25 Flowering Fruit Trees 

Flowering fruit trees are a great way to add interest to your garden. Colorful and fragrant, these specimens also provide a reliable way to introduce shade and privacy to open spaces. Many also produce edible fruit, providing further benefits. The following flowering fruit trees are some of the most attractive.

1 Apple

Delicately colored apple tree blossoms are a common sight from April until late June. typically pink when they first open, as the season progresses the flowers fade to white. Flowering is at its best if the soil is rich and well draining.

The apple tree (Malus domestica) is native to Central Asia but is now commonly cultivated throughout the world. Like many flowering fruit trees, the apple is pleasingly easy to grow as long as you do your research first. Our How to Grow Apple Trees guide is a great place to start.

With the right care apple trees produce masses of blossoms throughout the season. Most cultivars are hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 8. The apple blossom is one of the most distinctive features of the apple tree. It is also one of the most popular sights of spring.

Apple blossom is a sure sign that spring has arrived.  

2 Plum

Popular for their richly fragrant flowers, in the right location the plum tree remains healthy and productive for many years. Coming in a range of shapes and sizes the plum is one of the most versatile of the flowering fruit trees listed here. Suitable for a range of different gardens and conditions you can even find small or dwarf cultivars ideal for container gardens.

Easy to grow, plum trees (Prunus) like full sun and sandy, well draining soil. Most varieties are hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9. Some of the more popular types of plums include greengages and damsons. Interestingly, one of the more popular cultivars, Armenian Plum (Prunus armeniaca) is actually an apricot.

Plum blossoms are open for easy pollination.

3 Pear

One of the more popular flowering fruit trees, growing pears is a rewarding experience for many gardeners. While taller or larger specimens can grow up to 40 ft tall, if space is at a premium there are a number of compact and dwarf cultivars available. Many of these are ideal for planting in containers. Most types of pear happily grow in a 20 in diameter pot or Winknowl 15 Gallon Heavy Duty Grow Bag.

Not the most low maintenance of the flowering fruit trees, many pear plants require regular pruning if you want them to remain productive.

Following pollination, pears start to develop on the tree.

Popular for its open white flowers the European Pear (Pyrus communis) is also delicious to eat. Requiring regular watering and planting in full sun, this is one of the more popular types of pears. Other attractive cultivars include the Pear Blossom (Pyrus), Weeping Pear (Pyrus salicifolia) and Asian Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) cultivars.

If growing edible pears isn’t important to you there are also a number of ornamental flowering types. While some pears may develop, they are often smaller and lower in quantity than other pear plants. Instead they are grown primarily for their showy flowers and colorful foliage, the leaves turn from green to red, bronze or purple in the fall. Should any pears form they can be left on the plant for birds and wildlife.

4 Avocado

One of the more unusual flowering fruit trees, there is a lot to like about the avocado tree. The leathery green foliage compliments the distinctive flowers and pear shaped, textured avocados.

Native to southern Mexico the avocado is rich in both vitamins and nutrients. Easy to grow the avocado is hardy in USDA Zones 10 to 12. In cooler climates you can also successfully cultivate avocado as a houseplant. However, in this situation, the plants often require a lot of extra care and patience if you want edible avocados to develop.

Avocados develop from pollinated flowers.

5 Cashew

The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) is an attractive flowering evergreen, considered hardy in USDA Zones 10 and 11. As well as providing ornamental attraction the delicate pink springtime flowers, following pollination, develop first a cashew apple and then a cashew nut.

As our guide shows, these are easy to grow plants that provide masses of edible apples and nuts, as well as visual attraction. Best planted in well draining soil, once established the cashew tree is pleasingly drought tolerant.

The distinctive produce of the cashew plant.

6 Common Medlar

One of the smaller flowering fruit trees, the white flowers and edible fruit are a large part of the attraction of the common medlar (Mespilus germanica). Pleasingly hardy and disease resistant, once established the common medlar delivers a pleasing sized harvest each fall, long after many other plants have become dormant. Medlars can be used to make jams, jellies or cheese.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1TQqymscM4

Hardy in USDA Zones 4 to 9, like other flowering fruit trees, the common medlar thrives in full sun and well draining, fertile soil. A popular plant in Victorian times, the common medlar is long overdue a renaissance.

7 Kumquat

A small tree, rarely exceeding 12 ft, the white aromatic flowers of the kumquat (Citrus japonica), which sit above rich green leaves, are only part of the attraction.

A full sun loving citrus plant, Kumquats are popular for their tart, sweet produce. The plant’s rounded canopy is pleasingly attractive. One of the self-fertile flowering fruit trees on our list, you need only one plant in order to produce edible kumquats.

Kumquat plants are hardy in USDA Zones 9 to 11. Water the plants regularly but try not to drown the soil. As long as they are well watered, and the temperature remains warm, these are easy to care for plants.

Following pollination Kumquats develop.

8 Lemon Tree

Attractive and fragrant, the lemon (Citrus x limon) tree is a durable and hardy specimen as long as it is well cared for. Luckily this is a pleasingly easy process. Hardy in USDA Zones 8 to 11, like other flowering fruit trees smaller specimens can be cultivated indoors enabling growers in even the coldest climates to enjoy these attractive plants.

Lemon plants thrive in full sun and well draining soil. Easy to grow, just make sure that you don’t overwater the plant. This can cause the roots to rot and the plant to fail.

Lemons develop from pollinated flowers.

9 Grapefruit

Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi) is another of the many citrus plants on our list of flowering fruit trees. Thriving in warm conditions, the grapefruit is hardy in USDA Zones 9 to 11. Growers in cooler climates can also cultivate more compact cultivars in a sunny greenhouse.

Popular for their sour or bitter flavor, the grapefruit is a hybrid plant, the result of crossing the sweet orange and pomelo. As long as the temperature surrounding the plants remains warm these are low maintenance specimens.

Like some of the other flowering fruit trees on our list, while grapefruit plants set flowers from an early age, they have to reach a certain age of maturity before grapefruits begin to form. For most types of grapefruit this is about 3 years old.

Pollinated grapefruit flowers.

10 Coconut

Coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) are one of the easier to recognize flowering fruit trees. Capable of reaching up to 80 ft in height, the swollen base of the palm tapers out into a slender ringed trunk that sways in the breeze. The flowers are also visually distinctive. Forming in clusters on the stem, the flowering inflorescence takes the form of a long, willowy branch containing both male and female flowers. Female flowers are typically larger than the male blooms.

Best planted in warm climates, if you want to harvest the coconuts, dwarf varieties are far easier. There are many types of coconut tree however the tall coconut palm is perhaps the most common. Our guide to planting and growing coconut trees is packed with valuable information including how to select the best variety for your garden.

Coconuts thrive in warm, sunny climates. 

11 Crabapple Tree

Not the most popular of the many flowering fruit trees, the crabapple tree (malus sylvestris) is actually an attractive addition to any garden. The buds, which are typically darker than the flowers, help to give the tree an attractive, multi-colored appearance. As well as green types you will find red, orange and yellow fruiting cultivars.

Many types produce edible crabapples as well as being ornamentally attractive. If crabapples aren’t your thing, you can also find some crabapple cultivars that only produce masses of colorful blooms throughout the late spring and summer months.

Attractive, pink crabapple blossom.  

As well as the flowers, the foliage has an attraction of its own. Green in the spring, the leaves turn into shades of red, bronze, yellow and even dark purple in the fall, adding color and interest to winter gardens. For more about adding the crabapple tree to your garden, our growing guide is a great place to start.

12 Dragon Fruit Tree

One of the most visually attractive flowering fruit trees, the dragon fruit tree (Hylocereus undatus), also known as pitahaya is native to areas of South and Central America. Requiring year round warmth to grow, the plants are considered hardy in USDA Zones 10 and 11.

One of the few flowering fruit trees that is technically a cactus, dragon fruit trees have an interesting climbing habit. This means that you will need to provide them with something secure, such as a  sturdy trellis, to scale up. Mature plants can spread up to 25 ft and weigh several hundred pounds.

The green buds can be harvested before they open for culinary purposes. Typically white in color as the flowers fade they give way to artichoke-like fruit. Red or yellow in color, inside is a mass of sweet white pulp.

The distinctive bloom of the dragon fruit.

13 English Walnut

One of the best fast growing shade trees, the English Walnut (Juglans regia) can reach its mature height of around 50 ft in just a few years. This quick growth habit sets the English walnut apart from other types of walnut tree. As summer turns to fall, the flowers fade and edible walnuts develop.

As the English walnut grows, a large, rounded canopy develops. This casts dense shade, meaning that you should avoid underplanting the tree with sun loving flowers. Once established the English walnut is a pleasingly resilient specimen, tolerating less than ideal soil conditions and drought pleasingly well.

Fruit forming on a walnut tree. 

14 Fig Tree

Fig Tree (Ficus carica) is popular for its large, attractive foliage. Providing a great way to introduce shade to a sunny garden, for many the sweet figs are an added bonus.

Easy to care for, as our how to care for fig trees guide shows, a regular drink of water encourages lots of flowers and figs to form. Hardy in USDA Zones 8 and warmer, with a little extra care the fig tree can also be encouraged to grow in Zones 6 and 7.

There are many attractive types of fig tree. One of the most popular is the Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila). This is a sun loving type that is often sold as a houseplant. An ideal choice for providing ground cover or wall cover, the small green leaves also provide an attractive backdrop to showcase other flowering plants.

As well as figs and flowers, the foliage of the fig tree also provides lots of ornamental interest.  

15 Peach

Peach (Prunus persica) is another of the flowering fruit trees that are native to Asia. Interestingly, while the plants are native to Northwest China, it was only once they were imported to Persia, modern day Iran, that cultivation of the peach began in earnest. This is reflected in the plant’s scientific name, Prunus Persica.

One of the more fussy flowering fruit trees, peaches like dry, temperate climates. A period of cool weather is necessary if the plants are to successfully produce peaches. Best planted in full sun and watered regularly enough to keep the soil moist, these high maintenance plants are more than worth the effort.

In the right conditions peaches are heavy flowering plants.  

16 Guava

The guava (Psidium guajava) is one of the least fussy, flowering fruit trees. Hardy in USDA Zones 9 and warmer, the plants can be cultivated undercover in cooler areas. Guava trees adore full sun and warm weather. While guavas struggle in frosty areas they do tolerate short spells of drought once established.

One of the easiest flowering fruit trees to grow from seed, the tropical guava is native to the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico and northern parts of South America. Today guava plants are grown in many tropical and subtropical areas.

In cooler areas, where the plants are grown undercover, the guava flowers fill the room with a distinctive, sweet fragrance. While outdoor plants can reach up to 30 ft in height, indoor specimens are a lot smaller. Easy to care for, guava plants only set flower after a few years of steady growth.

Guava plants thrive in open, sunny positions.

17 Jackfruit Tree

Large and bumpy, the Jackfruit produces some of the largest fruits that you can find on a tree. Native to parts of Asia, jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) belong to the same family as mulberries and figs. However, the jackfruit neither resembles or tastes like either plant.

A large fruit, the jackfruit typically reaches 30 cm in length. Some cultivars can extend up to one meter or 3 ft.

One of the taller flowering fruit trees, the jackfruit can reach up to 80 ft. The flowers sit on short branches which extend from the thick trunk. Hardy in USDA Zones 11 and warmer, these plants are extremely frost sensitive. The jackfruit also struggles in dry or arid conditions. Best planted in rich porous soil, the jackfruit requires a constant source of moisture in order to flourish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZTlHpvrVUU

18 Persimmon

The persimmon is one of the more distinctive flowering fruit trees. Typically a round topped plant, which can reach up to 60 ft tall, the persimmon rarely grows in a straight line. Instead the plants typically develop a willow or crooked appearance, adding ornamental interest to your garden.

Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), like many flowering fruit trees, does best in full sun and well draining soil. Hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 11, the plants appreciate regular watering, particularly during dry spells.

Small and attractive, persimmons range in color from light yellow to dark reds and oranges. As the persimmon ripens it softens, becoming orange or dark brown in color. Unlike many of the flowering fruit trees which produce ripe produce in the summer, the persimmon typically ripens in the fall.

In some areas persimmons can remain edible, on the tree, well into the winter months. This makes many types, including the American Persimmon, a great choice if you are looking to add some color to the fall landscape.

Persimmons ripen in the fall, typically after the tree has shed its leaves.  

19 Key Lime

Nothing tastes quite like a lime. These citrus fruits are popular for their uniquely tangy sour taste. A hybrid plant, the Key Lime (Citrus x aurantifolia) is one of the most reliable types of lime. Like other cultivars the Key Lime is yellow in color. While it is just as richly acidic in flavor, it tends to be smaller and rounder than other types of lime.

Key Limes are rounder than other types of lemon.  

Another popular type of lime is the Kaffir Lime (Citrus hystrix). Similar in appearance to the Key Lime, the rounded Kaffir is noticeably bumpy. More bitter than other types of lime, the zest of the Kaffir is ideal for adding  flavor to Asian dishes.

20 Lychee

Not as commonly grown as other flowering fruit trees on our list, the Lychee (Litchi chinensis) is one of the longest lived plants on our list. Hardy in USDA Zones 10 to 11, in subtropical conditions the plants are considered evergreen.

Lychee plants typically produce small pink-red drupes from May until August. Characterized by their rough texture and eye-catching color, the flesh of the lychee is both sugary and flavorsome.

Like many flowering fruit trees, the Lychee likes a regular drink of water but struggles in soggy soil. Best planted in full sun, these shiny-leaved plants prefer a sheltered position and well draining soil. Once established this exotic plant is one of the more reliable and low maintenance flowering fruit trees on our list.

The lychee is one of the most exotic flowering fruit trees on our list.  

21 Mango

Mango trees (Mangifera indica) are prized for their tropical, rich aroma. One of the many warm weather loving flowering fruit trees, mangoes are hardy in USDA Zones 9 to 11. Best grown in places where the temperature is unlikely to fall below 40 ℉, mangos like rich, well draining soil and lots of sun.

One of the larger flowering fruit trees on our list, the tree canopy of the mango can extend for over 35 ft while the root system can spread over 100 ft. Take into account the mature size of the mango plant when deciding on your planting position. Don’t plant your mango tree close to sewer pipes or beneath any overhead cables. 

Distinctive mango blooms.  

22 Nectarine

The nectarine (Prunus persica) is part of the same family as the peach, another of the flowering fruit trees on our list. Differing in appearance, nectarines lack the distinctive skin covering known as peach fuzz. They also tend to be slightly smaller than peaches. However, nectarines are just as flavorsome and juicy.

Best planted in a warm climate, the nectarine is typically hardy in USDA Zones 6 to 8. Gardeners outside these zones can also cultivate edible nectarines, with a little extra care. Planting in a full sun position encourages more nectarines to form as does a regular drink of water. Just be careful not to drown the plants.

Nectarine flowers set along the branch. 

23 Orange

One of the easiest flowering fruit trees to care for, the orange tree (Citrus sinensis) can reach 20 to 30 ft in height if planted in a favorable, full sun position. Hardy in USDA Zones 9 to 11, in cooler climates you can also cultivate the orange tree as an indoor plant.

Fragrant and attractive, for many the orange is primarily cultivated as an ornamental specimen with edible oranges being an added bonus. One of the best, low maintenance flowering fruit trees, as long as the orange tree gets lots of light and a regular drink of water they will happily flower and develop lots of juicy oranges.

Oranges can be grown indoors as well as outside.

24 Papaya

Papaya, also known as the pawpaw plant, is a fast growing, heavy yielding specimen. Part of the Carica genus in the wider Caricaceae family, the papaya is native to the southern parts of Mexico and Central America. Hardy in USDA Zones 10 and 11 papaya plants are best planted in tropical or warm areas. One of the most prolific flowering fruit trees, low-fat papayas are rich in fiber, minerals and Vitamin C.

These palm-like trees are a distinctive addition to the garden. The sweet, fleshy papaya develops at the top of the trunk, beneath the large, lobed leaves. If your climate is warm enough to allow you to enjoy cultivating these flowering fruit trees, our how to grow guide is a great place to start.

A prolific plant, papayas develop at the top of the trunk, directly beneath the canopy.

25 Cherry

One of the most elegant flowering fruit trees, a cherry tree in full blossom is one of the iconic sights of spring. The showy blooms, which cover the branches, are also fragrant. Many types of cherry are pleasingly easy to grow from seed, especially in favorable climates that enjoy cooler winters.

The Cherry belongs to the prunus genus. There are over 40 members of this particular genus including the Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis). Hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 8, this particular specimen does best in full sun and well draining soil.

Another popular cultivar is the Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus). While the Sour Cherry does not produce anything that is edible, it is still an ornamentally attractive specimen. Water you chosen specimen regularly to encourage lots of flowers to set. Too little water deters flowering.

Fragrant and colorful Cherry blossom.

Finally, if you want to harvest the cherries that your cherry tree produces, you may need to protect the developing fruit from birds and other creatures with netting.

Providing color, fragrance and shade, flowering fruit trees are an ideal addition to any garden. If you want to learn more about planting fruit trees in your garden, our how to plant guide is a great place to start.