15 Fruit Trees That Thrive in Florida Gardens

Gardening in Florida is not without its challenges. Our steamy, hot summers can make even the toughest flower wilt. And then there’s the humidity, whew! Just thinking about going outside on a July afternoon makes me tired. But there are great things, too. One of those things is the wide variety of fruit trees that you can grow in a Florida garden.

We have a very long growing season here in the Sunshine State. If you know what time of year to get started, there are few plants that you can’t grow here. When it comes to fruit trees, zones 8-11 support quite a number.

It’s good to keep in mind that for most of the state, full sun elsewhere should be partial sun with afternoon shade here. Morning sun with afternoon shade is the ideal exposure for nearly every tree on this list. 

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Black Mission Fig

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘Mission’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10’-30’
	hardiness zones 7-10

Black ‘Mission’ Figs have a solid reputation for their excellent flavor. They are not widely available, so if you love the taste of these fruits, it’s a great idea to add this tree to your garden. Black ‘Mission’ Figs are easy-going and produce a ton of fruit once they’re mature. Some climates may see a spring harvest and another in the fall. 

This tree is great for hot summers common in the South. It loves the sun, is drought tolerant once mature, and adapts well to different soil types. Work some compost into the soil at the time of planting. Black ‘Mission’ figs appreciate ample nutrients and acidic soil. Applying slow-release fertilizer twice a year will keep your tree lush and healthy.

Prune your fig in winter before new growth begins. When it is young, trim crossing branches and thin out the interior. Once mature, this tree requires little maintenance and is self-pollinating.

Wonderful Pomegranate

	botanical name Punica granatam ‘Wonderful’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8’-20’
	hardiness zones 8-11

Another awesome, self-pollinating fruit option for Florida gardens is the ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate. The fruits are as delicious as they are beautiful. The tree is shrubby and dense, producing brilliant orange flowers in the spring. Plump red fruits follow the flowers with sweet and tangy flavor. 

As the fruits grow, they weigh down the branches, creating a beautiful weeping appearance. You can prune to make harvesting more manageable or allow it to grow tall. It will top out around 20 feet if left to its own devices. Prune in winter to remove crossing branches and maintain the shape. 

Pomegranate trees prefer full sun. This is where they will produce the most and best-tasting fruit. They are fast-growing and only need fertilizer once per year, in the spring. Water regularly through the first year. Pomegranates produce better fruit when they get sufficient water. 

Contender Peach

	botanical name Prunus persica ‘Contender’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12’-15’
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Contender’ peach is best known for its cold hardiness, but it will thrive as far south as Zone 9. Central and North Florida gardeners will love the medium to large, sweet, and juicy freestone peaches. ‘Contender’ is self-pollinating and produces a gorgeous display of pink blossoms in the spring. 

The delicious fruit and stunning floral display are wonderful enough. As a bonus, ‘Contender‘ has fall interest as its green foliage changes to a deep golden yellow. Plant it in full sun or partial shade. In Zone 9, some afternoon shade will go a long way for this one. Fertilize in the spring before the tree blooms.

Pruning should happen in winter while the tree is dormant. Thin out the interior and remove any crossing branches. Thinning the fruit early on will mean fewer but larger and sweeter fruit. 

Lapins Cherry

	botanical name Prunus avium ‘Lapins’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 15’-40’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Whether you plant a cherry tree for the fruit or the beauty, ‘Lapins’ is an amazing variety. Like most cherry trees, it does need some chill hours, but it will grow in Zone 9 gardens. This is a stunning choice for Central and North Florida Gardens. Allowed to grow unchecked, ‘Lapins’ can reach 40 feet tall. It also makes a good container specimen as long as you prune it regularly.

Plant it in a full sun location with plenty of space to grow into. You will want ‘Lapins’ in a spot where it can show off its true beauty. In spring, this cherry tree blooms wonderfully. The bounty of white flowers is deliciously fragrant. The brightly colored fruits in summer are sweet and high quality. 

Not to be outdone, ‘Lapins’ has gorgeous fall color. Shades of red, orange, and yellow make this a star in the fall landscape. Fertilize in spring, and do your pruning in the winter. This is a self-pollinating cherry. 

Dwarf Cavendish Banana

	botanical name Musa acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8’-10’
	hardiness zones 8-11

I adore banana trees for their ornamental value. Their tasty fruit is an extra, wonderful bonus for growing this tropical stunner. ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ is a compact banana that is well suited for container growing. It fits well in spaces where full-sized bananas would not, and it doesn’t compromise sweet flavor and creamy texture for size. 

This is a great beginner fruit tree for Florida gardeners. It’s easy to care for and requires very little maintenance. They do like nutrient-rich soil, so fertilize often. Give your banana trees plenty of water, too, especially in that first year. They will tolerate dry weather better once established. 

‘Dwarf Cavendish’ is self-fertile and produces full-sized fruits. Bananas range from six to ten inches long. Pruning is a cinch. Remove the stalk after you harvest your fruits and mulch around the base of the tree to protect it in areas with frosty winters. In the spring, remove small, weak shoots from the ground level.

Fuji Apple

	botanical name Malus domestica ‘Fuji’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8’-15’
	hardiness zones 4-9

You may be under the impression that apples don’t grow this far south. If you’re in Zone 10 or higher, you’d be correct. However, In Zones 8 and 9, there are a handful of apples you can grow in your backyard orchard. The most famous, and I think the tastiest of these is the ‘Fuji’ apple. This Japanese hybrid prefers mild climates.

‘Fuji’ is easy-going and tops out around 15 feet if allowed to. In the first year, and during dry spells, you’ll want to water your ‘Fuji’ apple tree. Fertilize in the spring and then enjoy the prolific, fragrant white blooms. 

Pruning should take place in the winter to thin the interior and remove dead or damaged branches. ‘Fuji’ is not self-pollinating, so it must have a neighboring apple tree in order to cross-pollinate. Choose a different variety for an increased harvest from both. 

Ice Cream Banana

	botanical name Musa ‘Blue Java’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10’-15’
	hardiness zones 8-11

If beauty and flavor are what you’re looking for, the Ice Cream banana, or ‘Blue Java’, has both in spades. The delicious fruit is sweet and creamy, with a distinctive vanilla element. They’re not just tasty on the inside; they are beautiful on the outside, too. The fruits are blue rather than green, making this an especially eye-catching banana.

Equally lovely are the large, graceful leaves. It is a tropical marvel that will add that vacation vibe to your space. ‘Blue Java’ grows up to 15 feet tall. It has an eight to ten-foot canopy and will cluster over time. A few years in this will be an impressive sight!

Moist, fertile soil will keep your banana trees producing yummy fruit. Fertilize every six to eight weeks during the growing season. Cut the stalk after harvesting, and remove any weak suckers in fall or spring. A stalk will only produce fruit one time, so you can keep them around for ornamental value, but it’s better to remove them. 

Hass Avocado

	botanical name Persea americana ‘Hass’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8’-20’
	hardiness zones 9-11

When it comes to avocados, Hass is king. It may have originated in California, but this tree grows very well in Florida’s climate. North of Zone 9b, you’ll need to give this one some extra winter protection. A thick layer of mulch should do it, and cover the top in a freeze. Plant in full sun for the best production. In partial sun, Hass will grow, but it won’t produce as well. 

‘Hass’ fruits are deliciously creamy and flavorful. These are the ultimate guacamole avocados. Add them to your BLT for a wonderful texture upgrade. This large tree can reach 20 feet tall, but cutting the dominant vertical shoots will keep it more manageable. These are really attractive trees that require little regular pruning. 

Avocados are heavy feeders. Fertilize every six to eight weeks during the growing season. ‘Hass’ is self-pollinating, so it doesn’t require a second tree.

Brown Turkey Fig

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10’-30’
	hardiness zones 7-10

‘Brown Turkey’ is a fig variety that doesn’t mind cooler weather, but that doesn’t mean it won’t flourish in your Florida garden. The large, delicious fruits are beautiful when sliced and served raw. When baked into a cheesecake, they are divine. It’s a large tree, reaching up to thirty feet when mature. 

Rich, well-draining, acidic soil is best. They will grow quickly under the right conditions. Drainage is important, and you should choose a location with full sun exposure. Water your newly planted tree regularly until it establishes roots. It will be drought-tolerant in the coming years. 

Fertilize in early spring and again in mid-summer. Prune lightly to shape in winter while it is dormant. This is a self-fertile tree, but a second variety planted nearby will result in a better harvest.

Texas Pink Pomegranate

	botanical name Punica granatum ‘Texas Pink’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8’-15’
	hardiness zones 7-11

‘Texas Pink’ produces large, rosy fruits and has a distinctive appearance that makes this a dual-purpose tree. It is both wonderful for its fruit, and its unique and lovely appearance. The trunk and bark have a bonsai-like appearance. Rather than a straight, smooth growth habit, the trunks sometimes twist and curve. 

This is a compact pomegranate. It grows to a height and spread of about 15 feet. The bright red flowers in spring make this a showy tree in two seasons. Mix in a healthy helping of compost when planting. Then, hold off on fertilizing until the following spring. Feed in spring with a balanced fertilizer before new growth appears.

‘Texas Pink’ is self-pollinating and very attractive to bees and hummingbirds. Harvest the fruits when they reach their full color. Prune your pomegranate in the wintertime to shape it. Remove low-growing branches to expose more of the interesting trunk. 

Glenn Mango

	botanical name Mangifera indica ‘Glenn’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 15’-30’
	hardiness zones 10-11

This Florida native is perfect for your garden! ‘Glenn’ is mango perfection with sweet, soft, juicy fruits that don’t have the fibrous quality of some other types. It’s easy to grow, with good disease resistance and consistent production. 

Mango trees are wonderful ornamentals in addition to their tasty fruits. They have broad trunks and high, full crowns covered in dense, tropical foliage. Give yours full sun and plenty of room for the ten-foot canopy to spread out.

Mango trees need a lot of water, particularly in the beginning. Water daily for two weeks, then every other day for another six. Only use organic fertilizers on this plant. Fertilize two to three times between spring and summer to support healthy fruit development. Prune after harvesting to promote air circulation in the crown. 

White Guava

	botanical name Psidium guajava ‘White’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8’-20′
	hardiness zones 9-11

It doesn’t get more tropical than a sweet, aromatic guava. As fruits go, this one is wonderfully flavorful, and the trees aren’t bad-looking, either. Guava trees are large, with domed canopies that make them good shade trees. They produce fragrant flowers in spring and are self-pollinating. 

White guava has a flavor profile similar to a ripe melon. You can tell they are ripe when they smell good enough to eat without cutting them open. White guavas are heavy feeders, and they like a fair amount of moisture. Make sure to plant it in well-draining soil to avoid waterlogging the roots. 

Guava trees need lots of nutrients to thrive. Fertilize them three to four times per year with a slow-release formula that is rich in nitrogen and magnesium. Prune as you see fit, this tree fruits on new growth. Prune to keep the canopy open, as this will help the fruits ripen in the interior. 

Key Lime

	botanical name Citrus x aurantifolia
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6’-12’
	hardiness zones 8-11

Key lime, also known as Mexican lime, is the main ingredient in my favorite pie. You can also toss a slice in your cerveza on a hot day for a refreshing treat. This evergreen citrus is perfect for your Florida garden. It can produce fruit nearly year-round in the southern part of the state. 

Key lime trees are compact, and their fruit is smaller and more tart than a Persian lime. They thrive in full sun and well-draining soil. It can grow up to 12 feet tall but also makes a nice container plant. You can maintain the tree at six feet tall and still end up with plenty of fruit. 

Since this tree can produce fruit at different times of year, there will be limes of varying ripeness present at the same time. Key limes turn chartreuse when they are ripe rather than remaining green. They should be just slightly softened when you pick them to achieve maximum juiciness. The fruits are small, so it may surprise you how many you can use in a single pie!

Meyer Lemon

	botanical name Citrus x meyeri
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6’-12’
	hardiness zones 8-11

Meyer lemon is perfect for any Florida garden. It will grow anywhere in the state and the fruit is wonderful! If you’ve never tasted one of these lemons, I highly recommend it. 

Meyer lemons are a hybrid cross between a citron and a mandarin-pomelo hybrid. They are small and have darker skin than other types. They are sweet and juicy inside, so they make a killer lemonade. This tree is unfussy. It tolerates a wide range of soil types, from sand to clay. 

The exposure indication for this tree is full sun. However, I have one in my backyard in partial shade, and it produces more fruit than I can give away. If you have a partially shaded spot that you need to fill, this tree will be perfectly happy there, especially if it’s afternoon shade. 

Honeybell Tangelo

	botanical name Citrus × tangelo ‘Honeybell’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12’-15’
	hardiness zones 9-11

I planted one of these in my yard about two years ago, and have been waiting patiently for it to bear fruit. I’m hoping that next year will be our year because I can’t wait for these delicious tangelos! These are a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine, so they are the perfect combination of sweet and tangy.

‘Honeybell’ is an attractive tree with soft, glossy foliage. It’s evergreen, so it remains beautiful all year. It matures to between 12 and 15 feet with a full and rounded canopy. The fruit weighs down the branches, giving the tree a weeping appearance for part of the year. 

Citrus are cool-weather fruits, and most mature in the winter. ‘Honeybell’ makes a cheerful and sunny statement in the winter garden. Fertilize at least three times per year. Prune after harvest to remove crossing branches and thin out the interior. This tree is self-fertile, but another tangelo variety nearby will increase your harvest.