Workshops – Books – Tours – Trees – Plants

Towards A Climate Resilient Food Economy:

We have passionately searched the Sierra Nevada and Western States to re-discover the living library of plants still scattered across Northern California, those trees and plants left over from the 1800’s and early 1900’s Gold Rush era.   These are the grandmother trees that have become climate resilient with no human attention for the last 100 years. They give the best fruit and nuts in conditions that most fruit and nut trees can not endure with large annual temperature variations. These  grandmother trees have learned to thrive under the most harsh conditions. We want to make them available to growers, gardeners and communities throughout the West Coast.

We have personally found these trees and have taken cuttings directly from the 100+ year old grandmother trees that still cling to life in ghostly, historic orchards. We offer very rare and exclusive plants – some may have only just been rediscovered.

95% of plants available during the 1800s are no longer available today.  We are saving what is left before they die. 

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Thanks to Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply (originally started by our founder Amigo Bob Cantisano), a collection of some of our favorite species and varieties will be available through Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden for the 2024/25 Bareroot Season. 

Stay Tuned…

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The SOLD OUT Varieties listed below are for informational purposes only. These are many of the plants we have found and sold over the years. While some of these varieties will be available this Autumn, many will not. 

Hope is on the Horizon.

We will have historic fruit and nut trees available for preorder

November 1, 2024.

Thank you for all your Support!

Orders only accepted via the website.

Imperial Epineuse de Clairac
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Imperial Epineuse de Clairac

00079
$0.00
Out of stock
1
Product Details

Gillet introduced the Imperial in 1878, a variety which apparently was a chance seedling discovered in Clairac, France about 1870. This is the highest flavored prune, and is used at the English National Fruit Trials as the standard to judge prune flavor. The fruit is medium to large, red to purple with a meaty yellow flesh. The tree is an upright grower, with willowy branches. The freestone, very sweet purple fruit is medium to large and ripens in mid August through mid September, depending on location. Very good for fresh eating, jam or drying. Can be sun dried without the lye or boiling water dip necessary for sun drying other varieties. Best production when planted with either a French Improved or Robe de Sergeant as a pollenizer, but will bear well without a pollenizer.

Our mother tree is still (!) growing in Graniteville, once a boisterous, prosperous mining town at 4977’ on the San Juan Ridge. The house where the tree is located dates to 1885. At this high of an elevation the fruit has a challenge ripening before the bears get it, but the tree continues to produce a crop nearly every year, weather permitting. It is our highest elevation Prunus species discovered thus far. Will thrive at lower elevations!

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