Plant Types / Fruit
Fruit
The Best Fruit to Grow in Your Garden!
Eating homegrown fruits plucked right off your own fruit trees, shrubs, and vines is terrific. As an added bonus, many of these fruit-bearing trees, shrubs, and vines become striking ornamental assets in the landscape. While some require a bit more efforts than most landscape plants, they reward us with so much joy to both our eyes and our taste buds, that they should be included in our yard. Imagine eating your homegrown apples, peaches, grapes, berries and other fruits!
Actinidia arguta 'Issai' (Hardy Kiwi Vine)
Grown for its attractive foliage and edible fruit, Actinidia arguta 'Issai' (Hardy Kiwi Vine) is a compact, deciduous climber that produces grape-sized, smooth-skinned, green fruits in late summer to early fall. While they are smaller than grocery store varieties, they are slightly sweeter and enjoy an excellent flavor.
Actinidia deliciosa (Kiwifruit )
Actinidia deliciosa (Kiwifruit) is a vigorous, deciduous, woody-stemmed, twining climber with broadly ovate, heart-shaped, lustrous mid-green leaves, 5-8 in. long (12-20 cm). Slightly fragrant clusters of cup-shaped, creamy-white flowers are borne in late spring.
Actinidia kolomikta (Variegated Kiwi Vine)
Prized for its flamboyant foliage, Actinidia kolomikta (Variegated Kiwi Vine) is a large vigorous deciduous climber producing a striking foliage mass of heart-shaped leaves, 3-5 in. long (7-12 cm), some in solid green, others white-splashed green and others heavily variegated with pink.
Actinidia polygama (Silver Vine)
Creating a sparkling effect, Actinidia polygama (Silver Vine) is a vigorous, scrambling/twining, deciduous climber producing a striking foliage mass of heart-shaped, dark green leaves, 3-5 in. long (7-12 cm), adorned with silvery-white tips - as if each leaf has been dipped in paint.
Citrus japonica (Kumquat)
Remarkably cold-hardy, Citrus japonica (Kumquat) is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree prized for its glossy lance-shaped leaves and very small, oval, orange fruits. The orange rind is sweet and the light orange flesh is acidic. The fruit is unique in that you eat the whole thing, skin and all. Heavenly scented white flowers bloom in summer.
Citrus sinensis 'Moro' (Blood Orange)
A popular blood orange variety, Citrus sinensis 'Moro' is a medium-sized, evergreen tree prized for its medium to large, juicy oranges with deep, wine-colored flesh. Frequently borne in clusters, they are the most intensely colored of the blood oranges.
Citrus x limon 'Eureka Pink Variegated' (Lemon)
A sport of the popular Eureka lemon, Citrus x limon 'Eureka Pink Variegated' is a medium-sized, evergreen tree prized for its variegated foliage and round fruits. When young, the fruit are covered with green and creamy-yellow stripes. When fully ripe, the stripes fade, and the rind turns creamy-yellow with distinct pink oil glands. The flesh is pale pink when mature, low-seeded, and very acidic.
Citrus x limon 'Eureka' (Lemon)
A popular lemon variety, Citrus x limon 'Eureka' is a medium-sized, almost thornless, evergreen tree of spreading and open growth habit, prized for its abundant crops of oblong, bright yellow fruits. The fruit is pleasantly fragrant, thick-skinned, with a short neck and a conspicuous nipple. It is juicy, with a highly sour flavor, and noted for having very few seeds.
Citrus x limon 'Meyer' (Meyer's Lemon)
Citrus x limon 'Meyer' (Meyer's Lemon) is a compact, spiny, evergreen shrub prized for its large rounded orange-yellow fruit, 3 in. across (8 cm), adorned with a smooth, thin skin. It is less acidic, juicier, sweeter than common lemons and enjoys a pleasant hint of tangerine.
Citrus x microcarpa (Calamondin)
Citrus x microcarpa (Calamondin) is a bushy evergreen shrub of upright and columnar habit, prized for its elliptic, glossy rich green leaves and very small, round, orange fruits. The orange flesh is acidic, juicy, and contains a few seeds. The peel is thin and smooth, yellow-orange and easily separable. Calamondin flowers and sets fruit intermittently throughout the year, adding to the shrub's decorative appeal and filling the air with the aroma of citrus blossom.
Citrus × aurantiifolia (Key Lime)
Delicious and easy to grow, Citrus × aurantiifolia (Key Lime) is a spiny evergreen shrub or small tree, prized for its rounded fruit, 2-3 in. across (4-6 cm), with juicy green pulp. Green and glossy when immature, the fruit turns pale-yellow when ripe. It is aromatic, juicy, very acid and flavorful. Valued for its unique flavor, it lends itself to many culinary uses.
Citrus × latifolia 'Bearss Lime' (Persian Lime)
Citrus × latifolia 'Bearss Lime'(Persian Lime) is a dwarf, nearly thornless evergreen shrub prized for its oval fruit, 2-3 in. across (4-6 cm), with juicy light greenish-yellow pulp. Vivid green and glossy when immature, the fruit turns pale-yellow when ripe. It is aromatic, juicy, acid, but without the distinctive bouquet of the Key lime. It is bigger and seedless, with a lower acidity and a thicker rind than that of the Key lime (Citrus x aurantiifolia).
Citrus × latifolia (Persian Lime)
The most widely cultivated lime, Citrus × latifolia (Persian Lime) is a medium-sized, nearly thornless evergreen shrub or small tree, prized for its oval fruit, 2-3 in. across (4-6 cm), with juicy light greenish-yellow pulp. Vivid green and glossy when immature, the fruit turns pale-yellow when ripe. It is aromatic, juicy, acid, but without the distinctive bouquet of the Key lime.
Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu' (Japanese Persimmon)
A highly popular non-astringent variety, Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu' (Japanese Persimmon) is a deciduous tree with a spreading crown clothed in glossy, dark green, oval leaves. They turn yellow, orange or reddish-purple in the fall, creating a glorious display.
Diospyros kaki 'Jiro' (Japanese Persimmon)
One of the most cold-hardy kaki varieties, Diospyros kaki 'Jiro' (Japanese Persimmon) is a deciduous tree with a spreading crown clothed in glossy, dark green, oval leaves. They turn yellow, orange or reddish-purple in the fall, creating a glorious display.
Diospyros kaki (Japanese Persimmon)
Long-lived and incredibly beautiful, Diospyros kaki (Japanese Persimmon) is a deciduous tree with a spreading crown clothed in glossy, dark green, oval leaves, 8 in. long (20 cm). They turn yellow, orange or reddish-purple in the fall, creating a glorious display.
Diospyros virginiana (American Persimmon)
Diospyros virginiana (American Persimmon) is a deciduous tree with a spreading crown and pendulous branches clothed in glossy green, oval leaves, 6 in. long (15 cm). They turn yellow, pink or reddish-purple in the fall, creating a glorious display. In late spring to early summer, fragrant, bell-shaped, yellow flowers are hidden by the half-grown leaves.
Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey' (Fig)
Noted for its cold-hardiness, Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey' (Fig) is a large deciduous shrub or small tree with a spreading crown clothed in bold, deeply lobed leaves. Insignificant flowers form inside a hollow receptacle in spring that, when mature, enlarges and becomes fleshy. It becomes an edible fruit, 4 in. long (10 cm), at first green, but purplish when ripe.
Ficus carica 'Celeste' (Fig)
Noted for its cold-hardiness, Ficus carica 'Celeste' (Fig) is a deciduous multi-branched shrub adorned with large, thick, deeply lobed leaves, up to 1 ft. long (30 cm). Insignificant flowers form inside a hollow receptacle in spring that, when mature, enlarges and becomes fleshy. It becomes an edible, small to medium sized fruit, at first green, but purplish-bronze when ripe.
Ficus carica 'Chicago Hardy' (Fig)
Noted for its cold-hardiness, Ficus carica 'Chicago Hardy' (Fig) is a large deciduous shrub or small tree with a spreading crown clothed in large, leathery, deeply lobed leaves. Insignificant flowers form inside a hollow receptacle in spring that, when mature, enlarges and becomes fleshy. It becomes an edible, medium-sized fruit, at first green, but deep purple when ripe.
Fragaria 'Allstar' (Junebearing Strawberry)
Performing consistently well from the East to central Midwest, Fragaria 'Allstar' (Junebearing Strawberry) is a midseason cultivar producing some of the largest strawberries. Glossy and firm, they are sweet and juicy. Five-petaled white flowers adorned with yellow centers appear in early spring and give way to large red berries which ripen around the month of June, hence the name.
Fragaria 'Chandler' (Junebearing Strawberry)
Fragaria 'Chandler' (Junebearing Strawberry) is an early season heavily-cropping cultivar producing some of the largest strawberries. Glossy and firm, they vary from being long and wedge-shaped to large and conical. They have an exceptional flavor. Great fresh, they also freeze very well.
Fragaria 'Earliglow' (Junebearing Strawberry)
A good variety for beginners, Fragaria 'Earliglow' (Junebearing Strawberry) is an early season cultivar producing firm, glossy, medium-sized, deep red berries. Conical and symetrical, they have great, sweet flavor.
Fragaria 'Fort Laramie' (Everbearing Strawberry)
Fragaria 'Fort Laramie' (Everbearing Strawberry) produces a first crop in spring and another one in late summer or fall. Under ideal conditions, it is possible to produce three berry harvests. Five-petaled white flowers adorned with yellow centers give way to firm, bright red, juicy berries rich of an exceptional aroma.
