Where to buy fruit trees
Stark Bro’s vs Nature Hills: where to buy your fruit trees
Both are established mail-order nurseries that ship bare-root and potted fruit trees across the U.S. For a backyard orchard, the choice rarely comes down to the brand — it comes down to which one has your variety, on the rootstock you want, for your zone, in stock this season. Here’s how to decide — and the one thing to lock in first.
Before you buy from either nursery
Ordering the wrong trees is expensive — an apple that can’t be pollinated won’t fruit no matter where you bought it. Run your varieties through the planner first so you know exactly which trees (and how many) to add to your cart.
What actually decides where to buy
We won’t rank one over the other with made-up scores — both are solid. These are the five things to compare on each nursery’s own product page, in the order that matters:
1. Is your variety in stock, on a rootstock you want?
This is usually the real deciding factor. The same apple can be sold as dwarf, semi-dwarf, or standard depending on its rootstock — and that changes the mature size, spacing, and how soon it fruits. Whoever has the exact variety-on-rootstock you need, in stock, for shipping this season is often the answer. Check both.
2. Will it grow in your USDA hardiness zone?
Both nurseries list a recommended zone range on each tree’s page and let you filter or confirm by zone. Don’t buy a variety outside your range — confirm the zone on the product page before you add to cart, on either site.
3. Bare-root or potted — and when does it ship?
Both ship bare-root trees (dormant, roots exposed, no soil) during the planting seasons and potted/container trees at other times. Bare-root is lighter and cheaper to ship and establishes well, but it ships on the nursery’s dormant-season schedule — check each one’s current ship window and form for your variety.
4. Pollination partner listed on the page?
Most apples need a compatible pollination partner, and both nurseries note recommended partners and bloom timing on each tree’s page. Use that to confirm the two (or three, for a triploid) varieties you plan to plant actually overlap in bloom — the planner does this cross-check for you first.
5. Guarantee, shipping cost, and timing
Both publish their own shipping rates, delivery windows, and plant guarantee terms — and these change. Read the current terms on each nursery’s site before ordering rather than trusting any third-party summary (including this one).
The two nurseries
Stark Bro’s
A long-running U.S. fruit-tree nursery with a broad apple catalog. Ships bare-root in the dormant seasons and potted trees at other times. Each tree’s page lists its zone range, rootstock/size options, and recommended pollination partners — confirm those for your variety before ordering.
Trees at Stark Bro's →Nature Hills
A large online nursery carrying fruit trees alongside a wide plant catalog. Also ships bare-root and potted depending on the season and variety. Product pages show the zone range, size/rootstock, and pollination notes — check those against your plan and your zone.
Trees at Nature Hills →General guidance — we don’t publish prices, shipping fees, ratings, or guarantee terms here because they change and vary by variety. Confirm your zone, the rootstock/size, current stock, and the exact terms on each nursery’s own product page before you buy.
The honest bottom line
Pick your varieties and rootstock first, then buy from whichever nursery has that exact combination in stock, for your zone, shipping this season. If both carry it, compare the current shipping cost and guarantee on their pages. Nail the plan and either store is a good place to order.
Know your plan? Order your trees
Both nurseries list bloom group, zone, and recommended pollination partners on each tree’s page — confirm compatibility and zone-suitability there before you buy.
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A Family Innovation Group guide · free · no account · Orchard Pollination Planner