Tree of 40 Fruit: 126 Tube Factory

Tree of 40 Fruit: 126 Tube Factory
Sam Van Aken
2024

This truly unique single tree grows 40 different types of stone fruit — including peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, cherries, and almonds. Our tree is titled 126 Tube Factory because it is artist Sam Van Aken’s 126 tree he created for this site through the process of grafting branches into the tree. The Tree of 40 Fruit blossoms in varied tones of pink, crimson, and white each spring. And, in the summer, it bears various fruits. This is one of 20 trees like this around the world. These trees are not only creative endeavors but also serve as conservation efforts, preserving heirloom and antique fruit varieties not commonly found in commercial agriculture.

About the artist: Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, Van Aken works beyond traditional modes of art making, crossing genres and disciplines to develop new perspectives on themes including communication, botany, agriculture, climatology, and technology. Van Aken’s interventions bring beauty to public places and sometimes become the basis of scientific research. He received his undergraduate education and MFA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and lives and works in Syracuse, New York, where he’s an art professor at Syracuse University.Made possible by The Efroymson Family Fund.