There are few better ways to utilize your green spaces than by planting fruit trees.
Even without their tasty fruits, many fruit trees make gorgeous additions to domestic landscapes, with glossy leaves, spring and summer flowers, and brightly-colored produce.
While many of the most popular fruit varieties will not withstand the heat of USDA hardiness zone 9, plenty of others will.
In particular, cold hardy tropical and citrus fruit trees will grow well in this zone, where frost periods are short and summers are long and hot.
If you’re considering planting an edible garden or home orchard on your property, these are some of the best zone 9 fruit trees you can grow.
16 Fruit Trees That Thrive in Zone 9
1. Calamondin Orange (Citrus madurensis Lour. ‘Calamondin’)
While they look and smell just like an orange, with their bright orange fragrant skin, the Calamondin actually tastes more like a sweet-sour lime, or a cross between a satsuma and a lemon.
These small colorful fruits are most often used in drinks and lemonades, marmalades, and other preserves, and are also enjoyed fresh. They are a popular savory ingredient in some Asian cuisines.
The Calamondin is a native of China and is believed to be a cross between a mandarin orange and a kumquat. The Calamondin tree is a small neatly shaped evergreen citrus tree with glossy green leaves and white star-shaped spring flowers.
Though it can be planted outdoors in zone 9, it grows exceptionally well as a container plant. They are sometimes grown as houseplants or even ornamental bonsai!
Keep the Calamondin in a sunny spot and provide moist, well-draining soil with an acidic pH.
- Other Common Names: Citrus Calamondin, Philippine Lime, Calamansi Lime, Acid Orange, Panama Orange, Musk Orange, Calomonding, Golden Lime, Lemonsito, Bitter-sweets
- Growing Zones: 7-11
- Average Size at Maturity: 16-18 feet tall, with a 4-8 foot spread
- Fruiting Season: Mid Winter to Mid Spring
Available at: Nature Hills
2. Hass Avocado (Persea americana ‘Hass’)
Patented in the US in 1935, the Hass Avocado has gone on to become the leading avocado cultivar on the international market.
It is believed to make up 80% of the world’s avocado production! The Hass fruits are nearly incomparable to other avocados, with their rich, creamy texture, nutty flavor, and long shelf-life.
Both the fruit and the tree are attractive too, with the fruit’s even color and pebbled texture, and the tree’s large lustrous evergreen leaves.
This avocado tree is large compared to many other fruit trees, growing up to 30 feet tall, though it can be pruned to maintain a shorter and more manageable size. It is self-fertile in zone 9 but will need a pollination partner in higher zones.
Gardeners in zone 9 should plant the Hass in a sheltered location with plenty of air circulation to provide a little extra frost protection, and loose, loamy, well-draining soil with an acidic pH.
- Growing Zones: 9-11
- Average Size at Maturity: 20-30 feet tall, with a 14-18 foot spread
- Fruiting Season: Summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
3. Celeste Fig (Ficus carica ‘Celeste’)
Figs are one of the most decadent foods you can grow in your backyard, and you’ll be pleased to know that there are a number of excellent fig cultivars that can be planted in zone 9.
One of the best is the Celeste, a heavy producer of violet-skinned fruits that have strawberry-colored flesh that is smooth, buttery, and super sweet (hence their second name – sugar fig!).
It is a medium-sized fruit tree with signature bright green lobed fig leaves and an attractive branching structure. It is highly pest resistant due to the “closed eye” on the bottom of its fruit and is naturally disease resistant too.
The Celeste is a self-fertile variety and can produce as many as 50 pounds of fruit on its own! Plant it in a location with full sun and loamy, well-draining soil with a neutral pH. It will also grow well in a container.
- Other Common Names: Celeste Fig, Sugar Fig
- Growing Zones: 5-10
- Average Size at Maturity: 10-15 feet tall, with a similar spread
- Fruiting Season: Summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
4. Manzanillo Olive (Olea europaea ‘Manzanillo’)
Hailing from the Spanish capital of Seville, the Manzanillo Olive is one of the most popular varieties of table olive and is planted in many regions around the world. It is said to be Spain’s most important olive cultivar.
The Manzanillo fruits are large, fleshy, and aromatic, and are picked early in the growing season when still green. They are most often cured but are sometimes used to produce high-quality olive oil.
Before fruiting the tree branches will be dotted with small white spring flowers that add some extra charm to their landscape, along with its long, leathery evergreen leaves.
The Manzanillo Olive tree will begin producing after 2 to 4 years of growth. It is self-fertile but will produce a higher yield and better fruit with a pollination partner. Varieties such as the Frantoio or Sevillano are highly recommended.
This drought-tolerant cultivar can grow in a variety of pH ranges and soil types, including rocky and poor soil.
- Other Common Names: Manzanilla Olive, Manzanilla de Sevilla
- Growing Zones: 7-10
- Average Size at Maturity: 20-30 feet tall, with a 20-foot spread
- Fruiting Season: Early Fall
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
5. Haden Mango (Mangifera indica ‘Haden’)
Developed in South Florida in the early 20th century, the Haden Mango is a beautiful mango cultivar that has gone on to become one of the most widely planted mango species in the world, as well as parenting over 30 new mango varieties.
It has earned its reputation through its high-quality fruits, which are considered superior in looks and taste to many other mango varieties.
Its fruits are a rich yellow color with a red spreading blush on its surface, and its gorgeous orange flesh is firm, juicy, and sweet, with a mild tartness and notes of peach. Haden Mango’s are almost entirely fibreless, with a smooth dessert-like texture.
The Haden Mango tree is attractive too, with long evergreen leaves, an open spreading habit, and white and pink spring blossoms. It can be used as a focal point, screen, or even a small shade tree in zone 9.
Young trees are cold-sensitive and should be well-protected during the zone 9 frost period.
- Growing Zones: 9-11
- Average Size at Maturity: 20-30 feet tall, with a 14-16 foot spread
- Fruiting Season: Summer
Available at: Nature Hills
6. Mexican Key Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)
It’s called the bartender’s lime for a reason! The Mexican Key Lime, a tropical native of Southeast Asia, can be found in bars and restaurants around the world today.
These golf ball-sized yellow-green fruits are very juicy and have a tart, slightly floral flavor, both of which lend it well to use in beverages, cooking, and baking. It is also used to make the famous key lime pie!
The Key Lime tree is a vigorous grower with glossy oblong and elliptical evergreen leaves and fragrant white spring flowers. It adds decent ornamental flair to your garden and can be used as a specimen, patio tree, or anchor in a foundation.
According to the UC Riverside Citrus Variety Collection, the Mexican Key Lime is cold sensitive, and while it is suitable for growing in full sun in zone 9 it is recommended to plant your tree in the warmest sheltered location on your property for best fruit and flower production.
- Other Common Names: Key Lime, Mexican Key Lime, Key West Lime, West Indian Lime, Bartender’s Lime
- Growing Zones: 8-11
- Average Size at Maturity: 8-10 feet tall, with a 5-8 foot spread
- Fruiting Season: Fall to Early Winter
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
7. Dwarf Cavendish Banana (Musa acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’)
Despite their reputation, a banana tree doesn’t have to dominate your yard. With a Dwarf Cavendish tree, you can grow a very compact banana tree on your property that will produce nearly 100 bananas per year despite being just 8 feet tall!
The fruit of the Dwarf Cavendish has been one of the world’s most popular banana species since the 1950s and is grown and sold all over the world. These sweet bananas make a super convenient backyard snack and a substantial food crop.
The Dwarf Cavendish tree isn’t just remarkable for its compact size. It will also add a touch of the tropics to your property, with its broad bright green leaves and yellow-green bark.
Given its small size, this banana tree is ideal as a container plant. It is also self-pollinating, so only one is needed, further boosting the convenience of this banana tree.
- Other Common Names: Chinese Banana, Dwarf Cuban Red, Lady Finger, Williams Hybrid, Latundan Banana, Canary Banana, Klue Hom Kom, Silk Banana, Darjeeling Banana, Chiquita, Pisang Serendah
- Growing Zones: 9-10
- Average Size at Maturity: 6-8 feet tall, with a 5-6 foot spread
- Fruiting Season: Year-Round
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
8. Purple Heart Pomegranate (Punica granatum ‘Purple Heart’)
Pomegranates are some of the most beautiful, mesmerizing fruits in the world, with their smooth, pink skin and vivid, jewel-like arils within.
And the Purple Heart cultivar is no exception. Needing just 200 chill hours a year, it will be a unique but highly suitable option for many zone 9 properties.
The Purple Heart Pomegranate is an ornamental tree for zone 9, with dense foliage and vertical upper branches. Its fruits are a deep-red color, with matching velvety red arils.
In fall they will look incredible in the landscape, and even better on your plate. These pomegranates are very juicy with a sweet and tangy taste and are packed full of antioxidants.
The tree is a versatile grower, able to be pruned to a compact, shrubby size or trained into a single-trunk tree. It is self-fertile but will produce much more prolifically with a partner.
- Other Common Names: Sharp Velvet
- Growing Zones: 7-10
- Average Size at Maturity: 20-30 feet tall, with a similar spread
- Fruiting Season: Fall
Available at: Nature Hills
9. Pink Lady Apple (Malus ‘Pink Lady’)
Growing apple trees in zone 9 may seem unusual, as these beloved fruits are traditionally grown in cooler, more moderate climates. But the Pink Lady is one of a number of apple varieties that will grow well here.
This Australian cultivar was developed in 1973 as a cross between the Golden Delicious and Lady Williams and needs just 400 chill hours a year.
It was the very first trademarked apple and has gone on to become one of the most commercially important apples in the world.
Pink Lady apples are very appealing, with a yellow background and a dominant reddish-pink flush. The fruit texture is crisp and juicy, and the taste is sweet with notes of tartness and even a slight hint of citrus and melon.
This apple tree can tolerate a variety of soil types and pH ranges. What is most important is to grow it in full sun and well-draining soil, and to keep the soil consistently moist during drought periods.
- Other Common Names: Cripps Pink
- Growing Zones: 6-9
- Average Size at Maturity: 12-18 feet tall, with a 10-15 foot spread (semi-dwarf), 18-25 feet tall, with a 15-18 foot spread (standard)
- Fruiting Season: Mid to Late Fall
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
10. Moro Blood Orange (Citrus sinensis ‘Moro’)
The most popular Blood Orange variety in the US is the Moro, a great favorite of chefs around the country. This fruit has deep red wine-colored flesh that does not need perfect growing conditions to produce, unlike other blood orange cultivars.
It is very fragrant with a sweet-tart taste, and notes of raspberry and cherry. With its beautiful color and complex flavor, it is a no-brainer for zone 9 gardeners who want something a little different.
The Moro tree is an Italian orange tree with evergreen leaves and fragrant white spring blossoms – both features make it a lovely ornamental that can be used as an accent and specimen tree, or grown in a container as a patio plant and houseplant during the winter.
It is a relatively easy tree to grow in the right conditions. Plant the Moro in full sun with moist, acidic, well-draining soil.
- Growing Zones: 8-11
- Average Size at Maturity: 7-10 feet tall, with a similar spread
- Fruiting Season: Late Winter – Early Spring
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
11. Stella Cherry (Prunus avium ‘Stella’)
An award-winning cultivar, the Stella is an excellent cherry tree for any zone 9 garden or home orchard.
Every year it produces large crops of lustrous, dark-red cherries that are firm and sweet, and wonderful eaten fresh or used in baking, desserts, and preserves.
The Stella cherry tree is a very pretty ornamental too, with a well-balanced, upright growth habit and bright green serrated leaves.
It has a naturally compact form that works very well in small gardens, and it can be used as a small shade tree or specimen. It is self-fertile, even more convenient for gardeners with limited space.
The Stella is generally pest and disease-resistant, but there is a chance of bacterial canker infestation.
According to the Seattle Government Website, this cherry cultivar should be pruned every year in late winter to reduce the risk of infestation. They are also highly resistant to splitting and cracking.
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Average Size at Maturity: 15-18 feet tall, with a similar spread
- Fruiting Season: Mid-Summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
12. Red Bartlett Pear (Pyrus communis ‘Red Bartlett’)
Most fruit lovers will know the yellow-green Bartlett pear, but what about the Red Bartlett? Like other zone 9 fruits on this list, the Red Bartlett is both delicious and beautiful and will be a real treasure to grow in your backyard.
This pear cultivar was discovered in 1938 and has been cultivated domestically and commercially ever since.
The fruit has smooth, bright red skin that looks stunning when it appears in late summer and early fall, and it has an incredibly sweet and juicy taste that few other pear cultivars can compare to. It also ripens fully while still on the branches!
This self-fertile pear tree should be planted in a location with full sun, as it will need up to 6 hours of exposure per day. Consider mulching in summer, as the Red Bartlett will appreciate some extra moisture in the hottest periods of the year in zone 9.
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Average Size at Maturity: 12-18 feet tall, with a 12-15 foot spread
- Fruiting Season: Late Summer – Early Fall
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
13. Ruby Supreme Guava (Psidium guajava ‘Ruby Supreme’)
While guavas aren’t a widely grown fruit in the US, the Ruby Supreme Guava might just change your mind.
This tropical species is a heat-loving shrub that grows perfectly in zone 9, producing baseball-sized fruits with light green skin and bright pink aromatic flesh that has a slightly crisp texture and super sweet flavor.
These indulgent fruits are excellent in both sweet and savory recipes.
This guava tree is a petite broadleaf evergreen that is easily grown as an accent, specimen, or small shade tree. It is self-fertile but yields will improve significantly with a second or third tree. Plant it in full sun and moist, well-draining soil.
The Ruby Supreme tree does have a considerable weak point which you should consider before planting. Unfortunately, it is susceptible to guava fruit moths, fruit flies, scale, borer, and more.
Plant it in a sheltered location for increased air circulation, monitor it carefully, and apply horticultural oil and exclusion netting where necessary.
- Growing Zones: 9-11
- Average Size at Maturity: 8-10 feet tall, with a 12-15 foot spread
- Fruiting Season: Year-round
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
14. Redhaven Peach (Prunus persica ‘Redhaven’)
Peaches are truly some of the best stone fruits you can grow and are a true icon of summer. And few peach varieties are as beloved and widely planted as the Redhaven.
This peach cultivar has a variety of admirable qualities, such as its vigorous growth, reliable production, robust resistance to pests and disease, and of course – its delightful fruits!
Redhaven Peaches are round, fuzzy fruits with yellow skin and a heavy bright red blush. They ripen early on the branch and are very firm, juicy, and sweet.
You can eat the Redhaven fresh or incorporate them into your cooking and baking, just be aware that the pit is highly poisonous, according to the NC State Extension.
The self-pollinating Redhaven peach tree is a good ornamental addition to zone 9 gardens too, with its fragrant pink blooms, pyramidal shape, and dense foliage that turns shades of gold and yellow in fall. Use it as a small shade tree, specimen, or privacy tree.
- Growing Zones: 5-9
- Average Size at Maturity: 12-18 feet tall, with a 12-15 foot spread
- Fruiting Season: Mid-Summer
Available at: Fast-Growing-Trees & Nature Hills
15. Lisbon Lemon (Citrus x limon ‘Lisbon’)
A classic Australian cultivar, the Lisbon Lemon is descended from the Portuguese Gallego lemon. They were first shipped to and grown in the US in the 1950s, where they quickly took off.
This lemon is exactly as tart and acidic as you want from a kitchen lemon, and while you won’t want to eat it straight from the tree, you’ll love the flavor it adds to your cooking, baking, and juices. It tastes particularly excellent with fish and seafood.
The Lisbon Lemon tree is a pretty, mid-sized fruit tree with dark evergreen leaves and citrus-scented white blossoms.
In winter it is resplendent in the landscape when its bright yellow fruits begin to ripen. This tree is well-suited to container planting and can be pruned down to maintain a smaller size.
You can plant this lemon cultivar in a warm and sunny spot with moist, organic, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH.
- Growing Zones: 9-10
- Average Size at Maturity: 10-15 feet tall, with a 4-6 foot spread
- Fruiting Season: Winter to Early Spring
Available at: Nature Hills
16. Orange Crush Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus ‘Orange Crush’)
Who wouldn’t want to grow the world’s largest tree fruit in their own backyard? Hailing from South and Southeast Asia, the Jackfruit has taken off in the West in recent years due to its suitability as a meat substitute.
The Orange Crush Jackfruit is an ideal choice for curious gardeners in zone 9, as it is more cold-tolerant than traditional varieties and able to grow much smaller.
It can be grown in the ground in zone 9 and also in a container and kept as a patio plant. It is a richly colored tree with leathery evergreen leaves and unique reddish-orange flowers.
Of course, the real prize is its fruit! The Orange Crush Jackfruit has a highly distinctive spiky green rind, and on the inside, it has sweet, dark orange flesh and large glossy leaves. Its flavor is often described as a mix of mango, banana, and pineapple.
- Growing Zones: 9-11
- Average Size at Maturity: 6-10 feet tall, with a 6-8 foot spread
- Fruiting Season: Summer
Available at: Nature Hills
Zone 9 Fruit Trees Compared
| Tree Name | Growing Zones | Average Size at Maturity |
|---|---|---|
| Calamondin Orange | 7-11 | 16-18 feet tall, 4-8 foot spread |
| Hass Avocado | 9-11 | 20-30 feet tall, 14-18 foot spread |
| Celeste Fig | 5-10 | 10-15 feet tall, similar spread |
| Manzanillo Olive | 7-10 | 20-30 feet tall, 20-foot spread |
| Haden Mango | 9-11 | 20-30 feet tall, 14-16 foot spread |
| Mexican Key Lime | 8-11 | 8-10 feet tall, 5-8 foot spread |
| Dwarf Cavendish Banana | 9-10 | 6-8 feet tall, 5-6 foot spread |
| Purple Heart Pomegranate | 7-10 | 20-30 feet tall, similar spread |
| Pink Lady Apple | 6-9 | 12-18 feet tall, 10-15 foot spread (semi-dwarf), 18-25 feet tall, 15-18 foot spread (standard) |
| Moro Blood Orange | 8-11 | 7-10 feet tall, similar spread |
| Stella Cherry | 5-9 | 15-18 feet tall, similar spread |
| Red Bartlett Pear | 5-9 | 12-18 feet tall, 12-15 foot spread |
| Ruby Supreme Guava | 9-11 | 8-10 feet tall, 12-15 foot spread |
| Redhaven Peach | 5-9 | 12-18 feet tall, 12-15 foot spread |
| Lisbon Lemon | 9-10 | 10-15 feet tall, 4-6 foot spread |
| Orange Crush Jackfruit | 9-11 | 6-10 feet tall, 6-8 foot spread |
Plentiful Fruit Tree Varieties For Your Garden or Orchard
Gardeners and homeowners in zone 9 are spoilt for choice when it comes to planting beautiful and bountiful fruit trees.
Many of these fruit species, like the Hass Avocado and Haden Mango, even boast lustrous evergreen leaves that provide your property with bright color in every season.
Fruit trees can require a little extra effort to produce plenty of flowers and a good harvest, but it will be well worth the time. With enough care and attention to your zone 9 edible garden, you’ll be enjoying full fruit baskets every year.
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Hi Shannon,
Thanks for your work and writing about fruit trees in zone 9. We have new necatarine, peach, apple and orange and wanted to know how much to water them. They will get 6-8 hrs of sun per day and we have clay soil. We did dig large holes and added compost to the soil. Thank you so much!!
Hi Paula,
Congrats on your new trees!
In the initial weeks, keep the soil moist but not waterlogged (keep a close eye on it and avoid overwatering as your clay will retain a lot of moisture).
As the trees establish, transition to deep watering every 1-2 weeks, depending on the moisture content of your clay soil.
Use the feel test by checking the soil’s moisture 6-8 inches deep; if it feels dry, it’s time to water.
Adjust your watering frequency with the seasons, increasing during hot, dry months and decreasing when cooler and wetter.
A general rule is about 10 gallons of water per week for young trees, adjusting based on weather conditions and as the trees mature.
You might also like to mulch them to help moisture retention during hot weather.
All the best!