Artist's hybrid tree bares over 40 different fruit

A single tree has been engineered to grow 40 different kinds of stoned fruit when it blossoms.

Syracuse University sculptor and award-winning contemporary artist, Sam van Aken has created a series of hybridised fruit trees including this Tree of 40 Fruit. During the spring the tree blossoms in various shades of pink, crimson and white, according to a report by Epicurious. The tree bares more than 40 different types of fruit including cherries, apricots, almonds cherries, peaches and plums.

The tree has been made by chip grafting several varieties together. The technique involves taking a sliver off a tree, including the bud and inserting that into an incision in the working tree, where it is taped and left to heal over winter said Science Alert.

Van Aken has created and placed 16 similar trees in museums, community centres and private art collections around America.

“I currently work with over 250 types of stoned fruit and developed a timeline of when they blossom in relation to each other. By grafting these different varieties onto the tree in a certain order I can essentially sculpt how the tree is to blossom,” said van Aken.