Planting fruit trees in Virginia can be rewarding, but not all varieties thrive in our unique climate and soil conditions. Virginia’s hot, humid summers and occasional harsh winters create challenges for certain fruit species.
Choosing the wrong trees can lead to disease problems, poor harvests, and wasted time and money in your garden.
1. Citrus Trees (Lemon, Lime, Orange)
Citrus trees simply can’t handle Virginia’s winter temperatures. Even in the milder parts of the state, these tropical beauties will struggle when temperatures dip below freezing.
You might be tempted to move them indoors during winter, but this creates its own problems with light levels and humidity. Most Virginia gardeners find their citrus trees develop leaf drop and fail to produce decent fruit.
For me, watching a citrus tree slowly decline despite my best efforts was heartbreaking. If you’re craving homegrown citrus, consider hardy alternatives like pawpaw trees instead.
2. Avocado Trees
Avocado trees might make cute houseplants from pits, but they’re completely unsuited to Virginia’s growing conditions. These tropical trees need consistent warmth and can’t tolerate our winter temperatures.
I’ve seen well-meaning gardeners try to establish them outdoors only to lose them during the first frost. Virginia’s soil conditions also tend to be too heavy and moisture-retentive for avocados, which prefer well-drained environments.
Save yourself the disappointment and focus on fruit trees that naturally grow in our climate zone. Your garden will thank you!
3. Mango Trees
The tropical mango tree stands no chance against Virginia’s winter temperatures. These heat-loving trees begin to struggle when temperatures drop below 40°F, making them impossible to grow outdoors in our state.
A gardening neighbor once insisted she could protect her mango tree through winter with special coverings. By February, the tree was completely dead despite her efforts.
Virginia’s soil composition also lacks the perfect drainage mangoes require. Rather than fighting nature, consider planting native persimmons which offer similar sweetness but are perfectly adapted to our growing conditions.
4. Banana Trees
Banana trees make striking ornamentals but are completely impractical as fruit producers in Virginia. The growing season isn’t long enough for the fruits to mature before cold weather arrives.
While some cold-hardy banana varieties might survive our winters with heavy mulching, they rarely recover enough strength to produce fruit. The pseudostems often die back to the ground each winter, starting the growth cycle over from scratch.
I’ve tried growing them alongside my berry bushes, and while they created a tropical look, not a single banana ever formed. Save these tropical beauties for greenhouse growing instead.
5. Fig Trees (Most Varieties)
While some fig varieties can survive in Virginia, most common types struggle with our climate. The popular ‘Brown Turkey’ and ‘Celeste’ might survive, but many others suffer winter dieback or fail to ripen fruit in our growing season.
Figs often require special winter protection in Virginia, creating extra work. One year I carefully wrapped my fig tree for winter, only to unwrap it in spring and find it had rotted from excess moisture trapped inside.
Unless you’re willing to provide significant winter protection or grow them in containers you can move, most fig varieties will disappoint Virginia gardeners.
6. Guava Trees
Guava trees are tropical fruits that can’t tolerate Virginia’s winter temperatures. They begin suffering damage when temperatures drop below 30°F, making outdoor cultivation impossible in our climate.
These trees also struggle with Virginia’s humidity levels, which promote fungal diseases on their leaves. A gardening friend tried growing pineapple guava (which is slightly hardier) near Richmond, but it never produced fruit and eventually succumbed to winter damage.
Instead of fighting our climate, focus on fruits naturally adapted to Virginia, like blueberries, which thrive in our acidic soils and produce reliable harvests.
7. Jackfruit Trees
Jackfruit trees are massive tropical plants that have no place in Virginia gardens. These giants can reach 80 feet tall in their native range but will quickly perish when exposed to our winter temperatures.
Beyond climate incompatibility, jackfruit requires high humidity and consistent warmth to produce its massive fruits. Virginia’s seasonal temperature fluctuations make it impossible for these trees to establish properly or fruit successfully.
I’ve seen ambitious gardeners try growing them in greenhouses, but even there, they struggle without tropical conditions. Save yourself the heartache and stick with climate-appropriate fruit trees.
8. Lychee Trees
Lychee trees require very specific growing conditions that Virginia cannot provide. These Asian fruits need a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, making them incompatible with our state’s weather patterns.
They’re extremely sensitive to cold, with damage occurring at temperatures below 28°F. Virginia’s winter temperatures would kill them outright in most areas. Our soil composition also tends to be too acidic for lychee trees, which prefer alkaline conditions.
After seeing lychees at farmers markets, I researched growing them but quickly realized they’re one fruit that Virginia gardeners should admire from afar rather than attempt to cultivate.