# fruit trees that are not "pome" or stone fruit **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 5, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514 "2018-10-05T17:39:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/1 "2018-10-05T17:39:50Z")
I have cherries, peach an apple trees. My stone fruits have brown rot, so I may get rid of them. If I replace them, what fruit tree do I have to choose from? I don’t really need another apple/pear type. I’m in growing zone 4b or 5a Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/2 "2018-10-05T18:03:40Z")
T’were it me I’d be growing pawpaws, figs and persimmons. There are also hardy almonds, but I don’t know if they are susceptible to the same type of rot, being related. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/3 "2018-10-05T18:16:01Z")
I was going to recommend persimmon, but zone 4 is pretty far north for them. The hardier American varieties can go to zone 5 so maybe you could grow one if you get the right one. I don’t think figs do well north of zone 6. Really, the best zone 4 fruit trees are the ones you already list. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/4 "2018-10-05T18:37:04Z")
I’d consider mulberry and serviceberry (many of the latter also have ornamental spring flowers and fall foliage). Tubbed fig trees brought indoors to a cool location (about 30-45F, like an unheated garage) during winter dormancy can produce well in cold climates. We’ve just had a very productive season here in zone 6a. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/5 "2018-10-05T19:28:09Z")
That’s weird, I seemed to have lived my life without coming across the word “pome” before. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/6 "2018-10-05T20:41:11Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > That’s weird, I seemed to have lived my life without coming across the word “pome” before. A pome is a fruit where there are hard seeds encased in the center of the fruit. Like an apple or a pear. An orange isn’t a pome. Because you can’t find a word that rhymes with it. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/7 "2018-10-05T21:02:51Z")
Service berries (aka June berries and, in Canada, Saskatoons) are an excellent choice. They are not rosaciae, as apples, pears and all the prunuses are. The fruit are small and very sweet and come in late June. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/8 "2018-10-05T21:08:50Z")
I had forgotten about service berries. I’ll third that suggestion. Zone 4b/5a is perfect for them. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/9 "2018-10-05T21:10:33Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Service berries (aka June berries and, in Canada, Saskatoons) are an excellent choice. They are not rosaciae, as apples, pears and all the prunuses are. The fruit are small and very sweet and come in late June. Yes they are - Amelanchier is a genus in the [rosaceae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelanchier) ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/10 "2018-10-05T21:12:53Z")
I live in zone 5B (southern Nebraska) and there’s a couple of people in the are that grow grapes. They might be worth a look? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2018, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/11 "2018-10-05T21:17:37Z")
I assume ‘pome’ comes from pomme, or pomegranate. Which begs is a pomegranate a pome tree fruit? What zone can you grow it in? ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/12 "2018-10-06T01:15:46Z")
Kind of pommegrannate are more like big bushes. I looked into planting them when I lived in Southern California. Basically Mediterranean climate is what they need. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/13 "2018-10-06T03:28:00Z")
[quote=“Beckdawrek, post:11, topic:822514”] > [@](#): > > Which begs is a pomegranate a pome tree fruit? No it is a specific variant on a berry( botanical definition of a berry )called a _balausta_, which is your word for the day. A citrus fruit is a _hesperidium_. A _pome_, like the preceding examples, would also technically be a berry. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/14 "2018-10-06T04:08:05Z")
So confusing. Grow pineapples. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/15 "2018-10-06T05:01:49Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > So confusing. Grow pineapples. A pineapple is an example of a _multiple fruit_, created by the fusion of a cluster of flowers( inflorescence )to create an _infructescence_ when ripe :). Figs would be a similar example. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/16 "2018-10-06T07:01:58Z")
Dang, Tamerlane! You are well versed on this plant thing. So explain breadfruit. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/17 "2018-10-06T07:27:33Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Dang, Tamerlane! You are well versed on this plant thing. > So explain breadfruit. A banana sandwich?? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/18 "2018-10-06T07:47:26Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Dang, Tamerlane! You are well versed on this plant thing. > So explain breadfruit. Just rusty memories of plant taxonomy class from approximately 800 years ago. Breadfruit is another multiple fruit like pineapples and figs. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/19 "2018-10-06T12:56:44Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I assume ‘pome’ comes from pomme, or pomegranate. Which begs is a pomegranate a pome tree fruit? What zone can you grow it in? ‘Pome’ is actually from ye Olde Frenche for ‘apple’ (it’s now pomme in French). The ‘pom’ in pomegranate is from the same root, though sadly the ‘granate’ bit is not from ‘grenade’ due to the shape, fun though it is to claim. It’s basically ‘seed apple’. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2018, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514/20 "2018-10-06T14:22:27Z")
I should second pawpaws. They have large tropicalesque leaves and unique fruit, which when ripe is has a sweet custard-like consistency. The only drawback is a fairly short harvest season (ripe fruit falls to the ground and you have to get to it before the varmints do). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fruit-trees-that-are-not-pome-or-stone-fruit/822514.md?page=2)