The Pomona Project is an experimental tree being engineered in the Pacific Northwest to carry fourteen fruit species and seventy cultivars on a single rootstock. It combines horticultural science, biodiversity conservation, and public art.

Yes. Each scion is a fully functional branch capable of blooming and setting fruit. Different species will flower and fruit at different times, creating a staggered harvest from spring through fall. Some grafts may fail, but the tree is designed with enough diversity to succeed overall.

To set a new Guinness World Record for fruit diversity on a single tree, but more importantly, to create a living archive of biodiversity. The project demonstrates resilience through diversity, preserves heirloom fruit genetics, and inspires new approaches to food security in the age of climate change.

The Pomona Project will take root in the Pacific Northwest, most likely on Orcas Island. The island’s climate is unusually friendly to both Prunus (stone fruits) and Pome species: mild winters, low freeze risk, and strong hardiness across diverse cultivars. To strengthen the experiment, we also plan satellite test sites across western Washington, where grafts will be trialed under slightly different microclimates for resilience and comparison.

It depends. Building a record-setting tree is not instant — grafts must not only take, but also bloom and fruit to be verified. The Pomona Project will rely largely on new rootstock, which requires time to establish, but we will also leverage existing mature trees to accelerate progress. Some grafts may fruit within 2–3 years, while others will take longer to prove stable. The full Guinness record submission will likely occur within 3–5 years, with ongoing documentation along the way.

The key is not just grafting, but interstocks — short bridge pieces that act as genetic translators between species that would normally be incompatible. By carefully selecting and documenting interstocks, the Pomona Project is expanding beyond the limits of what has been attempted before.

It is both. The Pomona Project is a public artwork inspired by Roman myth (Pomona, goddess of fruit), but it is also a documented horticultural trial. Every graft will be tracked, photographed, and evaluated for compatibility. The data will contribute to knowledge about interstocks and climate adaptation.

Independent botanists and horticultural experts will confirm each grafted species. The tree will be documented in bloom and fruit, and a full submission with evidence will be sent to Guinness World Records for review.

Donations fund rare scion sourcing, rootstock care, grafting materials, and scientific documentation. Supporters can contribute at different levels, from sponsoring a scion to associating their name with a branch or species cluster.