Growing ordinary apples and strawberries in your garden is satisfying, but there’s something particularly exciting about harvesting exotic fruits that your neighbors have never seen.
Contrary to popular belief, many unusual and rare fruits can thrive in home gardens across various climate zones. As someone who has experimented with countless fruit varieties, I’m delighted to share some exceptional options that can transform your backyard into a personal exotic fruit paradise.
Tropical and Subtropical (Zones 9-11)
1. Loquat: The Winter Wonder
Loquats are among the most adaptable exotic fruits for warmer regions. These attractive evergreen trees produce sweet, tangy fruits with notes of apricot and plum during late winter to early spring when other fruit trees are just beginning to flower.
Extremely hardy in zones 8-10, loquats require minimal maintenance once established and can withstand heat admirably, making them perfect for gardeners in Arizona and similar climates.
The trees themselves add year-round ornamental value with their large, tropical-looking foliage, and they can be kept at a manageable 10-15 feet with regular pruning. Their ability to withstand challenging conditions makes them an excellent gateway fruit for those new to exotic gardening.
2. Jaboticaba: The Tree That Fruits on Its Trunk
Perhaps one of the most unusual fruiting plants, jaboticaba produces grape-like fruits directly on its trunk and main branches—a phenomenon called cauliflory. Native to Brazil, some varieties are surprisingly adaptable to zone 9b.
The glossy, black fruits have a flavor reminiscent of muscadine grapes with a unique tropical twist. While seed-grown trees may take 8+ years to fruit, grafted specimens can produce much sooner.
These slow-growing trees make excellent container specimens that can be protected during occasional cold snaps. For best results, plant in slightly acidic soil with good drainage.
3. Dragonfruit: Cactus with a Colorful Surprise
Dragonfruit (pitaya) offers one of the most visually striking growing experiences. These climbing cacti produce fluorescent pink or white fruits with speckled flesh that ranges from white to deep magenta. While typically associated with tropical environments, dragonfruit can thrive in zone 9-10 gardens with some protection.
For hotter, drier climates like Arizona, dragonfruit can be grown successfully with shade cloth to prevent sunburn. The plants require strong support structures as they can become quite heavy. The flowers, which bloom at night, are spectacular in themselves—large, fragrant blooms that attract pollinators. Most varieties will produce fruit within two years of planting, offering relatively quick rewards for your effort.
4. Pomegranate: Ancient Fruit for Modern Gardens
Pomegranates have been cultivated for thousands of years and deserve more space in home gardens. These drought-tolerant shrubs produce ruby-red fruits filled with jewel-like arils that burst with sweet-tart flavor. ‘Wonderful’ is a commonly available and reliable variety that performs well in home gardens.
Pomegranates thrive in hot, dry conditions (zones 7-10) and can withstand poor soil conditions that would challenge other fruit trees. They require minimal pruning and are remarkably disease-resistant.
In cooler climates like the UK, they can still be grown but need a warm autumn for the fruits to fully ripen. The brilliant orange-red flowers are ornamental in their own right, making pomegranates valuable landscape plants even before the fruits arrive.
Temperate Climate (Zones 6-8)
5. Pawpaw: North America’s Forgotten Treasure
The pawpaw is North America’s largest native fruit, yet remains largely unknown to most gardeners. These small trees produce custard-like fruits with a tropical flavor profile often described as a blend of banana, mango, and vanilla.
Hardy from zones 5-9, pawpaws are understory trees that prefer dappled shade when young but need more sun to fruit abundantly. They typically require two different varieties for cross-pollination. Because the fruits don’t store or ship well, you’ll rarely find them in supermarkets, making them a true backyard exclusive.
Their natural disease resistance and ability to thrive without chemical treatments make them perfect for organic gardeners.
6. Hardy Kiwi: The Grape-Sized Fuzz-Free Wonder
Unlike their fuzzy supermarket cousins, hardy kiwis (Actinidia arguta) produce small, smooth-skinned fruits that can be eaten whole. These vigorous vines are surprisingly cold-tolerant, surviving temperatures down to -25°F in some varieties.
Hardy kiwis require sturdy support structures as mature vines can become quite heavy. Most varieties require both male and female plants for fruit production. Once established, these plants require minimal maintenance—some gardeners report successful harvests from plants growing from “basically a hole in paving slabs which they completely ignored”.
The sweet, intensely flavored fruits ripen in late summer to fall and provide an exotic taste experience in even the coldest gardens.
7. Medlar: A Medieval Delicacy
Medlar trees offer a glimpse into historical gardening. These small, ornamental trees produce unusual fruits that were highly prized in medieval and Renaissance Europe.
The fruits require “bletting”—a process where they’re harvested hard and allowed to soften until they resemble applesauce in texture—before they develop their full, rich flavor reminiscent of spiced applesauce with notes of wine.
Hardy to zone 5, medlars thrive in areas where apples grow well. Their attractive spring blossoms, interesting fruit shape (resembling a small, russet apple with an open bottom), and brilliant fall foliage make them valuable ornamental trees beyond their culinary uses.
Unlike many exotic fruits, medlars are self-fertile, so only one tree is needed for fruit production.
Cool Climate
8. Chilean Guava: Queen Victoria’s Favorite
Chilean guava (Ugni molinae) produces small, aromatic berries that were reportedly so beloved by Queen Victoria that she had them imported from Chile.
These glossy red berries have an intense strawberry-pine flavor that makes them perfect for preserves and desserts.
This compact evergreen shrub grows well in zones 8-10 and can withstand cooler temperatures than many exotic fruits. It makes an excellent container specimen in areas with colder winters.
While the crop isn’t enormous, the unique flavor makes every berry precious. Its modest size (typically 3-6 feet) makes it suitable for smaller gardens or even patio growing.
9. Feijoa (Pineapple Guava): Aromatic and Adaptable
Despite its common name, the pineapple guava isn’t a true guava but rather a South American shrub that produces egg-sized, green fruits with uniquely fragrant flesh.
The flavor combines elements of pineapple, guava, and mint with a texture similar to ripe pear.
Feijoas are remarkably cold-hardy for a tropical-tasting fruit, surviving in zones 8-10. They’re drought-tolerant once established and can even be used as ornamental hedging, with attractive silvery foliage and unusual red-white flowers that are themselves edible.
Most varieties require cross-pollination from a different cultivar to produce abundant fruit. The fruits drop when ripe and only remain at peak quality for a few days, which explains their rarity in commercial markets.
10. Sea Buckthorn: Viking Superfruit
Sea buckthorn (Havtorn) produces clusters of brilliant orange berries that pack an impressive nutritional punch—each tiny berry contains as much vitamin C as an entire lemon.
With a bright, citrusy flavor, these berries were valued by Vikings for preventing scurvy during long sea voyages.
Extremely cold-hardy (to zone 3), sea buckthorn thrives in poor, sandy soils where other fruits would fail. They’re particularly valuable for coastal gardens as they tolerate salt spray. These nitrogen-fixing shrubs require both male and female plants for fruit production.
While harvesting the small berries can be challenging due to their tight clusters and thorny branches, their nutritional profile and unique taste make them worth the effort.
Tips for Success with Exotic Fruits
Know Your Microclimate
Understanding your garden’s microclimate can make the difference between thriving exotic fruits and disappointment.
South-facing walls create warm pockets for heat-loving species, while low-lying areas may collect cold air and become frost pockets. For borderline-hardy species like lychee, finding the right protected location can be critical for success.
Consider Container Growing
Many exotic fruits can be grown in containers and moved to protected locations during extreme weather. Figs particularly benefit from root restriction in pots, which encourages better fruiting.
Lychee, jaboticaba, and citrus varieties all adapt well to container culture, allowing gardeners to extend their growing range by providing winter protection.
Start with Grafted Specimens
For many exotic fruits, particularly slow-growing species like jaboticaba, starting with grafted trees can significantly reduce the time to fruiting. While seed-grown trees might take 8+ years to produce, grafted specimens can often fruit within 2-3 years.
This immediate reward helps maintain enthusiasm for your exotic fruit project.
Experiment with Marginally Hardy Species
Some gardeners in Zone 9 have success with supposedly Zone 10 plants like lychee by providing extra protection during occasional cold snaps. Using frost cloth, temporary greenhouses, or even Christmas lights to provide warmth can help borderline plants survive challenging winters.
While not every experiment will succeed, the potential rewards make some calculated risks worthwhile.
Conclusion
Growing rare and exotic fruits offers rewards that extend far beyond ordinary gardening.
There’s a special satisfaction in harvesting fruits that can’t be found in local markets, introducing friends and family to new flavors, and connecting with gardening traditions from around the world.
Whether you’re working with a tropical paradise in zone 10, a temperate garden in zone 6, or something in between, there are unusual fruits waiting to transform your backyard into an edible adventure.
Start with species well-adapted to your climate, expand your collection gradually, and don’t be afraid to experiment with borderline-hardy varieties in protected microclimate.
