This One Tree Has 40 Different Fruits Graphic © todaysfunfact.com. Background photo: Pixabay (PD), Wikipedia (PD)
Art Professor Uses Grafting Technique to Grow Trees that Produce 40 Types of Fruits:
The “Tree of 40 Fruit” is precisely what it sounds like. A single tree that bears not one, not two, but 40 different types of fruits—from cherries to peaches. It looks like any other tree until it blooms to showcase a kaleidoscope of pink, crimson, and white shades—followed by a mix of stone fruits (some of which are unfamiliar to most).
This unusual ‘gardening’ project is the work of a sculptor and art professor at Syracuse University, Sam Van Aken.
Speaking at a TEDxManhattan talk, Van Aken said: “I look at the Tree of 40 Fruit as an artwork, a research project, and a form of conservation.”
How Was the “Tree of 40 Fruit” Created?
The wizardry behind Van Aken’s magical creation is nothing more than a well-honed chip grafting technique.
It’s a precise process that involves cutting buds off a fruit tree of his choice (mostly native fruit species) and having it heal into a matching incision in the lateral branches of the rootstock tree. If all goes well, the different trees will form a shared vascular system.
And with the rootstock tree being well acclimated to the region, the fruit trees get to thrive in an area they might have otherwise struggled.
There are tens of “Trees of 40 Fruit” spread across different states—and Van Aken asserts that each of them is unique.
Educating Communities
The “Tree of 40 Fruit” is an art project turned noble cause. Van Aken’s first multi-fruit tree was designed to be a piece of natural art. A sculpture that would transform itself and morph under the grafting guidance of the artist. This was back in 2008.
Since then, the “Trees of 40 Fruit” have grown into a means of conservation—gradually reintroducing Americans to the beauty of native and heirloom fruits that had long been forgotten.
“The Trees of 40 Fruit were a way for me to collapse an entire orchard into one tree to preserve varieties and diversity,” says Van Aken.
Interestingly, the “Tree of 40 Fruit” project ended up attracting the attraction of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)—who were curious about his finding working with the little-known fruits.
Van Aken hopes to bring back local fruit varieties that most people have never tasted—one tree at a time. And hopefully, help rekindle the dwindling tradition of growing food.