Tree pluribus unum: Many fruits stem from artists’ grafts

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Peaches, apricots, nectarines and rare plums can all grow on just one of Sam Van Aken’s fruit trees.

The artist calls his creations like the one at Syracuse University the Tree of 40 Fruit. And they really do bear 40 or more varieties of stone fruit thanks to carefully planned grafts. The trees provide both juicy fruit and food for thought about preserving agricultural heritage.

But mostly, Van Aken wants his trees to provoke a response.

He has stocked the campus nursery where he does his grafting with hard-to-find antique and heirloom varieties, some from an old research orchard. He has collected more than 40 varieties of plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries and almonds he can graft on to his trees.