Fruit Cocktail Tree

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

15-20 Feet

Mature Spread

12-15 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 10

Fruit Cocktail Tree packs an entire mini orchard into one space-saving tree. Multiple grafted branches can bear peaches, plums, nectarines, and/or apricots on the same rootstock, so you get variety, extended harvests, and built-in cross-pollination.

It’s a smart pick for patios and small yards where every square foot counts. Showy spring blossoms lead to a parade of summer fruit, with different grafts ripening in sequence so you can pick for weeks, not days.

Fruit Cocktail Tree Care

Plant in full sun with 6–8+ hours of direct light for best bloom and fruit set. Use well-drained soil amended with compost; target a slightly acidic to neutral pH around 6.0–7.0. Water deeply the first year about once weekly, or when the top 2 inches of soil are dry; once established, keep soil evenly moist during bloom and fruit swell, easing off after harvest.

Mulch 2–3 inches deep, keeping mulch a few inches away from the trunk. Feed in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fruit tree fertilizer, then again in late spring if growth is light; avoid heavy midsummer nitrogen.

Prune in late winter to open the canopy and maintain equal vigor among grafts—lightly head back overly vigorous limbs and never remove a grafted branch entirely. Tip-prune after harvest to encourage new fruiting wood. Choose a tree matched to your local chill hours and climate; most cocktail trees thrive in Zones 6–9 (check your plant tag).

If grafted, keep the graft union above soil level and remove any suckers from below it.

Fruit Cocktail Tree Spacing

For a specimen, allow 12–15 feet of width and plant 10–12 feet from walls or other trees for sun and airflow. In small home rows, space 12–16 feet on center; tighter spacing is possible if you plan consistent size-control pruning. Keep 4–6 feet back from paths and driveways for comfortable clearance.

For container growing, start with a 20–24 inch wide pot (15–25 gallons) with excellent drainage and a sturdy stake; size up as roots fill. Train scaffold branches at wide angles and consider light fruit thinning on heavy-bearing grafts to balance the crop.

Why Grow Fruit Cocktail Tree?

• Multiple fruits on one tree for maximum variety in minimal space.

• Staggered ripening extends the picking window across summer.

• Built-in cross-pollination from compatible grafts simplifies fruit set.

• High ornamental value with clouds of spring bloom and a tidy, manageable form.

Bring home the tree that turns one planting hole into a whole fruit stand. Plant a Fruit Cocktail Tree and enjoy weeks of fresh, homegrown peaches, plums, nectarines, and more—from a single, easy-care tree.