13 Best Fruit Trees That Grow In North Carolina [NC Guide]
From juicy peaches to exotic pomegranates, the best fruit trees that grow in North Carolina are as diverse as the state’s topography! NC’s temperate climate is perfect for a range of fruit trees. Let’s take a look at our top 13.
Fruit Trees That Grow In North Carolina
1. Apple Trees
North Carolina’s temperate climate and extended growing season is an apple grower’s dream! Apple trees flourish in North Carolina, especially in the mountain regions where the cooler temperatures and adequate chilling hours ensure proper bud break and fruit set.
Apple Growing Tips:
- Plant in well-draining soil.
- Ensure full sunlight exposure for at least 6 hours.
- Prune regularly to encourage airflow
- Watch out for pests like apple maggots and diseases like apple scab. Use organic pesticides and ensure proper spacing to prevent these issues.
Best Apple Tree Varieties For North Carolina:
- Fuji: Fuji apples are crunchy, super sweet, and slightly tart. They’re ideal for NC due to their resistance to apple diseases common in the state.
- Gala: A crisp, sweet apple with a mild flavor. It’s resilient in North Carolina’s diverse climate.
- Honeycrisp: Famed for its juicy bite and slightly tart flavor, this variety thrives in NC’s cooler regions.
2. Peach Trees
Peaches adore North Carolina’s warm summers! Peach trees thrive in North Carolina due to the state’s temperate climate, which provides the necessary chilling hours essential for bud formation.
North Carolina’s well-draining soils and long, sun-filled summer days allow peaches to develop a sweet and succulent flavor.
Peach Growing Tips:
- Plant in a full sun location
- Sandy, well-draining soil.
- Regular watering is essential.
- Peach tree borers and leaf curl are common issues. Using insect-proof nets and organic fungicides can help.
Best Peach Tree Varieties For North Carolina:
- Redhaven: An early harvest peach, juicy and sweet. It’s well-suited for NC’s summers.
- Contender: Contender is perfect for NC’s variable winter temperatures because it’s particularly cold-hardy.
- Carolina Belle: A white-fleshed peach with excellent flavor. It thrives in North Carolina’s warm climate.
3. Pear Trees
Pear trees flourish in North Carolina because the state offers a blend of cold winter temperatures needed for dormancy and warm spring weather that supports blossoming. The region’s rich, loamy soil and consistent rainfall also provide an ideal environment for producing juicy and flavorful pears.
Pear Growing Tips:
- Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil.
- Annual pruning is crucial for better fruit production.
- Fire blight can be an issue; ensure proper spacing and avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizers.
Best Pear Varieties For North Carolina:
- Kieffer: Kieffer is resistant to common diseases like fire blight. It does well in NC’s soil and loves the warm summers.
- Moonglow: Juicy and mild, Moonglow is resistant to common pear diseases in North Carolina.
- Bartlett: The classic pear! It thrives in NC’s soil.
4. Plum Trees
Plum trees thrive in North Carolina due to the state’s moderate temperatures and well-draining soil, which are great for growth and fruit production. The varying elevations and microclimates across North Carolina allow for multiple plum varieties to flourish, ensuring a prolonged harvest season.
Plum Growing Tips:
- Full sun position
- Moderate watering – keep soil moderately moist
- Plum curculio and bacterial leaf spot can be issues. Regular monitoring and early intervention are essential.
Best Plum Varieties For North Carolina:
- Methley: A juicy, sweet plum that’s disease-resistant, making it great for NC’s varied climate.
- Santa Rosa: Offers a balance of sweet and tart. Thrives in NC’s warm summers.
- Beauty: A juicy, early harvest variety that’s well-suited to NC’s soil and climate.
5. Cherry Trees
Cherry trees, particularly the sour cherry varieties, find a welcome home in the cooler areas of North Carolina, especially in the mountains and higher elevations.
These regions offer the necessary chilling hours that cherries need, while the state’s well-draining soils and moderate summer temperatures encourage healthy growth and flavorful fruit production.
Cherry Growing Tips:
- Sunny Spot
- Rich, well-draining soil
- Watch for cherry fruit flies and brown rot. Timely pruning and organic treatments can keep these at bay.
Best Cherry Varieties for NC
- Stella: Stella is a sweet, dark red cherry that is self-pollinating. It enjoys the moderate NC temperatures.
- Bing: Known for its sweet, juicy flavor and is well-suited to the state’s summer climate.
6. Fig Trees
Fig trees thrive in North Carolina’s temperate climate, particularly in the warmer coastal and piedmont regions. The state’s extended growing season and mild winters offer an optimal environment for figs, allowing them to produce sweet and juicy fruits. NC’s well-draining soils support the tree’s robust root system.
Fig Growing Tips:
- Figs love full sun.
- Well-draining soil.
- Protect from extreme cold using mulch or frost cloths.
Best Fig Varieties For North Carolina:
- Brown Turkey: Produces large, sweet fruits and is particularly resilient to NC’s variable temperatures.
- Celeste: Small but very sweet, it tolerates the state’s humidity.
7. Persimmon Trees
Persimmon trees are well-suited to North Carolina’s diverse climate zones, with both American and Asian varieties flourishing in different parts of the state.
The state’s mix of temperate conditions and periodic chill hours helps persimmons develop their distinctively sweet and rich flavor, while the moderately fertile soils of North Carolina ensure healthy tree growth and abundant fruit yields.
Persimmon Growing Tips:
- Full sun to light shade.
- Deep, well-draining soil.
- Shelter young trees from strong winds.
Best Persimmon Varieties For NC
- Fuyu: Sweet, crisp, and non-astringent, it flourishes in NC’s moderate fall climate.
- American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana): Native to the area, it’s perfectly suited to the state’s environment.
8. Pomegranate
Pomegranates are traditionally native to warmer, semi-arid regions. However, through horticultural advancements, cold-hardy varieties have been developed that are well-suited to North Carolina’s temperate climate.
While the state does experience hot summers, the combination. of these summers with the milder allows pomegranates to thrive. The extended growing season in North Carolina ensures that pomegranates achieve their characteristic deep hue and sweet-tart flavor.
Pomegranate Growing Tips:
- Plant in a location with full sun.
- Once established, the tree can tolerate drought conditions.
- Monitor for leaf-footed bugs and maintain consistent watering to prevent fruit splitting.
Best Pomegranate Varieties for North Carolina:
- Wonderful: This variety is known for its large, juicy arils and stands out due to its heat tolerance, which suits North Carolina’s summers.
- Granada: With its sweet and soft seeds, this variety particularly benefits from the state’s long growing season, yielding fruits rich in taste and color.
9. Blueberries
Blueberries thrive in North Carolina due to the state’s acidic soils and temperate climate. The diverse range of temperatures across various regions in North Carolina allows for both highbush and rabbiteye blueberry varieties to flourish, producing plump, flavorful berries that benefit from the extended growing season and mild winters.
Blueberry Growing Tips:
- Requires acidic soils
- Full sun
- Net plants to protect from birds
- Prune annually for better yields
Best Blueberry Varieties for NC
- Rabbiteye: Heat-tolerant and perfect for NC’s hot, humid summers.
- Highbush: Offers large, sweet berries and thrives in the state’s acidic soils.
10. Mulberry Trees
Mulberries grow well in North Carolina’s well-draining soil and moderate climate. The state’s occasional rainfall and warm summers provide an environment where mulberry trees can produce bountiful, sweet-tasting fruits, ensuring a delightful harvest year after year.
Mulberry Growing Tips:
- Thrives in various soil types
- Full sun
- Minimal maintenance, but monitor for pests like scale and fruit flies
Best Mulberry Varieties for North Carolina:
- Illinois Everbearing: A large, sweet fruit variety perfect for NC’s long summers.
- Red Mulberry (Morus rubra): Native to the eastern US, it’s naturally suited to NC’s environment.
11. Pawpaw Trees
Pawpaw trees (Asimina triloba) thrive in North Carolina’s temperate climate and rich, well-drained soils. This native fruit tree has adapted to the state’s conditions over time, producing unique, custard-like fruits that offer a tropical flavor reminiscent of bananas and mangoes.
Pawpaw Growing Tips:
- Partial shade
- Rich soil
- Hand-pollination might be necessary for fruit set.
Best Pawpaw Varieties For North Carolina:
- Susquehanna: Known for its large fruit and creamy texture. It thrives in the shade of NC’s forests.
- Shenandoah: Offers a sweet, tropical flavor and is well-suited to the NC’s varied temperatures.
12. Jujube
Jujube trees, often called Chinese dates, flourish in North Carolina’s diverse climate zones. These drought-tolerant trees appreciate the state’s well-draining soils and warm summers, yielding sweet and crunchy fruits that can be enjoyed fresh or dried, adding a unique and exotic touch to North Carolina’s fruit landscape.
Jujube Growing Tips:
- Full sun
- Well-draining soil
- Minimal maintenance, but occasional watering during dry spells is beneficial
Best Jujube Varieties for North Carolina:
- Li: Produces large, sweet fruit and thrives in NC’s hot summers.
- Lang: Well-suited for NC due to its drought resistance and tolerance to varied soil types.
13. Kiwi Vines
Kiwifruit, originally native to Asia, have found a suitable home in certain parts of North Carolina. The state’s temperate climate, especially in its milder zones, offers an ideal environment for these vigorous climbers.
While they require some frost protection during colder snaps, with the right care, kiwi plants can produce abundant, sweet, and tangy fruits in North Carolina gardens.
Kiwi Growing Tips:
- Provide support structures like trellises.
- Loves full sun.
- Well-draining soil.
- Protect from strong winds and ensure regular pruning for fruit production.
Best Kiwi Varieties for NC
- Hardy Kiwi: Small, sweet, and, as the name suggests, particularly cold-hardy for NC winters.
- Issai: Self-fertile, perfect for smaller gardens.
Fruit Trees That Grow In North Carolina FAQ
What is the best fruit tree to grow in north carolina?
The best fruit trees to grow in North Carolina are peaches, apples, and figs. They’re a top choice due to their adaptability to the state’s climate and soil conditions.
What Fruit Is Native to north carolina?
The pawpaw is a fruit native to North Carolina that grows wild in many parts of the state. The American persimmon and several varieties of wild berries, such as blueberries and blackberries, are also native to North Carolina.
What is the easiest fruit to grow in NC?
The easiest fruit to grow in North Carolina is the blueberry, especially the rabbiteye variety. Blueberries are well-suited to the state’s soil and climate, require minimal maintenance, and are relatively pest-free compared to other fruits. Properly cared for blueberry bushes can yield abundant harvests for many years.
What is the best peach tree for north carolina?
The best peach tree for North Carolina is the ‘Contender’ variety. The ‘Contender’ peach is specifically bred to be cold-hardy and is well-suited for North Carolina’s climate, especially the fluctuating spring temperatures. It produces large, freestone peaches with excellent flavor and is resistant to bacterial spot, a common peach tree disease.
Wrap Up
North Carolina’s diverse climate and soil conditions make it a haven for various fruit trees and plants. From the juicy peaches and crisp apples of the mountainous regions to the succulent figs and unique pawpaws of the coastal plains, the state offers an array of fruit-bearing options.
Among the standouts are the ‘Methley’ and ‘Ozark Premier’ plums, ‘Bartlett’ pears, ‘Contender’ peaches, and ‘Fuji’ apples, all of which have shown notable success in North Carolina’s soils.
These trees can provide bountiful harvests with attentive care, appropriate site selection, and timely pruning. Get ready for some delicious and fresh homegrown treats!
