Sam van Aken, engineer and sculptor from Syracuse University, USA, has managed to create a tree that bears fruit occurs when, at the same time, 40 varieties of fruits.
To obtain this result, Sam van Aken crossed and grafted several varieties of fruit trees.
The Tree of 40 Fruit is an ongoing series of hybridized fruit trees by contemporary artist Sam Van Aken. Each unique Tree of 40 Fruit grows over forty different types of stone fruit including peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, cherries, and almonds. Sculpted through the process of grafting, the Tree of 40 Fruit blossom in variegated tones of pink, crimson and white in spring, and in summer bear a multitude of fruit. Primarily composed of native and antique varieties the Tree of 40 Fruit are a form of conversation, preserving heirloom stone fruit varieties that are not commercially produced or available.
16 of the trees made by Sam van Aken are now exposed to various art museums or private collections worldwide.