Deciduous Fruit Trees for Orange County

What is the MINIMUM CHILL REQUIREMENT?

Control size with summer pruning. We prefer to keep each tree about 7 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Since fruit does not grow on new growth (jujube and fig are exceptions) this growth can be cut off all summer without affecting next year’s crop. A tree this size will produce 50-70 fruit.

Control size by grouping varieties. If 2-5 varieties of apples are planted within 2 feet of each other, this group is not capable of growing significantly larger than a single tree. This group will still produce 200-300 fruit, but now has 2-5 different ripening periods. Much more of the fruit can be consumed.

Both methods can be incorporated. In my own garden we have 8 apple varieties planted in 2 groups, each group allowed to grow only 8 feet tall and 4 feet wide. We can pick apples nearly any day from mid-summer to early winter.

Fruit trees can also be planted 3-4 feet apart and maintained as a hedge.

Consult the handout What is Backyard Orchard Culture? for details.

Generally, we do not recommend genetic dwarf fruit trees. Of the few available varieties none are superior quality fruit.

APPLES

are a reliable crop in our area. It has become apparent that most (perhaps all) apples do not have a MCR. Most apples bloom in April. A few bloom in February. Most apples are at least partially self-fertile, however, most produce a better crop if they are pollinated by a different variety with the same bloom period. A few (see text) require a pollinator. Too create a stronger bloom, strip off all of the leaves grown the previous year by March. Occasionally we’ll have a winter cool enough to cause all the foliage to drop. Apples begin production as early as the second year, but some may require four years. Apples require thinning after fruit set to 1 per cluster or less. We offer semi-dwarf trees (M111 rootstock) which can grow trees 15-20 feet tall, but can be maintained as low as 4 feet tall. Apples can be espaliered along a fence. Apple trees prefer ample water and love lawn conditions.

Apples have some pests. Fireblight (worst on Gala) can be controlled by application of copper sulfate just before bloom. Codling moth (apple worms) can be lessened by proper thinning and choosing early or late ripening varieties.

Anna

Blooms February. Large cylindrical, mostly red fruit with creamy, white tender, crisp, sweet flesh. Harvest July-August. Best eaten fresh. Fruit quality is better away from coast. Often has a second crop in November. Often grows fruit the first year. From Israel.

Braeburn

 Blooms April. Medium to large green fruit with burgundy stripes. Crisp with sweet, slightly tart flesh. Excellent fresh or cooked. Harvest September-October. Excellent quality, stores well. From New Zealand.

Fuji Red

Blooms April. Medium to large slightly flattened fruit with yellowish green skin covered with grayish red stripes. Crisp, very juicy, and honey sweet. Needs heavy thinning for high quality fruit. Best eaten fresh. Ripens in October. Stores well. From Japan. OUR MOST POPULAR APPLE!

Gala

Blooms April. Small to medium size fruit with yellow skin and scarlet stripes. Fine texture flesh is crisp, aromatic and spicy sweet. Best eaten fresh. Harvest August-September. Unusually susceptible to fireblight. From New Zealand. POPULAR

Golden Delicious

Blooms April. Medium to large fruit with yellow (sometimes blushed pink) skin. The pale yellow flesh is crisp, sweet and flavorful. Ripens in September. Does not store well. (Market fruit is mealy)

 Granny Smith

 Blooms April. Medium to large round fruit with yellow green skin. the white flesh is firm, crisp, juicy, and tart. Eaten fresh or cooked. Harvest November-January. If left on the tree until mid-winter it becomes a fabulous sweet yellow-skinned apple. Stores very well. From Australia. Seems to be free from fireblight and apple worms. EXCELLENT!

Honeycrisp

 Blooms April. Large fruit with yellow skin blushed red. Extremely crisp, juicy, coarse, subacid and aromatic. Ripens September, possibly earlier. From U of Minnesota. NEW! This is an outstanding apple that we expect to do well locally.

Jonagold

Blooms April. Large rounded fruit with yellow skin and red stripes. Cream colored flesh is firm, crisp, juicy with outstanding flavor. Harvest September. Excellent fresh or cooked. Pollinator is recommended. OUTSTANDING!

Pink Lady

 Blooms April. Small to medium fruit with yellow green skin heavily blushed with rose. The white flesh is crisp, very sweet, and highly flavored. Harvest October-December. From Australia. GREAT NEW APPLE

Pink Pearl

 Blooms April. Medium size fruit with pale green skin with slight red blush. The unusual pink flesh is highly aromatic with a sweet tart flavor. Ripens early fall. Good keeper. Best with pollinator. Pink flowers.

Spitzenberg

 Blooms April. Yellow skin overlaid with red. The yellowish flesh is very firm, very dense, quite sweet, with superior strong flavor. Perhaps the best tasting of all apples. Best with pollinator. OLD VARIETY

APRICOTS

 are only reliable producers in steep canyons and along rivers where cold winter air settles. They are not reliable producers on hilly, or otherwise elevated, locations in Orange County. Apricot trees grow 20 feet tall, but can be maintained as low as 4 feet tall. Prune in summer to control size. Genetic dwarf varieties aren’t reliable here. Production begins the second or third year. All varieties we offer are self-fertile.

Early Newcastle

MCR 350? Small to medium-size fruit with pale yellow skin with soft flesh of very good flavor and sweetness. This old variety from 1881 may be a more reliable producer locally than the newer varieties but is more subject to brown rot.

Goldkist

 MCR 300-400 Large all-purpose fruit with red blushed gold skin and good quality firm, mildly flavored orange flesh. Ripens May-June. Tends to develop harmless skin cracks on fruit exposed to sun. Very vigorous tree. RECOMMENDED. This variety of apricot has the lowest MCR .

Tropic Gold

MCR 350 Medium to large fruit, yellow skin with orange cheek. The orange flesh is firm with excellent flavor. Ripens early summer. NEW

CHERRIES

fruit reliably only in the canyon bottoms and in our local mountains above 2500 feet. The MCR for most cherries is about 700 hours. We have had some success with two varieties.

Lapins

 MCR 400(?)-800 Large, firm, dark red, sweet fruit of high quality. Harvest in July. This self-fertile variety occasionally produces a bumper crop at my hilltop home. We expect it to be a decently reliable producer anywhere in Orange County where there is a danger of flooding. (cold air flows like water)

Minnie Royal 

MCR 250-500 Large, nearly black fruit resembles Bing. Ripens early May. Requires pollination by Royal Lee NEW! This may be the first reliable true cherry for local areas. Cross your fingers! 

Royal Lee

MCR 250-500 Medium size nearly black fruit resembles Black Tartarian. Ripens late May. Requires pollination by Minnie Royal. NEW!

Stella

MCR 700 Large, black red fruit of excellent quality. Ripens summer. This variety has produced some high quality fruit in my backyard.

FIGS

 are reliable producers here. All of the varieties we offer are self-fertile. The MCR is low or non-existent. Trees can grow 20 feet, but are easy to maintain at 8 feet with heavy annual pruning in winter. Most produce a few large fruit in June (the breba crop) with a ‘second’ heavy crop of smaller fruit from late August-October. Production begins the first year.

Black Mission

Medium size tear-drop shaped fruit with purple-black skin and strawberry flesh. Very rich flavor. Good fresh or dried. Fruit won’t split open or get moldy when ripe. OUR BEST SELLER.

Brown Turkey

Large bell-shaped fruit with purple-brown skin and juicy, light strawberry flesh. Best fresh. Short growing tree to about 10 feet. Excellent in containers.

Flanders

 Medium to large tear-drop shaped fruit with green and violet-bronze skin and sweet, unusually firm flesh. Ripe fruit won’t crack. Excellent fresh. FABULOUS.

Janice

(Seedless Kadota) Large greenish-yellow fruit with practically no seeds. The sweet flesh is of very good quality. Long harvest.

Peter’s Honey

 Light yellow-green fruit with dark amber flesh. Outstanding sweet rich flavor. From Sicily.

Tiger

 (Panache) Medium size fig with cream and green striped skin and bright red flesh. Superb cherry flavor. Not a heavy producer. Ripe fruit tends to split and get moldy.

White Genoa

Medium size fruit with greenish yellow skin and amber to pink flesh. Good fresh. Best near coast, but subject to mold.

JUJUBE

(Chinese Date) is reliably productive in all areas of Orange County but needs inland heat to attain its best flavor, size and sweetness. The fruit is similar in size and appearance to the common date. The flesh has a sweet, tender, crisp apple-like flavor fresh, or is date-like when dried or candied. Juvenile growth is quite thorny. Mature growth has small thorns. The weeping tree can grow 20 feet tall and is highly ornamental. Usually produces fruit the first year. Ripens early fall. Good in lawns. Excellent under harsh desert conditions. This is one of the few fruit trees that will produce well even if heavily pruned in winter. Jujube is somewhat self-fertile. Young trees produce much larger crops if pollinated with a different variety.

Contorted

  Fruit is similar to Li. The ornamental tree has twisted, contorted branching.

GA-866

  Medium size egg-shaped fruit with the highest sugar content of any variety known. Relatively small weeping tree.

Li

Rounded fruit with mahogany-brown skin. Fruit will ripen even if picked while still somewhat green. Tree is shorter and more spreading.

Sherwood

Very large fruit with notably dense flesh of excellent quality. Ripens late. High productivity. Stores well. Small thorns.

MULBERRIES

are reliable in all areas of Orange County. The fruit resembles blackberries and is very sweet when fully ripe. Excellent fresh, dried, cooked, or for preserves. Ripens summer. Many varieties will grow a small second crop if the foliage on some branches is stripped a few weeks following harvest. Easy to grow. Trees tolerate some drought when established. Most varieties grow quickly. Fruit drop from the dark colored varieties can stain masonry and carpeting.

Black Beauty

 (Persian) Large black fruit with sweet, tasty flesh. Unripe fruit is quite tart. A semi-dwarf tree that grows to only 15 feet tall. Persian Mulberries are dormant until April.

Pakistan Red

 Very long (up to 4 inches) maroon fruit with excellent sweet flavor. Fruit may be eaten before fully ripe. Juice doesn’t stain. Ripens summer. Tree can grow over 20 feet tall.

Teas Weeping

Small sweet black fruit of good quality. The small tree has branches that weep to the ground. Very ornamental.

NECTARINES

are genetically identical to peaches but have a smooth skin and different texture. Production begins second or third year. All of these varieties are self-fertile. Standard nectarine trees can grow 15 feet tall. All can be maintained at 4 feet tall. Excess nitrogen fertilizer can cause brown rot of the fruit.

Arctic Star

 MCR 300. Fruit has dark red skin and white flesh. Semi-freestone. Super sweet and mild. Ripens June. Best away from immediate coast.

Panamint

 MCR 250-400. Small to medium size fruit with red skin and golden flesh. Freestone. Very good flavor. Ripens July.

Snow Queen

 MCR 250-300. White freestone flesh with excellent sweet, juicy flavor. Harvest late June.

PEACHES

are reliable producers if the proper varieties are chosen. Production begins the second or third year. All these peaches are self-fertile. Standard peach trees grow to 15 feet tall, but can be maintained down to 4 feet tall. Genetic dwarf peaches have not performed reliably in Orange County.

Babcock

MCR 250. Medium size fruit with red-blushed white skin and white flesh. Honey sweet and juicy. Excellent quality. Semi-freestone. Best fresh. Fruit must be heavily thinned. Ripens early July. Longtime favorite.

Bonita

MCR 350. Huge fruit with red-blushed yellow skin and yellow flesh. Firm freestone with excellent flavor. Ripens late July. Not reliable when grown on hilltop locations. SUPERB!

Donut

 MCR 200-500. Unique flat donut-shaped fruit with sunken center. White flesh with mild sweet flavor with a hint of almond. Ripens early July.

Red Baron

MCR 250. Large fruit with yellow skin and flesh. Very good to excellent quality. Freestone. Ripens mid-July. Spectacular double rose- red flowers in spring. OUR BEST PEACH!

Tropic Snow

MCR 200. White freestone with very good flavor. Ripens mid-June. Showy flowers.

PEARS

 are reliable if the proper varieties are chosen. There are three types of pears. The familiar European pears such as Bartlett, the Asian (A) pears with a crunchy texture, and the Hybrid (H) pears which may display characteristics of either parent. Most hybrid pears are reliable producers in Orange County. Only a certain few European and Asian varieties are reliable locally. Most pears are partially self-fertile, but will produce far more if pollinated with a different variety. Asian and European pears bloom in April. Hybrid pears often bloom 2 months earlier. Pears require 4 years to become productive. Standard pear trees can reach 20 feet tall but can be maintained down to 4 feet tall. Most pears should be picked while still firm and allowed to ripen indoors. Pear trees tolerate heavy wet soil quite well and are good lawn trees.

Hood

 (H) MCR 150. Large, pear-shaped, fruit with yellow flesh and sweet, firm, juicy white flesh. Excellent quality. Ripens late July. This pear rivals Bartlett for quality.

PERSIMMONS

 are reliable producers in our area. Most varieties are self-fertile. Persimmon trees can grow 30 feet tall, but can be kept under 10 feet with pruning. Persimmons require soil with a high oxygen content. Do not amend the soil with organic matter. Sand, sponge rock, or pumice will help increase air penetration. Drip irrigation is preferred. Production begins within 4 years.

Giant Fuyu

Hachiya

Very large oblong-conical fruit with orange red skin and flesh. Astringent until jelly ripe. Sweet and rich. Ripens mid to late fall. Excellent quality fresh. Wonderful dried.

Imoto

 Fuyu  Large flattened, slightly squarish, fruit with dark orange skin and flesh. The non-astringent seedless flesh is sweet and mellow. Can be eaten while crispy or allowed to ripen until quite soft. Ripens early to mid fall. Similar to Jiro, perhaps a bit more tender.

Jiro

 Fuyu  Large flattened, slightly squarish, fruit with dark orange skin and flesh. The non-astringent seedless flesh is sweet and mellow. Can be eaten while crispy or allowed to ripen until quite soft. Ripens early to mid fall. Relatively vigorous tree. THE MOST COMMON COMMERCIAL FUYU.

PLUMS

are notably finicky producers. Most reliable production occurs in canyon locations. Production begins within 4 years. Standard plums grow to 30 feet tall but can maintained down to 4 feet tall. There are no genetic dwarf varieties that perform well in our area. All these varieties are Japanese.

Burgundy

MCR 350. Medium size fruit with dark burgundy skin and firm purple flesh. Sweet and mellow with a small pit. Ripens July-August over a 2 month period! Self-fertile. Reliable in most locations except hilltop gardens. OUR BEST PLUM.

Green Gage

MCR 400-600. Small to medium size fruit with yellowish green skin and greenish yellow flesh. Sweet, aromatic, juicy and often a bit tart. Ripens July. Good production inland

Santa Rosa

 MCR 300-500. Large oval fruit with purplish skin and amber flesh tinted red. Juicy and sweet with a tart skin. Ripens June. Self-fertile. Reliable most locations. POPULAR

PLUOTS 

are relatively new and untested. Genetically they are hybrids between plum and apricot. The fruit is extremely sweet and commonly wins top honors at fruit tasting sessions. New varieties are being developed presently. Genetically pluots are 75% plum and 25% apricot 

Flavor Grenade

 (Pluot) MCR 300-600. Elongated green fruit with red blush. The flesh is crisp with incredible flavor. Excellent hang time on tree. NEW! No local experience yet.

Flavor King

 (Pluot) MCR 300-600. Large fruit with maroon skin and red flesh. Outstanding flavor. Harvest August. This variety seems to need little winter chill, however, it may require a pollinator such as Burgundy Plum to bloom with it.

POMEGRANATES

are easy to grow in Orange County. Flavor and sweetness is best in the warmer inland areas. All are self-fertile. Some production may begin early, but reliable harvest begins by the fourth year. Ripens Fall. Can grow more than 15 feet tall, but can be maintained as low as 4 feet tall. Pomegranate trees are highly ornamental and the attractive orange flowers bloom for several months. Water consistently or fruit will split before ripening.

Ambrosia

 Very large round fruit with rosy golden skin and bright carmine flesh. Very good tart-sweet flavor. Good quality even along coast.

Angel Red

Eversweet

Medium to large fruit with pale pink skin and pale red, non-staining flesh. Very sweet and mellow. The soft seeds and non-bitter membranes are also edible. Ripens mid September.

Sweet

Large fruit with pinkish green skin and light red flesh. Very sweet and mellow. Relatively soft seeds. Ripens late September.

Wonderful

 Large fruit with red skin and ruby flesh. Sweet-tart flavor. THE COMMERCIAL POMEGRANATE.

QUINCES

do well in Orange County. The large pear-shaped fruit has extremely firm flesh and is usually cooked before eating. Quince are most often used to make jams and jellies. Quince trees tolerate poor conditions. Quince begin production the second or third year. Trees can grow 15 feet tall and can be maintained as low as 4 feet tall. Fireblight is a preventable disease that can cause major damage to the tree.

Smyrna

Very large fruit with yellow skin and tender light yellow flesh. Ripens fall. Good to very good quality. From Turkey.