It was created by American artist Sam Van Aken, a university professor, scientist and artist whose intention was to experience and highlight the beauty of nature. For this reason he created Frankestein, a tree where they grow, 40 different types of fruits, such as plums, cherries, peaches, apricots, necatrinas, almonds and other fruits.
“I see the “tree of 40 fruits” as a work of art, a research project and a form of conservation,” Van Aken said at a TEDxManhattan talk in 2014. So, to date, this tree was planted in different parts of the United States.However, to be able to see the result of the grafts, of the “tree of the 40 fruits”, you have to wait several years since the trees deserve special care.
The key elements in this project are pruning and placing grafts in strategic areas to bear fruit. Therefore, it is also worked on the growth cycle of each fruit.
According to National Geographic, in 2008 this artist began his adventure with grafts, aiming to play with multicolored flowers as an art project. The artist designs and plans each of the trees. Therefore, select each species to flourish and produce its fruits at different times of the year to take full advantage of its potential.
This means that the “tree of the 40 fruits” bears fruit throughout the year. Plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, almonds, all in the same tree. Most of these trees are located in community gardens, museums, or private collections in Arkansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, to name a few. Others have traveled to Sweden and China.
