What fruit trees grow best in coastal Southern California?

Citrus, avocados, figs, pomegranates, guavas and loquats are top performers. Low-chill varieties of peaches, nectarines, plums and apples can also do well.

What does low chill mean?

Many fruit trees need a certain number of winter hours below about 45 degrees to fruit well. Coastal Southern California gets few of these chill hours, so choose varieties labeled low chill.

When should I plant fruit trees in Southern California?

Plant bare root deciduous trees in winter. Plant citrus and avocados in spring or early fall, avoiding the hottest summer weeks.

Best Fruit Trees for Southern California Backyards (Guide)

The best fruit trees for Southern California are the ones that love mild winters and dry, sunny summers. Coastal SoCal rarely freezes, which makes it a paradise for citrus and avocados, but it also means some classic fruit trees that need cold winters struggle here. Pick the right types and varieties and even a small yard can give you fruit almost all year.

Top picks for Southern California

Citrus

Lemons, limes, oranges, mandarins and grapefruit are the backbone of a SoCal backyard orchard. Meyer and Eureka lemons, Bearss limes, navel and Valencia oranges and mandarins like Satsuma and Gold Nugget are all reliable. Many varieties fruit in winter and spring, filling the gap when the vegetable garden slows down.

Avocado

Avocados grow well across much of coastal Southern California. Smaller varieties and careful pruning help fit them into typical yards. They need good drainage and consistent deep watering.

Fig

Figs are tough, fast and productive, and they handle heat and dry spells well. Many varieties give two crops a year.

Pomegranate, guava and loquat

These are water-wise, attractive and well suited to our climate. Pomegranates do especially well in warmer inland yards.

Low-chill stone fruit and apples

Peaches, nectarines, plums and apples can fruit here if you choose low-chill varieties bred for mild winters. Look for varieties marketed for Southern California and talk to a local nursery about chill hours for your area.

Fitting fruit trees into a small yard

You do not need an acre. Semi-dwarf trees kept to 8 to 12 feet with summer pruning, multiple trees planted close together, and large containers for citrus on patios all let you grow more fruit in less space. This approach, often called backyard orchard culture, also keeps fruit within easy picking reach.

Planting and watering tips

Plant at the same depth the tree grew in its nursery pot, never deeper.
Build a mulch ring and keep mulch off the trunk.
Water deeply and less often to grow strong roots. Drip emitters on a timer make this easy.
Feed citrus and avocados regularly through the growing season.

Want a backyard orchard planted for you?

We select, plant and irrigate fruit trees for your yard and microclimate, and we can prune and feed them on a maintenance plan. See our fruit trees and backyard orchards service or combine trees with raised bed vegetable gardens.

Best Fruit Trees for Southern California Backyards