The best fruit tree to grow in your garden will depend on the agricultural zone you live in.
“What is an agricultural zone?”
The United States is classified in 13 zones based on temperature ranges. Each zone is divided into an (A) and (B), the former reaching slightly colder temperatures than the latter. I will provide you with the average low temperatures for each zone, a few varieties of trees that can be successful there, and up to a few specific recommendations along with a link where you can purchase a high-quality tree to get started.
“What agricultural zone am I in?”
To find your agricultural zone by zip code according to the most accurate and up-to-date resource, click here: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Enter your ZIP code in the search box in the upper-left of the agricultural zone map to find your location and the Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
“What is the best fruit tree to grow in my garden?”
So, you want to plant a fruit tree. You want to see its beautiful foliage flourish from your window, or eat from its delicious fruit, or contribute to the reforesting of the earth, or all of the above. That’s AWESOME. I want to do everything I can to get you started on the right track because research has shown me that more people growing their own plants and food is one of the only sure ways to heal this suffering planet. First, you’ll need to know what kinds of fruit trees can thrive in your agricultural zone. If you live in the United States, I have compiled this comprehensive list of fast-growing fruit trees for you.
Zone 1
1A: -60 to -55 °F/-51.1 to -48.3 °C
1B: -55 to -50 °F/-48.3 to -45.6 °C
It’s important to note that zone 1 is the harshest climate for plant growing, and few trees are sold that guarantee hardiness in such cold temperatures. If you are a zone 1 gardener, you are a warrior indeed! Under the correct conditions (and when the frost starts to really bite, under a roof), some fruit trees can thrive. Certain chokecherries, apples, and Haskap are potential options.
In Zone 1, the best fruit tree to grow is this fast-growing, smooth-tasting, sweet-smelling Indigo Treat Haskap: Indigo Treat Haskaps for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 2
2A: -50 to -45 °F/-45.6 to -42.8 °C
2B: -45 to -40 °F/-42.8 to -40 °C
The second coldest zone is also limited. In zone 2, chokecherries, plums, and apples can be successful.
In Zone 2, the best fruit tree to grow is a superfruit– the USDA Organic Toro Blueberry Bush: USDA Organic Toro Blueberry Bushes for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 3
3A: -40 to -35 °F/-40 to -37.2 °C
3B: -35 to -30 °F/-37.2 to -34.4 °C
Slightly less formidable, zone 3 can accommodate certain cherries, crabapples, pears, apples, plums, and even apricot.
In Zone 3, the best fruit tree to grow will stay bright through the holidays despite the ice and snow, the Stevens Cranberry: USDA Organic Stevens Cranberry Plants for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 4
4A: -30 to -25 °F/-34.4 to -31.7 °C
4B: -25 to -20 °F/-31.7 to -28.9 °C
Zone 4 can bring forth quite a large variety of harvests. Raspberries, blackberries, mulberries, peaches, butternuts, and buartnuts, as well as all of the aforementioned fruits can thrive here. Yet this is still quite a difficult zone to manage for the DIY farmer.
In Zone 4, the best fruit tree to grow is this fun, low-maintenance, super delicious and nutritious Anna Hardy Kiwi: Anna Hardy Kiwi Vines for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Those living in Zone 4B may also venture to grow:
Reliance Peach Reliance Peach Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Golden Raspberry Fall Gold Raspberry Bushes for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Honeycrisp™ apple Honeycrisp Apple Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 5
5A: -20 to -15 °F/-28.9 to -26.1 °C
5B: -15 to -10 °F/-26.1 to -23.3 °C
The zone 5 environment can bear figs, lemons, paw paws… Farmers here certainly still struggle through huge snowstorms, but fruit trees can be very resilient, and this is a comfortable and diverse zone.
In Zone 5, the best fruit tree to grow is a beautiful Montmorency Cherry Tree: Montmorency Cherry Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Other good Zone 5 fruiting plants include:
Luscious Pear Tree Luscious Pear Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Everbearing Strawberry Everbearing Strawberry Plants for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
McIntosh Apple Tree McIntosh Apple Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 6
6A: -10 to -5 °F/-23.3 to -20.6 °C
6B: -5 to 0 °F/-20.6 to -17.8 °C
Zone 6 is an ideal home for one of the largest varieties of plants. Blackberries, strawberries, serviceberries, and honeyberries will make any garden in this zone as sweet as pie.
In Zone 6, the best fruit tree to grow is a majestic Everbearing Mulberry Tree: Black Beauty Mulberry Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
If you live in Zone 6 and are as nuts about berries as I am, try these amazing varieties:
Bushel and Berry® Raspberry Shortcake® Bush Bushel and Berry® Raspberry Shortcake® Bushes | FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Bushel and Berry® Peach Sorbet™ Blueberry Bush Bushel and Berry® Peach Sorbet™ Bushes for Sale | FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Bushel and Berry® Baby Cakes Blackberry® Bushel and Berry® Baby Cakes Blackberry® Shrubs | FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 7
7A: 0 to 5 °F/-17.8 to -15 °C
7B: 5 to 10 °F/-15 to -12.2 °C
As a lover of warm weather, I think Zone 7 is where the fun really begins.
In Zone 7, the best fruit tree to grow is a fantastic Fruit Cocktail Tree that will produce 2 different fruits– a unique combo that can include either peaches, plums, nectarines or apricots: Fruit Cocktail Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 7 is an optimal zone for these fruits, too:
Chicago Hardy Fig Tree Chicago Hardy Fig Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Fuzzy Kiwi Plant Fuzzy Kiwi Plants for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Goji Berry Plant Goji Berry Plants for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 8
8A: 10 to 15 °F/-12.2 to -9.4 °C
8B: 15 to 20 °F/-9.4 to -6.7 °C
I live in zone 8! Here in 8B, right next to Virginia Beach, the weather is usually gorgeous. We get all four seasons in healthy doses. Here, some surprisingly tropical plants can absolutely flourish.
In Zone 8, the best fruit tree to grow is this thrilling, resistant-to-chilling, Cold Hardy Red Pomegranate: Cold Hardy Red Pomegranates for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
In addition, Zone 8 farmers will enjoy harvesting from these in their own backyard:
Wine Lover’s Kit Wine Lover’s Kits for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Pistachio Tree Pistachio Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Hardy Orange Tree ‘Flying Dragon’ Hardy Flying Dragon Orange Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 9
9A: 20 to 25 °F/-6.7 to -3.9 °C
9B: 25 to 30 °F/-3.9 to -1.1 °C
The luxurious climate of zone 9 promotes luscious growth for citruses, persimmons, and starfruits. This zone starts to become too consistently hot to grow many varieties that would thrive up to zone 8.
In Zone 9, the best fruit tree to grow is the beloved Cold Hardy Avocado Tree: Cold Hardy Avocado Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
These fruit trees would also make a lovely addition to any Zone 9 garden:
Limequat Citrus Tree Limequat Citrus Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Moro Blood Orange Tree Moro Blood Orange Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Koroneiki Greek Olive Tree Greek Olive Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 10
10A: 30 to 35 °F/-1.1 to 1.7 °C
10B: 35 to 40 °F/1.7 to 4.4 °C
Zone 10 gardeners are no stranger to severe heat. Thankfully, some of the most delicious fruits feed off of the relentless sun.
In Zone 10, the best fruit tree to grow is a fruit tree that I have personally adored– when I lived in Fort Myers, Florida (10A), the juicy, candy-like taste of the Glenn Mango Tree in our backyard was pure bliss: Glenn Mango Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com
You can’t grow wrong planting any of these awesome plants in a Zone 10 garden:
Calamondin Tree Calamondin Orange Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Guava Tree ‘Ruby Supreme’ Ruby Supreme Guava Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Miracle Berry Plant Miracle Fruit Plants for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 11
11A: 40 to 45 °F/4.4 to 7.2 °C
11B: 45 to 50 °F/7.2 to 10 °C
The super tropical weather of zone 11 is ideal for many exotic fruits. This zone introduces us to dragon fruits, durians, and jujubes, yet still provides lush harvests from many of the summery fruits everybody loves.
In Zone 11, the best fruit tree to grow is the tropical staple Papaya Tree: Papaya Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Reap wonderful harvests from any of these fruit trees in Zone 11:
Ruby Red Grapefruit Tree Ruby Red Grapefruit Citrus Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Figomenal Fig Tree Fignomenal Fig Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Harvey Lemon Tree Harvey Lemon Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 12
12A: 50 to 55 °F/10 to 12.8 °C
12B: 55 to 60 °F/12.8 to 15.6 °C
The heat in zone 12 is undoubtedly stifling, but it provides just the right climate for the best tropical fruits like bananas, avocados, and lychees.
In Zone 12, the best fruit tree to grow is this spectacular Dwarf Cavendish Banana Tree: Dwarf Cavendish Banana Trees for Sale | FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Add adventurous flavors to your Zone 12 garden by planting one of these splendid trees:
Jaboticaba Tree Jaboticaba Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Starfruit Tree Starfruit Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Allspice Tree Allspice Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Zone 13
13A: 60 to 65 °F/15.6 to 18.3 °C
13B: 65 to 70 °F/18.3 to 21.1 °C
The last zone bears fruit that has truly been kissed by the sun. Coconuts, passionfruits, and plantains are abundant in zone 13. Incredible flavors, striking colors, and magnificent rarities are produced here.
In Zone 13, the best fruit tree to grow is a Sugarloaf Pineapple because they look stunning and taste magical: Sugarloaf Pineapple Plants for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
A Zone 13 fruit tree farmer should take advantage of the remarkable heat that surrounds them and consider planting these special fruit varieties as well:
Peanut Butter Fruit Tree Peanut Butter Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Jackfruit Tree Jackfruit Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Achacha Fruit Tree Achacha Fruit Trees for Sale – FastGrowingTrees.com (fast-growing-trees.com)
Conclusion
This article provides you with the most reliable resource to determine which agricultural zone you are located in and recommends the best fruit tree to grow there. Fast Growing Trees is a very reliable company that’s often selling out of the most desirable varieties of flora it has to offer. Hurry up and buy the best fruit tree for you before their fast-selling trees run out!
Which fruit tree have you fallen in love with? Comment below! If you have any questions about fruit trees that I haven’t answered in this post or any questions about organic farming, ask us about it in the Free Life Tree Life forum and join our explosive community.