Old varieties of apples and pears with their magnificent, tall tree forms are back in trend. They are popular in yards and gardens, and new, ecologically high-quality orchards are emerging that produce healthy and originally flavored fruits without intensive care and protection measures. This description includes a portrait of 80 apple and 35 pear varieties, featuring photos of fruits, flowers, and leaves to enable reliable identification of the variety. The illustrations showcase the different varieties and color variations that the fruits of the same variety can exhibit.

The description also addresses the traditional orchard as a habitat, the characteristics of old landraces, the importance of fruit components for health, as well as damage to fruits and diseases affecting fruits, leaves, and trees. Most of the described varieties are widely distributed in the southern German-Austrian region, with 10 to 15% being regional specialties.