Deer Orchard™ Starter Pack | Zone 5

A wide-ranging tree that is adaptable to a diverse array of habitats, from the baking hot, dry limestone “Hill Country” of central Texas to moist floodplain margins in central Florida, while also enduring the cold winters in the northern extent of its range from Iowa to southern New England. Over time it will produce shoots from the roots, forming a colony of trunks that provide valuable cover for wildlife. The orange fruit which can range up to the size of a small plum, begin ripening in fall and are often retained on the tree after leaf drop well into December in southern latitudes. Note that this species has separate male and female plants, so to ensure fruit production multiple plants of our unsexed saplings should be sited near each other to increase the chances that both sexes will be present.

A very special selection that will be of great interest for wildlife food plots due to its later-than-typical fruiting. Discovered and trialed by Dr. James Kroll (aka “Dr. Deer”) from Stephen F. Austin State University it is invaluable for providing late fall fruit when little else is available. Large clusters of small fruit characterize this selection. Self-fertile but increased fruit set is likely with the presence of another pear cultivar nearby, and can be combined with our other earlier-fruiting selections to have a long season of fruit availability.

"Ornamental deciduous shrub with multiple, erect, arching stems that form a loose, round shape. This ornamental native has creamy white, flat-topped flower clusters in spring, giving way to large clusters of dark blue berries in late summer, early fall.

Tolerant of a variety of conditions, Arrowwood Viburnum prefers moist, well drained sites and grows best in full sun to partial shade.

Ripened fruit hangs in clusters and is a favorite of wildlife. The dense foliage provide cover to birds and small woodland mammals, with the leaves, bark, and woody branches being preferred by beaver, deer and rabbit."

As can be expected from a tree naturally occurring in central and west Texas and into Mexico, this small tree is exceptionally tolerant of extreme heat, low humidity, drought and poor soil conditions. In southeast Texas it also occurs in more humid sandy ridges overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Appearing nothing like the American Persimmon, this species produces silver dollar sized fruits that are jet black inside and out yet are surprisingly delicious even for humans. It starts out as a dense, multi-stemmed shrub with small olive-green leaves, and with size the smooth, exfoliating bark begins to take on attractive silver, grey and white tones. When planted outside of its native range, it will prosper best in hot, exposed, well-drained sites…perfect for sites that would be difficult for most other trees. Being dioecious, male and female individuals are required for fruit production so several of our unsexed plants sited near each other will increase the odds that both sexes are present.

Of hybrid origin, Kieffer Pear has harder fruits than Bartlett but the deer happily consume them with no problem. This selection is more resistant to fire blight and therefore a better choice over the earlier- fruiting Bartlett Pear in areas that experience warm, wet spring weather, especially in humid areas along the gulf coast where the disease can be an issue. Self-fertile but enjoy an even more reliable pollination/fruit set by planting another pear selection nearby, such as the later-fruiting Dr. Deer Pear that we offer for an extended season of sweet deer treats.