Fruit Tree Planner

Plan compatible pollination partners, compare varieties, and understand flowering compatibility for apples, pears, plums, blueberries, cherries, and more.

Step 1

Choose a fruit type

Fruit type

Start here. The helper uses different rules for apples, plums, blueberries, kiwis, and other fruit groups.

41 options available.

Type to narrow the list.

Selected fruit

Nectarine

8 tracked varieties

Most nectarines can fruit with their own pollen, but another compatible nectarine nearby often improves set and helps smooth out erratic spring weather.

If you plant two nectarines, keep them close enough for bees to move easily between them. A second tree within about 50 feet is usually enough.

Step 2

Choose what you want to check

Current goal

Single variety

Choose one variety and Willowbottom will show the best pollination partners.

Step 3

Choose your variety

Main variety

Choose one variety to see the strongest pollination partners.

8 options available.

Optional comparison variety

Optional direct pair check.

7 options available.

USDA zone (optional)

Used to sort matches and flag climate cautions.

Pick a variety first, then scroll to Step 4 for ranked partners, warnings, and the optional pair check.

Step 4

See recommendations

Selected variety

Harko

Nectarine

Mid bloom - mid bloom

Can fruit alone, but still benefits from a partnerPartner guidance included

Bloom timing

Bloom group mid - mid bloom.

What to do

Most peaches and nectarines can fruit alone, but a second compatible tree often improves fruit set and reliability.

About this variety

Harko is sweet with just enough acidity to stay lively, with firm, dense flesh and medium fruit. Choose it for cold-climate orchards and dependable all-purpose nectarine harvests, but skip it if you want the richest flavor intensity or the largest nectarine fruit. It usually ripens around early to mid August.

This shows compatible pollinators. Choose based on flavor and harvest timing.

Usually grown in USDA zones 5-8.

Harko can fruit alone, but it still benefits from a partner. Most peaches and nectarines can fruit alone, but a second compatible tree often improves fruit set and reliability. It flowers in mid bloom, which is worth knowing if you add a second tree later. Usually grown in USDA zones 5-8.

The good news is you have real choices here. The strongest partners are Mericrest and Redgold. Any one of them is enough to get fruit set going. If your nursery has none of those, Fantasia, Flavortop, or Sunfre will also do the job. If you plant two nectarines, keep them close enough for bees to move easily between them. A second tree within about 50 feet is usually enough.

One thing to keep in mind. Chill note: About 800 chill hours.

To put that into practice: at a minimum, one self-fruitful nectarine is usually enough to get fruit. Better still, plant two nectarines with overlapping bloom if you want better fruit set, larger crops, and extra spring insurance. If you already have one nectarine, add a second only if you want to improve crop reliability rather than simply get any fruit at all.

Best matches

These are the strongest practical partners based on bloom overlap, compatibility, and overall fit.

Mericrest

Same fruit type

Mid bloom - mid bloom

Best match

Blooms in the same window. Zone fit is unknown or not a major tie-breaker here. Chill needs line up well.

Zone unknownSame bloom window

Why choose this?

Mericrest is sweet with just enough acidity to stay lively, with firm, dense flesh and medium fruit. In this group, it is one of the sweeter, lower-acid choices. Choose it for cold-climate home orchards and fresh eating in shorter-season regions, but skip it if you want the largest, most flavorful nectarines and live in mild climates. It usually ripens around early to mid August, earlier than most of the others shown.

Redgold

Same fruit type

Mid bloom - mid bloom

These can still help, but they have more tradeoffs around timing, fit, or pollination strength.

Necta Zee

Same fruit type

Early bloom - early-mid bloom

Less ideal

Blooms close enough to overlap in many home plantings. Zone fit is unknown or not a major tie-breaker here. Chill needs may pull these apart in real gardens.

Zone unknownNearby bloom window

Why choose this?

Necta Zee is sweet with just enough acidity to stay lively, with soft, juicy flesh and small fruit. Choose it for containers, small-space plantings, and a genetic dwarf nectarine, but skip it if you want heavy harvests or full-sized fruit for canning and larger batches. It usually ripens around early to mid August, in the middle of this group.

Minimum planting guidance

Use the minimum, ideal, and fallback plan to size the planting to your space and goals.

Minimum setup

One self-fruitful nectarine is usually enough to get fruit.

Ideal setup

Plant two nectarines with overlapping bloom if you want better fruit set, larger crops, and extra spring insurance.

Fallback plan

If you already have one nectarine, add a second only if you want to improve crop reliability rather than simply get any fruit at all.

Important notes

These notes keep the key cautions and practical details easy to scan.

Helpful notes

If you plant two nectarines, keep them close enough for bees to move easily between them. A second tree within about 50 feet is usually enough.

Chill note: About 800 chill hours.

Want to understand why these pairings work? Read the full pollination guide →

New to fruit trees? Start with fruit tree husbandry →

Every fruit and variety we cover

444 varieties across 41 fruit types. Open a crop to see the varieties, or pick one to jump straight to its pollination partners.

Apple25 varieties

Peach17 varieties

Pear22 varieties

Cherry25 varieties

Plum21 varieties

Blueberry31 varieties

Strawberry13 varieties

Raspberry16 varieties

Blackberry13 varieties

Grape14 varieties

Fig8 varieties

Apricot10 varieties

Nectarine8 varieties

Persimmon9 varieties

Pomegranate2 varieties

Mulberry8 varieties

Elderberry10 varieties

Quince7 varieties

Serviceberry8 varieties

Pawpaw7 varieties

Currant9 varieties

Gooseberry7 varieties

Jujube9 varieties

Aronia6 varieties

Honeyberry29 varieties

Hazelnut21 varieties

Cranberry7 varieties

Lingonberry6 varieties

Goji Berry5 varieties

Hardy Kiwi6 varieties

Kiwi5 varieties

Passion Fruit / Maypop4 varieties

Mango14 varieties

Avocado7 varieties

Mandarin5 varieties

Tangerine5 varieties

Kumquat5 varieties

Calamondin4 varieties

Citron4 varieties

Cherimoya6 varieties

Date Palm6 varieties