Acca sellowiana: Pineapple Guava

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, protect roots from freezes.

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

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.

Pecan: Carya illinoinensis
A tree producing edible seeds. Not drought tolerant. Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = extra water.

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) = raised garden bed, consistent water schedule.

Pineapple Guava / Feijoa: Acca sellowiana
An evergreen shrub or small tree with exotic edible flowers and fruit. Loses appearance at high temperatures without deep watering. Hot dry climate suitability = afternoon shade, extra water.

Pistachio: Pistacia vera
A tree producing edible seeds. Drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 1361 gallons per pound of seeds harvested. Hot dry climate suitability (some cultivars) = scheduled water when fruiting, high winter chill hour needs.

Pitangatuba: Eugenia selloi
A tropical, evergreen shrub with ribbed, yellow fruit. Hot dry climate suitability = protect from freezes when young, 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.

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 = proper location.

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 = fruits poorly without sufficient winter chill hours, needs shade and continually moist soil when flowering and fruiting in high temperatures.

Sapodilla: Manilkara zapota
Fruit tree. Drought tolerant. Hot dry climate suitability = protect from freezes and provide shade in high temperatures when young.

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

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 = plant in early fall, all day part shade, daily water, proper soil and enclosure.

Surinam Cherry: Eugenia uniflora
Tropical fruit tree. Hot dry climate suitability = protect from freezes when young, extra water.

Tamarind: Tamarindus indica
Tropical bean pod tree with edible pulp. Hot dry climate suitability = protect from freezing, proper water.

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) = consistent water schedule, 50% shade all day, proper soil, raised garden bed.

Walnut: Juglans regia
A tree producing edible seeds. Not drought tolerant. Hot dry climate suitability = needs extra water, stressed by high temperatures, needs wide and deep soil, kills plants growing underneath.

White Sapote: Casimiroa edulis
Fruit tree. Drought tolerant. Hot dry climate suitability = in the first two years, protect from freezing, provide all day shade and extra water.

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) = proper soil and mulch, regular water, proper microclimate, extra shade, special care first three years.

Blueberry: Vaccinium
A fruiting shrub. Not drought tolerant. Estimated water use: 101 gallons per pound of fruit harvested. Hot dry climate suitability = grow in container with acidic soil, daily water, afternoon shade.

Capulin Cherry: Prunus salicifolia
Fruit tree. Not drought tolerant. Hot dry climate suitability = extra water, slightly acidic soil, saline sensitive, does poorly in a container, difficult to establish below 4000' elevation.

Cherimoya: Annona cherimola
Fruit tree. Not drought tolerant at high temperatures. Hot dry climate suitability = protect from freezing, high temperatures and drying wind, provide all day part shade in hot months.

Cherry of the Rio Grande: Eugenia involucrata
Tropical fruit tree. Drought tolerant with loss of fruit. Hot dry climate suitability = enriched soil, full shade, basin irrigation.

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 = flowers and fruits poorly in USDA zone 9 and above.

Dragon Fruit: Hylocereus
A fruiting cactus vine. Drought tolerant. Hot dry climate suitability = protect from freezing, water by a schedule while fruiting, part shade all day in hot months.

Ice Cream Bean: Inga
Tropical bean pod tree with edible filling. Hot dry climate suitability = all day part shade and extra water in high temperatures, protect from freezing when young.

Jaboticaba: Plinia cauliflora
A shrub or tree with dark, grape-like fruit growing directly from its trunks and main branches. Hot dry climate suitability = protect from freezes, frequent irrigation, extra shade in the first three years.

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 = all day part shade, frequent irrigation.

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 = when young, provide filtered morning shade and full afternoon shade, protect from hot, dry wind and freezes; always provide extra water for moist, acidic soil with high organic content; saline sensitive.

Persimmon, Asian: Diospyros kaki
Fruit tree. Not drought tolerant at high temperatures. Hot dry climate suitability = afternoon shade, careful watering schedule, proper soil.

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

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