Blackberry: Rubus spp
Blackberry roots are perennial but the canes are biennial: they grow one year and bloom and fruit the next. Place canes on top of horizontal fencing, 4' off the ground, supported by T-shaped fence posts. When pruning, do not touch first-year canes. After harvest, cut canes that bore fruit to the ground. For the best berries, the plants need heavy mulching, good drainage, and 3' deep, rich, sandy or loamy soil. Avoid planting in soil where tomatoes, peppers, potatoes or eggplant have grown. Protect from wind and afternoon sun.
'Brazos' is vigorous, early season, adapted to hot-summer regions, and does not require cross-pollination. Large, tart fruit. 'Rosborough' is vigorous and takes a variety of soil and climates. Large, sweet fruit.

Grape: Vitaceae
Grapes require water only every two weeks once established. Plant on a slope and avoid low-lying areas where freezing air will settle. See Western Garden Book for grape vine training information.

Kiwi (Hardy): Actinidiaceae arguta
Fast-growing, twining kiwi vines require a trellis or arbor for support. Fruit is borne on year-old or older wood. During dormant season, cut out shoots that have fruited for three years. Kiwi vines need regular applications of nitrogen fertilizer and are sensitive to salt burn in alkaline soils. The fruit of this species is 1" to 1.5" long, fuzzless, sweet, and can be eaten skin and all.
The variety 'Issai', with green fruit, is self-fruitful. 'Kens Red' is a female hybrid with red fruit that needs a male pollenizer. Other green-fruited varieties are usually female and also need a male pollenizer.

Passion Vine: Passiflora
Passion vines are grown for their very showy flowers. The variety 'Incense' produces fruit with a fragrant, tasty pulp, but not enough pulp to make it more than a curiosity. Commercially edible passion fruit, passiflora edulis 'Frederick', is restricted to warmer climate zones and is said to be successful in Tucson.

Raspberry: Rubus spp
Most raspberries are not heat tolerant. The growing requirements for raspberries are the same as blackberries except that raspberries need slightly acidic soil.
'Bababerry' is an everbearing variety that needs little winter chill and does best in hot-summer climates. Large, firm red berries. 'Jewel', 'Polana' and 'Royalty' are also said to have some success in Oklahoma summers.

Blueberry: Vaccinium
Blueberries need continually moist, well-drained, very acidic soil. Consider planting in very large containers with sides protected from the sun and holes in the bottom for drainage.
Southern Highbush type blueberries accept milder winters and hot southern summers. Second variety needed for pollination. 'Georgia Gem' is very early, medium sized fruit. 'Misty' is very early, large berries, excellent flavor, bears heavily. 'O'Neal' is very early with large, flavorful berries.
Rabbiteye type blueberries tolerate USDA zone 6 winters and hot summers. Large, light blue berries but flavor not as good as other types. Second variety needed for pollination.

Currant and Gooseberry: Grossulariaceae
Do not succeed in our climate zone.

Pineapple Guava: Feijoa sellowiana
Grows slowly 12' to 15' high and 8' to 10' wide if not pruned back. While some varieties are self-pollinating, others do better with cross-pollination from another variety. Avoid reflected sun. Needs afternoon shade in hottest months and protection from wind chill in winter. Somewhat drought tolerant once established; water weekly when fruiting. Can be grown as a hedge or small tree. Very decorative. Evergreen.

Strawberry: Fragaria X ananassa
This small perennial shrub requires raised beds, acidic soil, mulching, consistent moisture during bearing season and careful removal of excess plants to avoid crowding. Low salinity soil and water are required. Plants spread by runners. June-bearing varieties set one main crop in late spring or early summer. Everbearing varieties continue to bloom and fruit early summer through fall. Protect from birds.

Strawberry Guava: Psidium cattleianum
Grown as a shrub or small tree up to 15' high and 10' wide. Fruit is 1.5" wide, dark red to nearly black when ripe with yellowish flesh. Lemon guava subspecies has yellow skinned fruit. Needs western shade and possibly light shade all day in summer. Evergreen.

Click here for a list of the most successful fruit-bearing trees in Oracle

Almond: Prunus dulcis Trees bear best where summers are long, hot and dry. Needs well-drained soil. Water every two weeks. The variety 'Garden Prince' is a self-fruitful, genetic dwarf considered better for home gardens. It grows to 12' high and as wide.

Apple: Malus domestica
Tree size depends upon rootstock. Standard trees can grow to 20' high and 20' to 25' wide.
Apple varieties must be chosen both for our climate zone and for chill hours required. Less than 500 chill hours is preferred. Those needing more chill hours than our winter provides will not set fruit. Some varieties may need a specific pollenizer variety which must also be suited to our climate.
'Granny Smith' is self-fruitful and very successful in Oracle. 'Gala' is also self-fruitful and does well here. 'Pink Lady' requires one of the others as a pollen source.

*Apricot: Prunus armeniaca
Grows 15' to 20' high and as wide. Because of early bloom, will not set fruit in years with late frosts. Low-chill variety apricots are very successful in Oracle.

Avocado: Persea
Avocado varieties purchased in local grocery stores do not survive our winter freezes. The following Mexican varieties are the most cold hardy; however, they will not survive our 15°F winter temperatures. If grown, they should be in a large container with wheels that can be moved into a greenhouse in winter.
'Zutano' ripens October-February, has medium-thin skin, fair flavor. Begins bearing at 2-3 years. Hardy mid to low 20's.
'Mexicola' is hardy to the low 20's. It is said to be small but tasty. Ripens August-October. Thin skin, large seed. Rich, anise-flavor flesh has high oil content. Tree is smaller than other popular varieties, spreading. Consistent bearer.

Banana: Musa
Banana plants are actually large herbs, not trees, because they do not contain woody stems. Edible, cold-hardy varieties exist that are said to grow and set fruit in our climate zone. Do an Internet search on "cold hardy banana plant". Bananas need abundant water.

Cherry: Prunus
Cherries are northern trees that need 1200 hours below 45°F (chill hours) to bloom. No fruit is produced in our mild-winter climate. These trees also do poorly in extreme summer heat.

Citrus: Grapefruit, Kumquat, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Tangerine
Most citrus varieties purchased in local grocery stores do not survive our winter freezes. Tangerine and kumquat are the most cold-hardy citrus but do not withstand temperatures below 22°F. Varieties that withstand lower temperatures do not produce good-tasting fruit and are considered ornamental.

Elderberry: Sambucus mexicana
A moderate to fast-grower from 10' to 30' tall and 8' to 20' wide. This Oracle native is easy to spot blooming in the spring and fall. Yellow-white flowers in clusters produce blue to blue-black berries used in jams, jellies and pies. Water weekly when bearing fruit. Attracts birds. A hummingbird nesting site. Loses leaves July or August and regains them in September. Moderate watering can postpone summer leaf loss. Unattractive without leaves. Deciduous. Full sun to part shade.

Fig (Edible): Ficus carica
Grows slowly 15' to 30' high and as wide. All figs are best grown in Oracle as shrubs under 6' high and placed by a southern wall to minimize frost damage. The spring crop may be killed by frost; the fall crop is the primary harvest. Young fig trees are not drought tolerant and should be watered at least twice a week during the growing season. Wilting leaves are a signal to irrigate.
Critters find fig roots very tasty. If burrowing animals are a problem, grow in very large wire baskets or containers.
'Celeste' is the most cold hardy fig and has a closed eye on its end for better insect protection. One fig tree grown in Oracle, kept short and wide by frost, is said to be 'Mission'. If other varieties are considered, choose those with closed eyes.

Jujube: Ziziphus Jujuba
Slow to moderate grower 15' to 30' high and 10' to 15' wide. Deep-rooted and somewhat drought tolerant. Needs good drainage. Does better in improved soil but can tolerate alkalinity. Suckering can be a problem in very moist soils.
'Lang' is later ripening and more upright in growth than 'Li', but both are needed to pollinate each other. Fruits resemble large dates, ripen in fall.

*Loquat: Eriobotrya japonica
Grows 15' to 30' tall and as wide in full sun but narrower in shade. Used mostly for ornamental value. Only a few grafted varieties are considered producers of good quality fruit. Ask your nursery which variety will do best in Oracle.

Mango: Anacardiaceae
Mangos do not survive our freezing winter temperatures.

*Nectarine: Prunus persica
Grows rapidly to 25' high and as wide. Should be pruned 10' to 12' high and slightly wider. Requires good drainage, regular fertilizing and more pruning than other fruit trees. Low chill varieties are better in our area. Most nectarines are self-fruitful.

Papaya: Caricaceae
Papayas do not survive our freezing winter temperatures.

*Peach: Prunus persica
Grows rapidly to 25' high and as wide. Should be pruned 10' to 12' high and slightly wider. Requires good drainage, regular fertilizing and more pruning than other fruit trees. Low chill varieties are successful in Oracle. Most peaches are self-fruitful.

Pear (Asian): Pyrus pyrifolia
Grow 25' to 30' tall and about half as wide. Can be kept to half-size with pruning. Choose low chill varieties. Two varieties are often needed to pollinate, but European pears are not suitable because of later bloom. Do not plant pears near apple trees, roses, pyracantha or Bermuda grass.

Pear (European): Pyrus communis
European pears need at least 600 hours of winter chill and may not reliably bloom. They can grow 30' to 40' tall and half as wide. Dwarf varieties are shorter-lived and grow one-half to three-quarters the size of a standard tree. Two varieties are needed for pollination. Do not plant pears near apple trees, roses, pyracantha or Bermuda grass.

Pecan: Carya illinoensis (Juglandaceae)
Can grow to 70' tall and as wide. Needs deep soil for taproot; dig hole 6' to 10' deep. Two varieties must be planted to ensure a large crop. Constantly moist soil is better for good crop production.

Persimmon, Japanese: Diospyros kaki
Can grow to 30' and about as wide. Many varieties set fruit without pollination, but pollinated fruits are tastier and more abundant. Some varieties are astringent until soft-ripe, and then become sweet. Nonastringent varieties are hard when ripe and mildly sweet. Tolerates many soil types but must have good drainage. Inconsistent watering and over fertilization cause fruit drop. Trees have ornamental value.

Pine Nut (Pinyon): Pinus edulis
Slow grower to 20' high and 16' wide. Most drought-resistant of all Arizona native pines. Cones produce edible nuts sold commercially as pine nuts. Evergreen. Full sun.

Pistachio: Pistacia vera
Grows 25' to 30' high and as wide. Requires one to four 'Kerman' cultivars to bear nuts and one 'Peters' cultivar (upwind) to provide pollen. Often grown for flowers in spring and red leaves in fall. Fruiting starts 4 - 5 years after transplant. When established, deep soak once every two weeks during warm weather.

*Plum (Japanese): Prunus salicina
Grows 15' to 20' high and somewhat wider but can be kept pruned to 10' X 10'. Choose a low-chill variety. Plums are said to have fewer problems than apples or peaches in dry summer areas. Some varieties are self-fruitful, but check with nursery to make sure.

*Plumcot, Pluot, Aprium: Prunus domestica X armeniaca
These are hybrids between plums and apricots and have characteristics similar to both. Some pluots have better flavor than most plums.

Pomegranate: Punica granatum
Naturally grows 15' to 20' high and as wide, but often kept pruned to 10' X 10'. Most drought-resistant of all fruit trees. Once established, needs little or no care. Regular water required for good fruit production.

Quince: Cydonia oblonga
A slow grower 10' to 25' high and as wide. Bears fruit when no late frost. Needs good drainage. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers and remove any suckers from around the base of the tree.

Walnut: Juglans Regia
A fast grower when young to 60' tall and as wide. Requires deep soil; mature trees need no supplemental water except for nut production. Self-fertile, but two trees produce a better crop. Bears nuts in five to seven years. Not considered a good landscape tree because it is bare much of year, has messy drip and fruit drop, and size requires a multi-acre yard. Trunk must be 60' from a house.