Florida is one of the few states where you can step outside and pick a ripe mango, avocado, or lychee from your own backyard. From the Keys to Central Florida, the range of tropical fruit trees that grow here is extraordinary. Here is every major tropical fruit tree that succeeds in Florida, organized by zone.
South Florida Fruit Trees (Zone 10b-11)
South Florida can grow virtually any tropical fruit tree. Miami-Dade's Redland area is famous for its tropical fruit orchards, and the same species thrive in home gardens throughout Broward, Palm Beach, Lee, and Collier counties.
- ✓Mango: The king of tropical fruit — dozens of varieties, harvest May-September
- ✓Avocado: Year-round production with the right varieties (Day, Monroe, Simmonds)
- ✓Lychee: Sweet, aromatic fruit June-July — Mauritius and Brewster varieties excel
- ✓Jackfruit: Massive fruit (up to 80 lbs!), grows fast, fruiting in 3-4 years
- ✓Mamey Sapote: Creamy, sweet fruit — takes 5-7 years to produce but worth the wait
- ✓Longan: Related to lychee, hardier, reliable producer in South Florida
- ✓Sapodilla: Sweet brown fruit, virtually pest-free, excellent shade tree
Central Florida Fruit Trees (Zone 9b-10a)
- ✓Citrus (all types): Oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, limes, lemons
- ✓Mango: Possible in warm microclimates — protect during freezes
- ✓Avocado (cold-hardy varieties): Brogdon, Mexicola — survive brief freezes
- ✓Guava: Both tropical and strawberry guava grow well in Central Florida
- ✓Fig: Common fig (Ficus carica) produces prolifically — cold hardy throughout
- ✓Loquat: Produces sweet orange fruit in winter — cold hardy to Zone 8b
- ✓Papaya: Treated as an annual — plant after last frost, fruit by fall
North Florida Fruit Trees (Zone 8b-9a)
- ✓Citrus: Satsuma mandarins and kumquats are the most cold-hardy citrus
- ✓Fig: Thrives statewide — Brown Turkey and Celeste are best varieties
- ✓Loquat: Cold hardy, evergreen, produces fruit in winter
- ✓Muscadine Grape: Native grape perfectly suited to North Florida
- ✓Persimmon: Both American and Asian types grow well
- ✓Blueberry: Rabbiteye varieties are outstanding in North Florida's acidic soil
Fruit Tree Investment: A mature mango tree in South Florida can produce 100-300+ mangoes per season — worth $200-$600 at grocery store prices. A single avocado tree can produce 200+ avocados per year. Fruit trees literally pay for themselves.
Planting Tips for Florida Fruit Trees
- ✓Best planting time: March-May for most species (fall for citrus)
- ✓Amend Florida's sandy soil with compost at planting time
- ✓Water deeply but infrequently — most fruit trees dislike wet feet
- ✓Fertilize 3 times per year with a fruit tree specific formula
- ✓Buy grafted trees — they produce fruit years faster than seedlings
- ✓Leave room for mature size — most tropical fruit trees reach 25-40 ft
Florida Palm and Plant Co. carries select tropical fruit trees seasonally. Call (239) 799-5594 for current availability.