California Fruit Trees: Your Guide to the Best Varieties for CA

Ready to dive into the world of California fruit trees? From the cool coastal regions to the sun-drenched desert, California’s diverse climate offers a home for a variety of fruit trees.

Whether it’s the citrus trees of the south or the apple trees in the mountains, you’ll discover the ideal fruit tree for your CA backyard.

What Are the Best Fruit Trees To Grow In California?

When it comes to growing fruit trees, California’s varied climates offer a world of possibilities!

Top Choices for CA’s Coastal Climates

Let’s start on the coastline, which is divided into the North Coast, Central Coast, and South Coast. The cool, moist air here is a dream come true for apples, pears, and plums. These fruits need a good chill during the winter, and the coastal climate provides just that.

But even here, there’s variety. As you move south, it gets warmer, so you might find avocados and citrus trees like oranges and lemons soaking up the sun in Southern California’s coastal regions.

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1. Avocado Trees

The avocado tree thrives in the mild coastal climate, requiring moderate warmth and humidity. A California coastal favorite.

2. Lemon Trees

Lemon trees love the sunny, temperate conditions of the coast. These trees offer beautiful foliage, fragrant flowers, and tangy fruits year-round.

3. Orange Trees

Oranges grow well in the consistent warmth of California’s coastal region. Full sun and well-drained soil will have them flourishing.

4. Figs

Figs relish the coastal climate and produce sweet fruit in late summer. The trees are hardy and low-maintenance, adding a Mediterranean touch to your garden.

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5. Plum Trees

Plum trees thrive in mild weather with adequate sunlight. Ensure well-drained soil and regular watering for a healthy yield.

6. Olives

Olive trees thrive along the coast. They enjoy the moderate climate to produce rich olives and are drought-tolerant.

7. Pomegranate

Pomegranate trees love the coastal sun and warmth. They are adaptable and hardy, and produce juicy fruit.

8. Apple Trees

Certain apple varieties, like Gravenstein, Fuji, and Beverly Hills, thrive on the coast. They enjoy the cooler winters and produce crispy, delicious apples.

9. Cherries

Cherry trees, with their beautiful blossoms, grow well in coastal regions with cooler temperatures. Ensure well-drained soil and ample sun for a bumper cherry crop.

The Best Fruit for CA’s Valley Climates

The next stop is the Central Valley, a vast, fertile region stretching down the middle of the state. It’s hotter here than on the coast, but it’s a consistent heat, perfect for apricots, peaches, and nectarines. These stone fruits love the warmth and will reward you with sweet, juicy treats all summer long.

1. Apricot Trees

Apricot trees thrive in the valley’s warm climate, producing juicy, sweet fruit in early summer. They require full sun and well-drained soil for optimal growth and fruit production.

2. Peaches

The valley heat is ideal for peach trees, which grow sweet fruit in mid to late summer. Ensure adequate watering and sun exposure for a bountiful peach harvest.

3. Nectarine Trees

Nectarine trees thrive in California’s valley climate. They offer delicious, smooth-skinned fruit in full sun and well-drained soil.

4. Pomegranate Fruit

Pomegranate trees love the valley heat, producing rich, ruby-red fruit. These hardy trees are drought-tolerant and enjoy the warm valley temperatures.

5. Almond Trees

Almond trees love California’s valley regions. They thrive in the hot sun and produce nutritious nuts. Provide them with ample sunlight and well-draining soil for the best yield.

6. Fig Trees

Fig trees are perfect for the valley climate, producing sweet, juicy fruit. They are adaptable and drought-resistant which makes them ideal for warm inland areas.

Top Fruit Trees for California’s Desert Climate

Journey further inland, and you’ll hit California’s desert regions. It’s scorching here, but believe it or not, it’s perfect for certain fruit trees. Think figs, pomegranates, and jujubes. These hardy plants can withstand the heat and still produce a bountiful harvest.

1. Dates

Dates grow on the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera). It’s able to withstand high temperatures and produces sweet, nutritious dates. It requires minimal water once established, making it a perfect fit for California’s arid climates.

2. Citrus Trees

Certain citrus trees, such as orange and lemon, can adapt to desert climates, offering juicy, refreshing fruit. Provide consistent watering and protect them from extreme temperature fluctuations.

3. Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba)

Jujube trees produce sweet, apple-like fruit. They’re exceptionally drought-tolerant and thrive in desert climates. They require minimal care, making them an excellent choice for CA’s arid regions.

4. Olive Trees

Olive trees are highly tolerant of heat and can produce abundant olive fruit even in desert conditions. Ensure they have well-draining soil and some irrigation to thrive.

5. Mesquite (Proposis spp.)

Mesquite trees thrive in arid regions with their high drought resistance and minimal water needs. They produce sweet, edible pods and grow best in well-draining, sandy soils in full sun.

6. Prickly Pear

The prickly pear cactus is perfect for extremely arid, hot conditions. It produces edible, juicy “tunas” with minimal water requirements. It thrives in full sun and well-draining soils.

7. Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana)

A hardy tree well-suited for hot, dry desert conditions. The Texas Persimmon bears small, sweet black fruits and requires minimal water and care. It is highly drought-tolerant and thrives in well-draining soil.

Top Fruit For CA’s Mountains

Lastly, let’s head up into the mountains. The Sierra Nevada and other mountain ranges offer a cooler, crisper climate. The colder temperatures here are just right for cherries and certain apple varieties that require a solid winter chill.

1. Apples

Apple trees are hardy and adaptable, with many varieties able to withstand the cooler temperatures. Choose a cold-hardy variety like Honeycrisp, Haralson, Freedom, or Northern Spy for the best yield in higher elevations.

2. Currant Bush

Currants are more tolerant of cold weather and can produce abundant, tart berries even in mountain climates. They require minimal care and offer a reliable harvest.

3. Serviceberry

Serviceberries, or saskatoons, are hardy and can handle cooler temperatures. They grow a harvest of sweet, berry-like fruit. They’re also an attractive landscape plant, with lovely spring flowers and vibrant fall foliage.

4. Cherry Trees

Cherry trees, especially the sour cherry varieties, can tolerate cooler climates and shorter growing seasons. They flower beautifully in spring and produce delicious fruit in early to mid-summer.

5. Pear Trees

Many pear varieties are well-suited for cooler climates. They offer reliable harvests of sweet, juicy fruit. Choose a cold-tolerant and adaptable variety like Anjou, Bosc, or Harrow Sweet.

6. Plums

Plums can adapt to a range of climates. Certain varieties thrive in the cooler mountains, like Methley, Stanley, Mount Royal, and Green Gage. Plum trees offer a bountiful harvest of juicy plums.

Fruit Trees for Southern California SoCal

There are a few distinct climate regions in Southern California. They each have their own selection of great fruit trees to grow. Let’s take a look:

Fruit for Coastal Southern California

This region includes cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara. The climate is typically Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.

Coastal Southern California is famous for growing avocados, citrus fruits (like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits), and even tropical fruits like passionfruit in microclimates or milder areas.

Your best fruit trees:

1. Avocado
2. Orange
3. Lemon
4. Grapefruit
5. Passionfruit
6. Fig
7. Olive
8. Pomegranate
9. Guava

Fruit Trees to Grow In Inland SoCal

Areas like the Inland Empire, which includes Riverside and San Bernardino counties, experience a more continental climate. Summers here can be quite hot, while winters are cooler than the coast, though still mild by most standards.

You’ll find fruits like pomegranates, figs, and stone fruits thriving here.

Your best fruit trees:

1. Pomegranate
2. Fig
3. Almond
4. Olive
5. Persimmon
6. Jujube
7. Peach
8. Apricot
9. Plum

Fruit for Southern California’s Desert Regions

The southeastern part of Southern California, such as the Coachella Valley and Imperial Valley, falls within desert climates. It’s hot and dry, but as mentioned earlier, certain fruit trees, like dates and jujubes, thrive in these conditions. See the ‘desert’ section above for more information.

Your best fruit trees:

1. Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)
2. Pomegranate
3. Fig
4. Almond
5. Olive
6. Mesquite (Prosopis spp.)
7. Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana)
8. Desert Apricot (Prunus fremontii)
9. Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia spp.)

So, there you have it! Whether you’re by the cool coast, in the heat of the valley, chilling in the desert, or up in the mountains, California’s diverse climate regions have something for every fruit tree grower.

California Fruit Trees FAQ

What is the easiest fruit tree to grow in California?

The easiest fruit tree to grow in California is the fig tree. Other easy trees to grow are citrus varieties, like lemon, orange, and lime, especially in the coastal and southern parts of the state.

What Fruit Trees Grow In Napa Valley?

Some fruit trees that grow well in Napa Valley include grapes, figs, olives, apples, pears, cherries, plums, pomegranate, apricots, and peach trees. Napa Valley is world-renowned for its vineyards!

What fruit grows year round in California?

Not many fruits grow year round In California, at least not in the traditional sense (i.e., continually producing fruit all year). However, citrus fruits come quite close. Citrus trees, such as lemon, lime, and calamondin, can produce fruit for a significant portion of the year, and in some cases, you can find fruit on the trees year-round.

What is the number one fruit grown in California?

The number one fruit grown in California is the grape. California is the leading wine-producing state in the U.S., and grapes used for wine production account for a significant portion of the state’s fruit agriculture.

How often do you water fruit trees in California?

How often to water fruit trees in California depends on things like the tree’s age, type, soil conditions, and regional climate. For newly planted trees, keep the soil consistently moist by watering every 3 to 10 days, particularly during dry periods. As trees establish, water every 2 to 4 weeks, with adjustments for weather fluctuations. In hot, arid weather, increase watering to every 7 to 14 days. In cooler, wet conditions, extend it to every 4 to 6 weeks. Ensure water penetrates to a depth of about 2 to 3 feet for most trees. Use about 10 gallons of water for each inch of the tree’s diameter.