What caliper you actually get from each container size
Container size is a measure of the pot, not the tree. Two growers can both sell you a #45 and hand you noticeably different trees. So rather than talk in generalities, here is what the containers on our farm actually produce, measured across our current stock.
| Container | Caliper | Height |
|---|---|---|
| #30 | 1.5" to 2" | 5' to 8' |
| #45 | 2" to 2.5" | 7' to 12' |
| #65 | 3" to 3.5" | 10' to 14' |
| #100 | 4" to 5" | 14' to 16' |
| #200 | 5" to 6" | 15' to 17' |
Where specs go wrong
The gap that catches people out is between #45 and #65. A #45 tops out around 2.5 inches. If the drawing says 3 inch caliper, a #45 will not get you there, and no amount of picking through the row will change that. You need the #65.
Going the other way, a #100 is a serious piece of freight and needs equipment on site to place it. If a 4 inch caliper is not actually required, a #65 plants more easily and establishes faster.
Height and caliper are not locked together
Notice the overlap. A #45 can be anywhere from 7 to 12 feet tall while staying in roughly the same caliper band. Height varies by species and by how the individual tree grew. If the height matters as much as the caliper, that is a good reason to come and tag rather than order to a number.
Not every variety comes in every size
The combinations that actually exist change through the season as stock sells and new blocks come on. Our availability list is generated from the same inventory records we quote from, so it is the authoritative answer on what pairing exists right now.
If you are specifying for a job that is still a way out, the sizes above are a reasonable planning basis. If you are bidding this week, check the list.