Where are you located? It makes a big difference, as not all fruit trees - bare root or not - will be suitable for all locations. Typically, your local extension service office will have suggestions for the best fruit trees for your area.

Given that, my local nurseries offer a full range of location-suitable fruit trees bare root in late winter. Otherwise, Raintree Nursery, Burnt Ridge Nursery, One Green World, Stark Brothers or Dave Wilson all offer a wide range of fruits trees (and other fruit types) typically available as bare root starts.

I'm in zone 7a, Maryland. I'm not sure why my zone doesn't show up any more in my signature. I'm pretty familiar with what will grow here (same zone as my old house, a few more chill hours), but I was spoiled by the fantastic nurseries where I used to live. Plus my neighborhood seems to be surrounded on all sides by commercial orchards, so I can take my cues from them.

Thank-you for your suggestions! Some of these I had heard of but didn't know whether they were trustworthy sites. Some of them are completely new to me. Now I get to go daydream while scanning these sites!

Always check Dave’s garden list before ordering https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/announcing-the-garden-watchdog-top-5-awards-for-2016

Thank-you all for these suggestions!

I used to live in DC, and found an excellent selection of edibles from Edible Landscaping in VA. I don't know how much they work with bare root trees, but their selection, product and knowledge are all top notch. http://ediblelandscaping.com

I'll add Trees of antiquity to the list however they are out of Central California. For you in particular, I'd recommend a busniess a little closer to your location. Also, your local nursery will probobly be your best resource on what grows well and what can stand up to disease or insect pressures. They will have their bare root season in Early Spring.

I learned the hard way (almost 50 dead trees) to purchase bare root trees from a nursery in your zone. The tree planting that failed was labeled "Zone 4" but my 2nd winter was quite harsh and almost all the trees died. Trees were from a nursery in WA state. Most of my trees are from a nursery in WI and I've had very few failures with those trees.

I am in Northern VA zone 7b and can never find a tree nursery in out zone. Any luck?

I haven't been out to Edible Landscaping in Afton, but they are well-reviewed and have a nice looking selection. Depending on where you are in Northern VA they might not be too far for you.

As stated above, I don't think they're bare-root. But I'll be checking them out the next time I'm in that part of the state.

Ivandale Farms

Meadow Farms Nurseries (4 or 5 locations)

Blue Mount Nursery

Burke Nursery and Garden Center

All of these have websites but there are many more that turn up with a simple Google search that do not. It can't be all that hard to find something!! Even the box stores will have a pretty decent selection in late winter or early spring, although they may not be the ideal varieties for your area.

btw, nothing will be bare root now. Bare root stock has a narrow window of opportunity in that is must be sold and planted while still dormant. Bare root stock that is sold out of dormancy will struggle mightily if it even survives.

Unfortunately I have had horrible luck with regular local nurseries

Trees way too big, haven’t been pruned correctly and not goo choice of rootstock for location if you can even figure out which rootstocks they are. Need a fruit tree nursery in the zone?