Fruit trees are a great addition to your garden or landscape. In addition to adding beauty to your space when they produce flowers, fruit trees provide fresh and delicious fruits for you and your loved ones.
From apples to cherries, the fruit trees on this list will provide you with an abundance of fresh fruits for freezing, canning, making jams and jellies, or baking.
This article will provide the information you need about growing fruit trees in Tennessee, regardless of whether you are an experienced gardener or a novice.
13 Delicious Fruit Trees that Grow Well in Tennessee
1. Apple Tree (Malus domestica)
Apple trees are deciduous and produce large delicious golden-yellow, red or green apples. In Tennessee, apple trees are popular for their delicious fruit, which can be eaten fresh, cooked, baked, or made into juice or cider.
On average, an apple tree will produce 25 pounds of fruit between late summer and early fall which makes then a great food producing tree. In addition, apple trees are also great ornamental trees to add to your garden/landscape, thanks to their spring flowers.
Apple trees do best when grown in well-drained, moist soil and under full sun exposure for at least six hours daily. They have a reputation for their hardiness and ability to resist diseases. However, Apple trees must be protected from strong winds, pruned regularly, and well-maintained to promote optimal health and maximum fruit production.
If you intend to plant more than one Apple tree in your landscape, space them 12-15 feet apart for the best results.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 – 8
Average size at maturity: 20-30 feet tall and 15-25 feet wide
Best Varieties for Tennessee: Honeycrisp, Gala, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Rome, Winesap, and Yellow Transparent
Harvest Season: Late summer through fall
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
2. Cherry Tree (Prunus avium)
Cherry trees are deciduous trees that produce soft juicy fruit that is often used in pies, jams, and jellies but can also be eaten fresh, cooked, frozen, or canned.
In the spring, these trees produce fragrant pink flowers that enhance the smell of your garden or landscape.
Fruit harvesting typically begins in July but earlier with some varieties. You can look forward to a bountiful harvest of 10-20 pounds of fruit from each tree around mid to late spring.
Cherries do best in well-drained soil in a spot with full sun. You must protect them from strong winds and space them 20-25 feet apart to ensure optimal health and maximize fruit production.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 – 8
Average size at maturity: 49-100 feet tall and 15-30 feet wide
Best Varieties for Tennessee: Bing, Rainier, Stella, Lapins, and Black Tartarian
Harvest Season: Late spring through early summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
3. Peach Tree (Prunus persica)
Peach trees are deciduous trees grown for their delicious fruit and ornamental purposes because of their showy flowers. They have been cultivated for thousands of years, with evidence of domestication dating back to ancient civilizations in China.
They do best in well-drained, moist soils and with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. You must provide this tree with adequate protection from the wind and regular watering to keep them healthy. If you intend to plant multiple trees, space them 15-20 feet apart for optimal health and maximum fruit production.
Peach trees typically produce 15-25 pounds of fruit in late summer. However, the tree’s fruit quality and quantity are influenced by soil richness, good tree maintenance practices, and regular chemical spraying to keep diseases at bay.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 8
Average size at maturity: 8-25 feet tall and 8-15 feet wide
Best Varieties for Tennessee: Belle of Georgia, Contender, Elberta, Redhaven, and Risingstar
Harvest Season: Summer through early fall
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
4. Plum Tree (Prunus domestica)
Plum trees have been cultivated for centuries. They are small deciduous trees native to Southwest Asia.
Plum trees typically produce between 15-25 pounds of fruit per tree, depending on the variety. To maximize fruit production, plant your trees in well-drained, moist soil in a sheltered area with full sun exposure. This tree also requires adequate protection from the wind.
This tree starts flowering in early spring. By years 3 to 4, the trees begin fruiting. White flowers turn into plums that ripen from summer through early fall, depending on the variety. If you intend to plant multiple plum trees in the same area, plant them 20-25 feet apart.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
Average Size at Maturity: 15-20 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide
Best Varieties for Tennessee: Stanley, Santa Rosa, Shropshire, Italian, and Damson
Harvest Season: Summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
5. Pear Tree (Pyrus communis)
Pear trees are deciduous trees popular in Tennessee for their sweet and juicy fruit. Pear trees are also an excellent ornamental addition to your garden because of their many white flowers in the spring.
Pear trees typically produce about 15-25 pounds of fruit per tree, depending on growing conditions. These trees do best in gardens/landscapes with well-drained, moist soils with full sun. This tree has a moderate water requirement but requires much maintenance to help it thrive.
To get the best yields, prune them regularly, and protect them from strong winds. Some pear trees don’t bear fruits until 4 or 5 years after planting.
Other Common Names: European Pear, Wild Pear, Common Pear
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
Average Size at Maturity: 25-30 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide
Best Varieties for Tennessee: Bartlett, Kieffer, Red Bartlett, Seckel, and Rescue
Harvest Season: Late summer through fall
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
6. Apricot Tree (Prunus armeniaca)
Apricot trees are small deciduous trees native to central Asia. The fruits are orange, small, and sour to sweet. This tree is popular among some landscapers in Tennessee for its fruit, hardiness, and disease resistance.
Apricot trees are fast-growing trees that produce fruit between early July to early August. To maximize your harvest from this tree, plant it in well-drained, moist soil where it can enjoy full sun exposure for at least 6 hours daily. It also requires adequate protection from strong winds to keep it healthy.
To get the best harvest from this tree, we advise you to plant multiple apricot trees in your garden/landscape, place 15-20 feet apart, and regularly prune them to keep them healthy.
Additionally, apricot trees are excellent ornamental, so having them in your garden/landscape will enhance its beauty. Their white spring flowers are breathtaking.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-8
Average Size at Maturity: 16-32 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide
Best Varieties for Tennessee: Blenheim, Harglow, Moorpark, Tilton, and Sungold
Harvest Season: Summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
7. Chinese Quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis)
Chinese quince is a deciduous tree with dark green leaves that turn yellow-red in the fall. The tree produces pink flowers with a strong fragrance, so it could be ideal for you if you want to improve the smell of a garden or landscape in spring.
Chinese quince produces hard and astringent fruit at first but softens and becomes sweeter after exposure to frost. The fruits of the Chinese quince are good for making jams and wines.
These trees do best in moist, well-drained soils and under full sun exposure. Chinese quince is adaptable to poor soils and is drought tolerant.
Other Common Names: Chinese False-Quince, Karin, Mugua
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8
Average Size at Maturity: 16-32 feet tall and 7-15 feet wide
Harvest Season: Fall
8. Pawpaw Tree (Asimina triloba) – Wild Tree
Pawpaw is an understory native tree with large and drooping green leaves. This small tree produces purple flowers in spring which develop into oblong fruits.
The yellow and flavorful pawpaw fruit reaches maturity in early fall. Some say the flavor is like a banana.
This tree does best in well-drained, wet soils in areas with partial shade. Pawpaw trees require pollen from other pawpaw trees for pollination and fruiting, so you should plant at least two genetically different variants of this tree.
When planted in good and well-maintained conditions, this tree can produce 25 to 50 pounds of fruit annually.
Other Common Names: Wild Banana, Poor Man’s Banana, Banango, American Custard Apple
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Average Size at Maturity: 45-60 feet tall and 15-30 feet wide
Best Varieties for Tennessee: Davis, Overleese, Shenandoah, Wells
Harvest Season: Early fall
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
9. Chickasaw Plum Tree (Prunus angustifolia) – Wild Tree
Chickasaw plum is a native deciduous tree that grows into an asymmetrical shape. The branches on this tree are a dark shade of red.
This tree is adaptable to various growing conditions, but it grows best in well-drained soils in areas with full sun exposure. To keep your tree healthy, prune excess suckers to control the spread of the tree in check.
Chickasaw plum produces white flowers between late winter and early spring, which develop into small red plums ready for harvest by mid-summer.
By years 2 to 3, this tree produces 30 to 100 pounds of fruit. However, the plums are tart and acidic, so their taste only appeals to some people. If you also don’t like the taste, you can still use the plums for jellies and preserves.
Other Common Names: Sandhill Plum, Plum
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
Average Size at Maturity: 15-25 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide
Best Varieties for Tennessee: Caddo Chief, Clark, Early Red, and Ragland
Harvest Season: Summer
Available at: Nature Hills
10. American Plum Tree (Prunus americana) – Wild Tree
American plum is a native deciduous tree with a broad crown. In early spring, this tree produces white flowers, which develop into purple-red plums, which are typically ready for harvest in summer.
The plums have tough and bitter skin, so the fruits are primarily used to produce jams, jellies, or preserves. By years 3 to 6, this tree produces about 100 to 150 pounds of fruit annually.
This tree does best in well-drained soils with full sun exposure. To optimize the tree’s health and maximize fruit production, ensure you prune the suckers; otherwise, the plant will grow quickly and develop large colonies of suckers.
Common Name: American plum, Wild Plum, Goose Plum, Plum
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-8
Average Size at Maturity: 6-35 feet tall and 6-30 feet wide
Best Varieties for Tennessee: Methley, Shiro, Stanley, Wildgoose, Pembina
Harvest Season: Summer
Available at: Nature Hills
11. Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) – Wild Tree
Red Mulberry trees are fruit trees that you can find in the wild of Tennessee. This tree is typically dioecious, which means male and female flowers grow on separate trees, but there have been instances where the flowers grow on the same tree.
At age 4, the blooms on this tree transform into fruits that ripen between late May and June into red fruits, which can be eaten off the tree or used in jams, for baking, and can be used to make wine. Some people also use them for fence posts.
If you don’t want the red variant, you can opt for species of the mulberry tree that produce black or white fruits, each with distinct tastes. This tree yields 6 to 11 pounds of fruit from ages 2 to 4.
Red Mulberry trees are adaptable to various conditions and have low maintenance requirements. They do best in well-drained soil and areas with full sun exposure. This tree requires regular watering but is slightly drought resistant.
For optimal growth, protect this tree from the wind till it matures. Red mulberries have a terrible reputation for staining the surfaces they touch. Keep this in mind as you pick a location away from pavements or pedestrians.
Other Common Names: Red Mulberry, Moral, Red Mulberry Tree, Shah Toot
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 9
Average Size at Maturity: 20 – 60 feet tall and 20 – 40 feet wide
Best Varieties for Tennessee: Illinois Everbearing, Stribling, Texas Everbearing, and Wells
Harvest Season: Summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
12. Fig Tree (Ficus carica ‘Celestial’)
Fig trees are small deciduous trees with large leaves. Although Figs typically grow in warmer climates, the ‘Celeste’ cultivar can also do well in the Tennessee region with proper care. ‘Celeste’ figs are sugary sweet.
This plant grows best in organically rich, well-drained soil in areas with full sun exposure. It has a moderate watering need and low maintenance requirement. The ‘Celeste’ cultivar is renowned for high yields, producing about 25 to 35 pounds of flavorful fruit annually.
This tree strongly resists pests and diseases, contributing to its low maintenance requirements. However, you must plant it in a protected location (near a wall or fence) to keep it healthy.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7-11
Average Size at Maturity: 15-20 feet tall and 10-15 feet wide
Other Varieties for Tennessee: Brown Turkey, Celeste, Kadota, Osborn Prolific, Smyrna, and Violette de Bordeaux
Harvest Season: Summer through early fall
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
13. Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) – Wild Tree
Persimmon is a deciduous native tree that is popular for its sweet fruit.
This tree is dioecious, meaning they separate trees to produce male and female flowers. The trees produce fragrant, white or yellowish-green flowers in late spring. You can distinguish between this tree’s male and female flowers based on their appearance. The male flowers grow in clusters, while the female flowers grow separately.
The leaves of the Persimmon tree are shiny dark green. They typically turn yellow in autumn, and some use them to make teas.
Persimmon does best in well-drained and rich soil in areas with full sun exposure. To maximize your yields, grow the trees 30-40 feet apart.
Persimmon trees typically produce 20-30 pounds of fruit, depending on the growing conditions. Persimmon fruits range from 1-2 inches in diameter. When they mature, they have an orange or reddish color. The fruits can be eaten off the tree, but they are often used in syrups, jellies, or baking.
Other Common Names: American Persimmon, Persimmon, Common Persimmon, Eastern Persimmon, Date Plum
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Average Size at Maturity: 40-60 ft tall and 25-35 feet wide
Best Varieties for Tennessee: Fuyu, Hachiya, Jiro, and Eureka
Harvest Season: Fall through winter
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
Caring for Fruit Trees in Tennessee
This list includes a few fantastic and dependable native fruit trees such as paw paw, persimmon, red mulberry, American plum, and Chickasaw plum.
It is essential to remember that the most suitable varieties of each tree for growing in Tennessee can change depending on the location’s specific microclimate and soil characteristics, as well as the individual goals and preferences of the gardener.
Growing fruit trees in Tennessee can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for all gardeners, regardless of their experience level. You can harvest fresh, delicious fruits from your landscape with some knowledge and good cultural practices.
It would help if you also verified your local Tennessee USDA hardiness zone to make sure you pick the right fruit tree. For example, the sweet and juicy ‘Celeste’ fig does best in the warmer parts of the state, such as the Memphis area.
Do some additional research to choose the suitable variety for your area, plant the tree in an adequate space that meets its sunlight requirements, and give your trees the proper care they need. An excellent source for learning about good practices for growing fruit trees in Tennessee is the Forest Resources Agresearch and Education Center.
With patience and hard work, you’ll be able to enjoy a harvest of delicious, nutritious fruits from your backyard.
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