What Fruit Trees Grow in North Carolina:

What fruit trees grow in North Carolina best? Locals enjoy a wide variety, thanks to the mild climate and humid summers in the state. The only real challenge that gardeners face is choosing a handful of trees to plant out of the many the region has available.

The following fruit trees grow very well in North Carolina: 

• Apples
• Pears
• Peaches
• Fig
• Persimmons
• Plums
• Chestnuts
• Pecans

In this post, Coastal Tree Trimmers, Leland’s professional tree service, explain how to grow apples, pears, and peach trees. These three trees always deliver a healthy crop of fruit as long as you have the right soil types.

Apple Trees

Apple trees grow well everywhere in North Carolina. However, most cultivars only bear fruit with the help of proper cross-pollination. Plan to plant at least two trees in the late fall or early spring with the following things in mind:

• Apple trees do well in full sunlight and well-drained soil. 
• Apple trees will not do well with wet roots, so don’t plant them in clay. 
• Apple trees require regular watering until they show signs of strong growth.
• Apple trees do better with warmer weather, so you should keep them away from houses and fences. The cold pockets of air that these buildings trap can stress the trees.

Ensuring sufficient airflow around the grown trees will give them enough space to thrive. Apple trees will bear more apples with careful annual pruning. 

The variety you plant depends on your tastes as follows:

• For tartness: Gala and Fuji are deliciously tart with a crisp finish for a satisfying crunch. 
• For sweet showstoppers: Red or Yellow Delicious and Jonagold are tasty and gorgeous. Children love these apple varieties for their mild, sweet flavor.

Peach Trees

It’s impossible not to include peach trees in a list of what fruit trees grow in North Carolina. They grow across most of the state, except for the mountainous regions. Peach trees will tolerate cold weather well but enjoy good air circulation and shelter from cold pockets.

These fruit trees are ideal for smaller spaces as they self-pollinate and bear much fruit. They are also fairly easy to care for if you water them regularly after planting. We recommend planting them in early winter, after Thanksgiving, and right through to early spring. 

Varieties like the following produce well and are worth planting: 

• Carolina Belle
• Cresthaven
• Redhaven
• Norman

Peach trees need full sunlight and well-drained soil. They will not thrive in clay.

Pear Trees

The final choice for North Carolina fruit trees would be pear trees, which also grow well everywhere except the mountains. Like peaches, they tolerate the cold and come in many varieties. They also do not like wet roots, so plant them in full sun with well-draining soil.

When planting pear trees, the location matters considerably. These plants can be frost-tender. If these trees bloom while there is still a risk of frost, they will need the protection of higher ground rather than hollows.

Good pear varieties for North Carolina include the following: 

• Moonglow 
• Seckel
• Magness
• Barlett

With this assortment, you’ll have no shortage of fruits for eating fresh, canning, preserving, baking, or making jam!

What Else Can You Grow? Contact Us Today!

Fruit production with these three staples is almost guaranteed in North Carolina. Do you want to get your orchard off to a good start? Coastal Tree Trimmers offers a comprehensive range of tree planting services and maintenance across the state.

Now that you know what fruit trees grow in North Carolina, which one tops your list? Call Coastal Tree Trimmers at (910) 431-5731 or (910) 599-2565 today for assistance with planting and more.