tables that compare named varieties side by side on the traits that decide success.
By kind & by trait 12 collections
31 plantsFruit treesThe whole home orchard — apples and pears to pawpaw, persimmon and fig.7 plantsNut treesChestnut, walnut, pecan, hickory, hazelnut — protein that grows on trees.33 plantsBerry bushesBlueberries, brambles, currants and the uncommon shrub fruits.104 plantsVegetablesThe kitchen-garden annuals and perennials, from artichoke to zucchini.91 plantsHerbsKitchen, tea and apothecary herbs — annuals, perennials and shrubs.17 plantsFlowering vinesClematis to coral honeysuckle — bloom for fences, arbors and walls.59 plantsHouseplantsIllustrated care guides for the indoor collection, pothos to fiddle-leaf.21 plantsShade treesOaks, maples and the big natives — decades of canopy from one hole.57 plantsDeer-resistant plantsWhat deer actually walk past — aromatics, toxics and tough textures.135 plantsNative plantsThe USDA-verified natives — plants that feed the food web they evolved in.20 plantsSelf-fertile fruit treesTrees that crop alone — the one-tree orchard for small yards.406 plantsPollinator plantsDocumented bee, butterfly and hummingbird plants — the working border.
Fruit trees by zone 6 collections
9 treesFruit trees for zone 4Every fruit tree in the library whose hardiness range covers USDA zone 4.15 treesFruit trees for zone 5Every fruit tree in the library whose hardiness range covers USDA zone 5.17 treesFruit trees for zone 6Every fruit tree in the library whose hardiness range covers USDA zone 6.18 treesFruit trees for zone 7Every fruit tree in the library whose hardiness range covers USDA zone 7.22 treesFruit trees for zone 8Every fruit tree in the library whose hardiness range covers USDA zone 8.21 treesFruit trees for zone 9Every fruit tree in the library whose hardiness range covers USDA zone 9.
Variety comparison tables 12 tables
8 varietiesLow-chill peaches & nectarinesPeaches and nectarines that fruit on 175–500 hours of winter chill.7 varietiesLow-chill plumsJapanese and Gulf-bred plums that crop on 150–500 chill hours.5 varietiesLow-chill apricotsApricots for mild winters — 300 to 500 chill hours.10 varietiesCold-hardy applesApples rated to zone 4 or colder — Minnesota breeding at its best.7 varietiesCold-hardy figsFigs that fruit after northern winters — Chicago Hardy to Desert King.5 varietiesSelf-fertile plumsPlums that set fruit alone — Methley, Stanley and the European prunes.5 varietiesSelf-fertile sweet cherriesStella, Lapins and kin — sweet cherries that don't need a partner.15 varietiesSelf-fertile pearsPears that set fruit alone, fully or partially — Kieffer to Comice.13 varietiesFireblight-resistant pearsThe pears that survive the South's tree-killer bacterium.5 varietiesDisease-resistant applesScab-immune and blight-resistant apples for a spray-free orchard.13 varietiesStorage applesLate-October apples that hold in a cold cellar until spring.10 varietiesDisease-resistant tomatoesLate-blight and wilt-resistant tomatoes that finish the season standing.
