A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2005 dwarf vs. semi dwarf

Hope someone is able to un-confuse me. I would like to start an orchard using very small fruit trees. How tall do dwarf/semi dwarf trees get?
I appreciate any reply.

lizzie, it all depends on the type of fruit you are talking about. a dwarf peach tree (if there is such thing) is a very small tree indeed (the peach tree orchards in middle georgia have trees no more than 6 feet tall for some of them). but a dwarf apple might be taller because it is a taller tree to start with. but, there are so many variations, you really have to look at the fruit you want to grow.

Hi Lizzie,

Welcome to The Gardener's Forum.

HOME ORCHARD trees

Apple:
Standard-20ft-25ft, and up to 35ft unchecked.
Dwarf- 6ft-10ft.

Apricots:
Standard-15ft-20ft.
Dwarf: 12ft-15ft.

Cherries:
Standard-20-25ft.
Semidwarf-16ft. or less

Citrus:
Standard-22ft. or less
Dwarf-15ft. or less

Peaches & Nectarines:
Standard-15ft plus
Dwarf-7ft. or less

Pears:
Standard-20ft or less (modified central leader)
Standard-15ft. or less (Open center)

Persimmons:
Standard-15ft. or less (Central leader)

Plums & Prunes:
Standard-15ft. plus
Semidwarf-15ft. or less

Pomegranates:
Standard-15ft. plus (Open center)
Standard-13ft. or less (Shrub)

All of our home orchard trees are either dwarf or semidwarf planted in containers, (except Apples) and are much shorter than the dwarf/semidward sizes given above.

Hope this helps although quite late.

Thank you much for the terrific answer to my question. I will happily start my orchard. I am going to try one of those "5 different peaches on one tree" type. Sounds interesting to me.