Chris Bowers & Sons

Chris Bowers & Sons, fruit tree specialist nursery in Norfolk

Chris Bowers & Sons is a British nursery based at Whispering Trees Nurseries in Wimbotsham, Norfolk. With over three decades in business, the company presents itself as one of the UK's leading suppliers of fruit trees, bushes and fruiting plants, and claims to offer the widest range of fruit trees in the country. Unlike other nurseries that resell bought-in stock, Chris Bowers & Sons grows its own plants at the nursery, with direct control over quality from the roots up.

Catalogue of fruit trees and soft fruit

The range covers a great diversity of species and varieties, organised into several categories:

• Top fruit (pip and stone fruit): apple trees (including cider varieties), pear trees, plum trees, cherry trees, apricot trees, peach and nectarine trees, damsons, gages, medlars, mulberries, quince and crab apples.
• Soft fruit: blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, red and white currants, gooseberries, strawberries, rhubarb, loganberries, tayberries, lingonberries and hybrid berries.
• Nut trees: almond trees, hazel and filbert trees, sweet chestnut trees and walnut trees.
• Vines and kiwi: grape vines and hop vines, and kiwi plants.
• Ornamental trees: crab apples and Japanese flowering cherries.

The catalogue includes both traditional varieties, some with centuries of history, and modern cultivars selected for disease resistance and reliable cropping. Notable varieties include Victoria (plum), Sunburst (cherry), Regent (grape vine), Concorde and Invincible (pear), Redsleeves and Red Falstaff (apple), as well as less common varieties such as Api, Allington Pippin, Acme, Alfred (apricot), 20th Century (Asian pear), Abbott (kiwi), Amm Blue (blueberry), Achilles (gooseberry), Amos Black (blackcurrant) and Adrienne (blackberry).

Growing formats for any space

The nursery offers trees in different formats and rootstocks to suit different environments. For small gardens or patios, it has supercolumns, which can be grown in pots or along a path; stepovers, for edging paths or dividing orchards; and fan-trained or espalier trees, ideal for walls and fences. For those with more space, it sells larger trees on rootstocks such as MM106 for apples, St Julien for plums, gages and damsons, Colt for cherries and Quince A for pears. There are also dwarf rootstocks for apple, pear, plum, gage, damson, peach and nectarine, suitable for intensive or container growing.

Health standards and certification

The company applies rigorous protocols for the health, provenance and uniformity of its plants. The nursery and its stock are regularly inspected and health-passported by DEFRA experts (formerly the British Ministry of Agriculture), and the company also maintains its own controls and inspection programmes. Wherever certified stock exists, propagation is carried out from it, with high standards of provenance and grading. The firm maintains that only the healthiest material produces superior results.

Advice and growing resources

Chris Bowers & Sons complements its sales with guides and articles on growing fruit trees, soil preparation, pests and diseases, and specific care for species such as blackberries, currants or raspberries. The company is willing to share its knowledge and offers support by email or phone to help customers choose varieties and manage their crops.

Delivery and catalogue

The website details delivery information and FAQs, and allows customers to request a catalogue with the latest offers and inspiration. The company operates from its nursery in Norfolk and sells its plants throughout the United Kingdom.

Location and contact

Chris Bowers & Sons, Whispering Trees Nurseries, Wimbotsham, Norfolk PE34 3QB · Phone: 01366 386858