Lugano maps its historic fruit trees

Since 2019, the City of Lugano has been running a project to map the historic fruit trees on its territory. The aim is to reconstruct the historical and cultural value of these plants and to protect old varieties at risk of disappearing.

Over seven years, more than 550 fruit trees have been identified across the city. Among them are 15 local varieties, more than 60 classic old varieties and 30 unique varieties, meaning they are found nowhere else in Switzerland. The census was also made possible by residents, who reported trees they knew about.

A conservation orchard has been created at the city's greenhouses. It also serves as a scion bank, a place where grafting cuttings are kept and produced. The project's scientific consultants, Muriel Hendrichs and Giorgia Tresca, explain that this work «aiuta a custodire il patrimonio genetico recuperato nella ricerca e rappresenta una risorsa importante per il futuro della nostra sicurezza alimentare» (helps preserve the genetic heritage recovered through the research and represents an important resource for the future of our food security).

The two researchers also describe the broader meaning of the work: «Sotto ogni albero si srotolano intrecci tra persone e piante, memorie e territorio. Le varietà che troviamo costituiscono spesso delle rarità, se non addirittura unicità a livello genetico» (Under every tree, connections unfold between people and plants, memories and territory. The varieties we find are often rare, sometimes even genetically unique). Once a new variety is identified, Hendrichs explains, it can be propagated by grafting and planted in orchards or in other spaces around the city, such as neighbourhoods.

Plums, apples and pears from afar

Among the most notable discoveries are the plums found in the orchard of sisters Beatrice and Fernanda Valsangiacomo. The tree, brought from Tenero in 1959 by their mother Lidia, revealed a genotype unique in Switzerland, according to genetic analysis. The fruit, known locally as brügnitt, is small and oval, with purple skin, firm flesh and a strong scent.

In Bré, an apple variety called Pom Rosé was found on a tree planted in the early 20th century by Giovanni Taddei. It is not clear whether the variety is local or was brought from abroad: his granddaughter Manuela Bernasconi suggests her grandfather may have brought it back after a period working in Marseille.

In Sonvico, a Nashi pear tree was identified. The fruit originates in East Asia and looks like an apple but tastes like a pear. It is not clear how it ended up there.

The project has also deepened its study of fig varieties, which are found in the region in great diversity. Field observations began in early summer with the fioroni, the summer fruit that ripens between late June and mid-July.

Since 2026, the census has continued in Pambio-Noranco, and will move on to Breganzona next. Anyone with historic fruit trees or fig trees not bought from a nursery in these areas can report them through the project's online form or by calling 079 922 24 82.