Unusual and Exotic Fruit to Grow

Unusual and uncommon fruit growing in a backyard garden

Dragon fruit, donut peaches, Asian pears, persimmon and more, plus how chill hours decide what will fruit for you

Growing something a little out of the ordinary is one of the real joys of a home orchard. Dragon fruit on a frame, a custard-sweet pawpaw, a tree of crisp Asian pears, these are fruits you rarely find fresh in a store. The secret to success is the same as for any fruit, match the plant to your climate. For unusual fruit that often means understanding two things, your USDA zone and your chill hours.

What are chill hours?

Many deciduous fruit trees, including peaches, apples, pears and Asian pears, need a spell of winter cold before they will break dormancy and fruit. The measure is chill hours, the hours spent below about 45F, or 7C, through winter. Each variety has a chill requirement, and if it does not get enough the tree blooms and sets fruit poorly.

This is why climate matters so much. Warm zones such as Florida and the Gulf South get few chill hours, so there you must choose low-chill varieties bred for warm regions. Cold zones in the North rack up plenty of chill, so they can grow high-chill types that would never fruit down South. Getting the chill match right is the difference between a tree that crops and one that just sits there. The in-app Fruit Tree Varieties and Chill module helps you check the chill in your area against each variety so you plant something that will actually fruit.

Eight unusual fruits to try

Dragon fruit, or pitaya

A climbing cactus with spectacular flowers and bright fruit, dragon fruit suits zones 10 to 11 or any frost-free spot. It needs no chill, but it does need a strong post or frame to climb. In colder zones grow it in a large container and bring it under cover before frost.

Donut, or Saturn, peach

The flat, sweet, low-acid peach that everyone loves at the farmers market. It is a deciduous tree and does need chill, so in the South choose low-chill types suited to zones 8 to 9. Match the variety's chill requirement to your area and it will reward you with heavy crops of melting fruit.

Nashi, or Asian pear

Crisp, round and juicy, eaten firm like an apple rather than soft like a European pear. It needs real winter chill, so it is best in zones 5 to 8. Many Asian pears crop far better with a second variety nearby for cross-pollination, so plan for two if you have the room.

Persimmon

A handsome tree that lights up with orange fruit in fall. There are American and Asian types, and between them they are broadly adaptable across zones 5 to 10 depending on the type. Chill needs are modest, and the fruit is one of the best reasons to plant a tree for the cooler end of the year.

Fig

One of the easiest fruits there is, thriving in zones 7 to 10 with low chill. Figs love the warmth of a sunny wall, do well in large pots, and crop generously. In colder zones grow them in containers or against a warm wall and protect the wood through hard winters.

Papaya, or pawpaw

This name causes real confusion because it covers two very different plants. Tropical papaya, Carica papaya, is a fast frost-tender tree for zones 10 to 11 and frost-free Florida, with the familiar orange melon-like fruit. The native American pawpaw, Asimina triloba, is a hardy tree down to zone 5 with a soft, custard-like fruit that tastes of banana and mango. They are not the same plant, so always check the botanical name before you buy.

Mulberry

Very hardy and very generous, mulberries grow across zones 4 to 9 with low chill and crop heavily once established. The trees get large and the fruit drops freely, so give them space and keep them away from paths and patios you would rather not stain.

Feijoa, or pineapple guava

A handsome evergreen for zones 8 to 11 with low chill, feijoa earns its place on looks alone, then delivers fragrant, tasty fruit in fall. It makes a fine hedge as well as a fruit tree, and most plants are self-fertile, though a second plant boosts the crop.

Find fruit that will fruit for you

The in-app Fruit Tree Varieties and Chill module checks the chill in your area against each variety, so you plant something that will actually crop.

Open the App →

Common questions

What are chill hours?

Chill hours are the hours a tree spends below about 45F, or 7C, during winter. Many deciduous fruit trees, including peaches, apples, pears and Asian pears, need a certain number of chill hours to break dormancy and flower and fruit properly. If a variety does not get enough chill it leafs and blooms poorly and sets little fruit, which is why matching a variety's chill requirement to your climate is the first decision.

Can I grow peaches in a warm climate?

Yes, if you choose low-chill varieties bred for warm regions. Standard peaches need too many chill hours for the South to deliver, but low-chill types developed for places like Florida and the Gulf South fruit reliably in zones 8 to 9. Always check the chill requirement on the label and match it to your area, because the right variety is the whole game in a warm climate.

What fruit grows with no winter cold?

Plenty of subtropical and tropical fruit need little or no chill. Dragon fruit, figs, feijoa and tropical papaya all fruit in warm, frost-free or near-frost-free zones without winter cold. In the warmest zones, 10 to 11, you have the widest choice of these no-chill fruits, and in colder areas you can grow several of them in containers and move them under cover in winter.

What is the difference between papaya and pawpaw?

They are two completely different plants that share confusing names. Tropical papaya, Carica papaya, is a fast-growing frost-tender tree for zones 10 to 11 and frost-free Florida, with the familiar orange melon-like fruit. The American pawpaw, Asimina triloba, is a hardy native tree for cold zones down to zone 5, with a soft custard-like fruit that tastes of banana and mango. The word pawpaw is used for both in different places, so always check the botanical name.

Do I need two trees for fruit?

It depends on the fruit. Many are self-fertile and crop with a single tree, including figs, feijoa and most persimmons. Others crop far better, or only, with a second variety nearby for cross-pollination, and American pawpaw and some Asian pears are examples. Before you buy, check whether the variety is self-fertile or needs a pollinator partner, so you plant enough trees to actually get fruit.

Source: university extension guidance on chill requirements and fruit tree culture.

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