Growing Fruit, Berries and Nuts

Overview

Acca sellowiana: Pineapple Guava

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.

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

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Low to Intermediate

Almond: Prunus dulcis
Nut tree. Estimated water use: 1927 gallons per pound of nuts harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 2 stars

Apple: Malus domestica
Fruit tree. Estimated water use: 98 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 3 stars

Apple Cactus: Cereus repandus
A columnar cactus with edible fruit.
Hot dry climate suitability 4 stars

Apricot / Aprium: Prunus armeniaca
Fruit tree. Estimated water use: 154 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 3 stars

Banana: Musa
A fruiting herb. Estimated water use: 94 gallons per pound of bananas harvested, 192 gallons per pound of plantains harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 2 stars

Banana Yucca: Yucca baccata
A fruiting succulent shrub.
Hot dry climate suitability 4 stars

Blackberry / Boysenberry: Rubus species
A fruiting cane thicket. Estimated water use: 45 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 3 stars

Cactus Pear: Opuntia ficus-indica
Fruiting cactus cultivars grown for edible fruit and pads.
Hot dry climate suitability 4 stars

Carob: Ceratonia siliqua
A tree with cocoa-flavored seedpods. Estimated water use: 668 gallons per pound of dried fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability 4 stars

Cherry, Barbados: Malpighia emarginata
Fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability 3 stars

Cherry, Jamaican: Muntingia calabura
Tropical fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Cherry, Surinam: Eugenia uniflora
Tropical fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Citrus
Grapefruit: Citrus paradisi
Estimated water use: 61 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 3 stars

Kumquat: Citrus japonica
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 3 stars

Lemon: Citrus limon
Estimated water use: 77 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 3 stars

Lime: Citrus aurantiifolia, etc.
Estimated water use: 77 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 3 stars

Mandarin / Tangerine: Citrus reticulata
Estimated water use: 90 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 3 stars

Orange: Citrus sinensis
Estimated water use: 67 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 3 stars

Date: Phoenix dactylifera
A fruiting palm. Estimated water use: 273 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability 4 stars

Elderberry: Sambucus cerulea
A fruiting shrub or small tree.
Hot dry climate suitability (most cultivars) 3 stars

Fig: Ficus carica
A tree where green figs contain flowers and ripe figs are fruit. Estimated water use: 94 gallons per pound of fresh fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (most cultivars) 4 stars

Goji Berry: Lycium Barbarum
A fruiting shrub.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Golden Berry / Cape Gooseberry: Physalis peruviana
A fruiting herb.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Grape: Vitis vinifera
A vine with clustered fruit. Estimated water use: 73 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 4 stars

Guamuchil / Pink Tamarind: Pithecellobium dulce
A tree producing bean pods with tasty filling.
Hot dry climate suitability 3 stars

Guava: Psidium guajava
Fruit tree or shrub. Estimated water use: 216 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 2 stars

Ice Cream Bean / Pacay: Inga feuilleei
Tropical tree producing bean pods with tasty filling.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Jujube: Ziziphus jujuba
Fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability (most cultivars) 4 stars

Loquat: Eriobotrya japonica
Fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Macadamia: Macadamia
Nut tree. Estimated water use: 688 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Mandarin Melon Berry: Maclura tricuspidata
Fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability 3 stars

Mango: Mangifera indica Best Tasting symbol
Fruit tree. Estimated water use: 216 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Moringa: Moringa oleifera
A tree with edible seedpods, leaves and flowers.
Hot dry climate suitability 3 stars

Mulberry: Morus species Best Tasting symbol
Fruit, shade and ornamental tree.
Hot dry climate suitability 3 stars

Natal Plum: Carissa macrocarpa
A fruiting shrub, small tree or groundcover.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Olive: Olea europaea
An ornamental fruit tree. Estimated water use: 361 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability 4 stars

Acca sellowiana
Acca sellowiana: Pineapple Guava

Papaya: Carica papaya
A single-stemmed, giant herb, taking the form of a palm as it grows. Estimated water use: 55 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Passion Fruit: Passiflora
A vine with large, elaborate flowers and fruit.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 2 stars

Peach / Nectarine: Prunus persica Best Tasting symbol
Fruit tree. Estimated water use: 109 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 2 stars

Pear, Asian: Pyrus pyrifolia
Fruit tree. Estimated water use: 110 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 2 stars

Pecan: Carya illinoinensis
Nut tree.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 2 stars

Peppers, Chilies: Capsicum annuum
A fruiting herb. Estimated water use: 45 gallons per pound of fresh fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 3 stars

Pindo Palm / Jelly Palm: Butia odorata
Fruiting palm tree.
Hot dry climate suitability 4 stars

Pineapple Guava / Feijoa: Acca sellowiana
An evergreen shrub or small tree with exotic edible flowers and fruit.
Hot dry climate suitability 3 stars

Pinyon Pine: Pinus edulis
A long lived shrub bearing pine nuts after 25 years.
Hot dry climate suitability 3 stars

Plum / Pluot / Pluerry: Prunus salicina
Fruit tree. Estimated water use: 260 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 2 stars

Pomegranate: Punica granatum
Fruit shrub or tree.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 4 stars

Quince: Cydonia oblonga
A tree with apple-like, aromatic fruit.
Hot dry climate suitability 3 stars

Raspberry: Rubus idaeus
A cane thicket with berries. Estimated water use: 49 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Sapodilla: Manilkara zapota
Fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Sherbet Berry: Grewia asiatica
Fruit shrub.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Star Cherry / Pitanga-tuba / Pitangola: Eugenia selloi
A tropical, evergreen shrub with ribbed, yellow fruit.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Strawberry: Fragaria x ananassa Best Tasting symbol
A fruiting herb. Estimated water use: 41.5 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Tamarind: Tamarindus indica
Tropical tree producing bean pods with tasty filling.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

Tomato: Solanum lycopersicum
A fruiting herb. Estimated water use: 26 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) 2 stars

Wax Jambu: Syzygium samarangense
Tropical fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars

White Sapote: Casimiroa edulis
Fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability 2 stars


DIFFICULTY LEVEL: High

Avocado: Persea americana
Fruit tree. Estimated water use: 237 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) diffucult to grow

Blueberry: Vaccinium
A fruiting shrub. Estimated water use: 101 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) diffucult to grow

Cherimoya: Annona cherimola Best Tasting symbol
Fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability diffucult to grow

Cherry, Brazilian / Grumichama: Eugenia brasiliensis
A fruit shrub or tree.
Hot dry climate suitability diffucult to grow

Cherry, Capulin: Prunus salicifolia
Fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability diffucult to grow

Cherry of the Rio Grande: Eugenia involucrata
Tropical fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability diffucult to grow

Cherry, Sweet: Prunus avium
Fruit tree. Estimated water use: 192 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability (selected cultivars) diffucult to grow

Dragon Fruit: Hylocereus
A fruiting cactus vine.
Hot dry climate suitability diffucult to grow

Jaboticaba: Plinia cauliflora
A shrub or tree with dark, grape-like fruit growing directly from its trunks and main branches.
Hot dry climate suitability diffucult to grow

Kiwifruit: Actinidia deliciosa
A vine with fuzzy brown fruit. Estimated water use: 62 gallons per pound of fruit harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability no stars

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 diffucult to grow

Lychee: Litchi chinensis
A tree with red, rough-skinned fruit.
Hot dry climate suitability diffucult to grow

Miracle Fruit: Synsepalum dulcificum
Tropical fruit shrub.
Hot dry climate suitability diffucult to grow

Peanut Butter Tree: Bunchosia glandulifera
Fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability diffucult to grow

Persimmon, Asian: Diospyros kaki
Fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability diffucult to grow
2 stars From the fourth year in the ground onward.

Pistachio: Pistacia vera
Nut tree. Estimated water use: 1361 gallons per pound of nuts harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability 0 stars

Spanish Lime: Melicoccus bijugatus
Tropical fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability diffucult to grow

Starfruit: Averrhoa carambola
Tropical fruit tree.
Hot dry climate suitability diffucult to grow

Walnut: Juglans regia
Nut tree. Estimated water use: 1111 gallons per pound of nuts harvested.
Hot dry climate suitability 0 stars



Latest update: June, 2022
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