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

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

Apple Cactus: Cereus repandus
A columnar cactus with edible fruit. Hot dry climate suitability = protect tips from freezing, part shade in first year.

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, extra water.

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

Banana: Musa
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, extra shade, wind protection, extensive winter protection to ensure fruiting.

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) = may need part shade, roots need thick mulch as heat shield.

Carob: Ceratonia siliqua
Tree with edible seedpods. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 668 gallons per pound of dried fruit harvested. Hot dry climate suitability = excellent.

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

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

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

Lime: Citrus latifolia, etc.
Estimated water use: 77 gallons per pound of fruit harvested. Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = sunscald protection.

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) = sunscald protection.

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

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

Elderberry: Sambucus
A fruiting shrub or small tree. Drought tolerant. Hot dry climate suitability (most cultivars) = extra water to carry fruit and retain leaves.

Fig: Ficus carica
A tree where green figs are 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 = extra water in hottest months.

Cape Gooseberry: Physalis peruviana
A fruiting herb. Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = protection from frost, all day 50% shade, extra water.

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: Pithecellobium dulce
Bean pod tree with tasty filling. Hot dry climate suitability = protect from freezing temperatures.

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

Jamaican Cherry: Muntingia calabura
Tropical fruit tree. Hot dry climate suitability = protection from frost, part shade in high temperatures, extra water.

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

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.

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

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

Moringa: Moringa oleifera
A tree with edible seedpods, leaves and flowers. Drought tolerant. Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = protect from freezes.

Mulberry: Morus species
Fruit, shade or ornamental tree. Somewhat drought tolerant. Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = extra water when fruiting.

Natal Plum: Carissa macrocarpa
A fruiting shrub, small tree or groundcover. Drought tolerant. Hot dry climate suitability = proper location.

Olive: Olea europaea
A highly 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 = protect from freezes, water according to temperature.

Passion Fruit: Passiflora
A vine with large, elaborate flowers and fruit. Not drought tolerant. Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = frequent water, afternoon shade.