Growing Fruit, Berries and Nuts in Hot, Dry Climates: Arizona California

Overview

The United Nations estimates for water usage per crop are stated below on plants for which data is available. See Fruit Selection and Cultivation Tips for more information.

Top 10 best tasting fruits of the world when harvested fully ripe (selected varieties only).

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Low to Intermediate

Almond: Prunus dulcis
A tree producing edible seeds. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 1927 gallons per pound of seed harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = extra water and afternoon shade.

Apple: Malus pumila
Fruit tree. Moderate drought tolerance. Estimated water use: 98 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = proper location.

Apple Cactus: Cereus repandus
A columnar cactus with edible fruit. Drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = excellent.

Apricot / Aprium: Prunus armeniaca
Fruit tree. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 154 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = afternoon shade.

Banana: Musa
A fruiting herb. Not drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 94 gallons per pound of bananas harvested, 192 gallons per pound of plantains harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = extra water, afternoon shade, wind protection, amended soil.

Banana Yucca: Yucca baccata
A fruiting succulent shrub. Drought and heat tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = excellent.

Blackberry / Boysenberry: Rubus ursinus
A fruiting cane thicket. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 45 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = afternoon shade.

Carob: Ceratonia siliqua
A tree with cocoa-flavored seedpods. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 668 gallons per pound of dried fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability = excellent.

Cherry, Barbados: Malpighia emarginata
Fruit tree. Moderate drought tolerance.
Hot dry climate suitability = protect from freezes.

Cherry, Jamaican: Muntingia calabura
Tropical fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, protect from freezes.

Cherry, Surinam: Eugenia uniflora
Tropical fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, afternoon shade, amended soil.

Citrus
Grapefruit: Citrus paradisi
Estimated water use: 61 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = protect from freezes.

Kumquat: Citrus japonica
Drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = afternoon shade.

Lemon: Citrus limon
Estimated water use: 77 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = protect from freezes.

Lime: Citrus aurantiifolia, etc.
Estimated water use: 77 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = protect from freezes.

Mandarin / Tangerine: Citrus reticulata
More cold hardy than most citrus. Estimated water use: 90 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = protect from freezes.

Orange: Citrus sinensis
Estimated water use: 67 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = protect from freezes.

Date: Phoenix dactylifera
A fruiting palm. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 273 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability = excellent.

Elderberry: Sambucus
A fruiting shrub or small tree. Drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability (most cultivars) = extra water.

Fig: Ficus carica
A tree where green figs contain flowers and ripe figs are fruit. Drought tolerant with loss of crop. Estimated water use: 94 gallons per pound of fresh fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (most cultivars) = excellent.

Goji Berry: Lycium Barbarum
A fruiting shrub. Not drought tolerant at high temperatures.
Hot dry climate suitability = afternoon shade, flowers and fruits poorly in high temperatures.

Golden Berry / Cape Gooseberry: Physalis peruviana
A fruiting herb.
Hot dry climate suitability = daily water, all day part shade, insect and critter protection.

Grape: Vitis vinifera
A vine with clustered fruit. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 73 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = excellent.

Guamuchil / Pink Tamarind: Pithecellobium dulce
A tree producing bean pods with tasty filling.
Hot dry climate suitability = provide extra water and protect from freezes when young.

Guava: Psidium guajava
Fruit tree or shrub. Estimated water use: 216 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = afternoon shade, protect from freezes when young.

Ice Cream Bean / Pacay: Inga feuilleei
Tropical tree producing bean pods with tasty filling.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, protect from wind and freezes.

Jujube: Ziziphus jujuba
Fruit tree. Drought and heat tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability (most cultivars) = excellent.

Loquat: Eriobotrya japonica
Fruit tree. Not drought tolerant in high temperatures.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, afternoon shade, all day part shade when young.

Mandarin Melon Berry: Maclura tricuspidata
Fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water.

Mango: Mangifera indica
Fruit tree. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 216 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, afternoon shade, protect from freezes.

Moringa: Moringa oleifera
A tree with edible seedpods, leaves and flowers. Drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, protect from freezes.

Mulberry: Morus species
Fruit, shade and ornamental tree. Somewhat drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = excellent.

Natal Plum: Carissa macrocarpa
A fruiting shrub, small tree or groundcover. Drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, all day to afternoon part shade.

Olive: Olea europaea
An ornamental fruit tree. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 361 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability = excellent.

Papaya: Carica papaya
A single-stemmed, giant herb, taking the form of a palm tree as it grows. Not drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 55 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, protect from wind, protect from freezes when young.

Passion Fruit: Passiflora
A vine with large, elaborate flowers and fruit. Not drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = extra water, afternoon part shade, protect roots from winter freezes.

Peach / Nectarine: Prunus persica
Fruit tree. Moderate drought tolerance. Estimated water use: 109 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = extra water, amended soil.

Pear, Asian: Pyrus pyrifolia
Fruit tree. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 110 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = extra water, amended soil.

Pecan: Carya illinoinensis
A tree producing edible seeds. Not drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = abundant water needs increase with age.

Peppers, Chilies: Capsicum annuum
A fruiting herb. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 45 gallons per pound of fresh fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = daily water, afternoon shade.

Acca sellowiana: Pineapple Guava

Pindo Palm / Jelly Palm: Butia odorata
Fruiting palm tree. Drought and heat tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = excellent.

Pineapple Guava / Feijoa: Acca sellowiana
An evergreen shrub or small tree with exotic edible flowers and fruit. Drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water.

Plum / Pluot: Prunus salicina
Fruit tree. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 260 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = extra water, afternoon shade.

Pomegranate: Punica granatum
Fruit shrub or tree. Drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = excellent.

Quince: Cydonia oblonga
A tree with apple-like, aromatic fruit. Moderate drought tolerance.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water.

Raspberry: Rubus idaeus
A cane thicket with berries. Not drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 49 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability = moist soil, all day shade.

Sapodilla: Manilkara zapota
Fruit tree. Drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = afternoon shade, protect from freezes.

Sherbet Berry: Grewia asiatica
Fruit shrub. Partly drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, amended soil, protect from freezes when young.

Star Cherry / Pitangatuba: Eugenia selloi
A tropical, evergreen shrub with ribbed, yellow fruit.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, full afternoon shade, protect from freezes.

Strawberry: Fragaria x ananassa
A fruiting herb. No drought tolerance without loss of crop. Estimated water use: 41.5 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability = daily to twice daily water, all day part shade, protect from freezes.

Tamarind: Tamarindus indica
Tropical tree producing bean pods with tasty filling.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, protect from freezes when young.

Tomato: Solanum lycopersicum
A fruiting herb. Some cultivars have moderate drought tolerance. Estimated water use: 26 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = daily water, all day part shade, amended soil.

Wax Jambu: Syzygium samarangense
Tropical fruit tree. Not drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = Provide afternoon shade and abundant water, protect from freezes when young.

White Sapote: Casimiroa edulis
Fruit tree. Drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = when young - provide afternoon shade, protect from wind, protect from freezes.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: High

Avocado: Persea americana
Fruit tree. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 237 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = 1st three years - extra water, all day part shade, previously tree-occupied location, protect from freezes.
= From the fourth year in the ground onward.

Blueberry: Vaccinium
A fruiting shrub. Not drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 101 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = grow in well-draining container, automatic irrigation with low-sodium low-calcium water, acidic soil, afternoon shade.

Cherimoya: Annona cherimola
Fruit tree. Not drought tolerant at high temperatures.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, protect from wind, deciduous afternoon shade, protect from freezes.

Cherry, Brazilian / Grumichama: Eugenia brasiliensis
A fruit shrub or tree. Drought intolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, all day part shade, amended soil, protect from wind and freezes when young.

Cherry, Capulin: Prunus salicifolia
Fruit tree. Not drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, afternoon shade below 4000' elevation, amended soil.

Cherry of the Rio Grande: Eugenia involucrata
Tropical fruit tree. Drought tolerant with loss of fruit.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, amended soil, all day open shade, no direct sun.

Cherry, Sweet: Prunus avium
Fruit tree. Drought tolerant with proper rootstock. Estimated water use: 192 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (selected cultivars) = extra water, afternoon shade, winter location with little sun and cold temperatures.

Dragon Fruit: Hylocereus
A fruiting cactus vine. Drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = careful watering, all day part shade, amended soil, protect from freezes.

Jaboticaba: Plinia cauliflora
A shrub or tree with dark, grape-like fruit growing directly from its trunks and main branches.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, part shade most of day, amended soil, protect from freezes when young.

Kiwifruit: Actinidia deliciosa
A vine with fuzzy brown fruit. Not drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 62 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability = amended soil 10' deep, alkaline soil intolerant, all day part shade, extra water, protect from strong wind.

Longan: Dimocarpus longan
A tree related to Lychee, but with less tasty fruit. Except for young seedlings surviving slightly lower temperatures, it needs the same growing conditions as Lychee. Wherever Longan can easily grow, Lychee is preferred for its superior flavor.
Hot dry climate suitability

Lychee: Litchi chinensis
A tree with red, rough-skinned fruit. Not drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, humid environment, amended soil, protect from wind; first three years - protect from freezes and provide all day part shade.

Miracle Fruit: Synsepalum dulcificum
Tropical fruit shrub. Somewhat drought tolerant with age.
Hot dry climate suitability = moist, extremely acidic soil, grown indoors in a container, precise fertilizing and watering.

Peanut Butter Tree: Bunchosia glandulifera
Fruit tree. Not drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = water daily, afternoon shade, amended soil, protect from freezes.

Persimmon, Asian: Diospyros kaki
Fruit tree. Not drought tolerant at high temperatures.
Hot dry climate suitability = temperature dependent irrigation, afternoon shade, amended soil.
= From the fourth year in the ground onward.

Pistachio: Pistacia vera
A tree producing edible seeds. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 1361 gallons per pound of seeds harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability = high chill hour needs unachievable, dry summer needed.

Spanish Lime: Melicoccus bijugatus
Tropical fruit tree. Drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, all day part shade, protect from freezes when young.

Starfruit: Averrhoa carambola
Tropical fruit tree. Not drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, all day part shade, protect from wind, protect from freezes when young.

Walnut: Juglans regia
A tree producing edible seeds. Not drought tolerant.
Hot dry climate suitability = temperatures over 100°F produce shriveled and darkened nuts.

Gardening
in Tucson, Phoenix,
Arizona and California
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