While this list is certainly not meant to be all-inclusive, it does offer suggestions by your fellow Alamedans for fruit tree varieties they have found to do well and provide good quality fruit in our island soil and climate. Keep in mind that there are always special factors to consider, including:
Think About Location
- Seasonal sun and shade patterns
- Wind exposure
Tip: winter sun is good for Citrus, while winter shade helps stone or pome fruits accumulate
enough chill from November to March to flower and fruit the following spring/summer.
Think About Soil Specifics
- Soil pathogens that could kill your young tree such as root rots, nematodes, or oak root fungus
- Soil drainage
- Soil fertility
Trees that do well in Alameda
CITRUS
Lemon – Lisbon, Meyer, Pink, Eureka
Lime – Bearss, Thornless Mexican, Thai Lime (Makrut)
Mandarin – Owari Satsuma, Dancy, Gold Nugget, W. Murcott (California Murcott) Orange – Trovita
OTHER
Apple – Fuji, Braeburn, California Delicious; Pink Lady, Gala, Gravenstein (with Golden Delicious as pollinator for Gravenstein), Ein Shemer
Apricot – Blenheim
Aprium – Flavor Delight
Asian Pear – Shinseiki
Avocado – Hass, Little Cado (also known as Wurtz)
Cherry (Sour) – Montmorency
Fig – Violette de Bordeaux, Panache, Brown Turkey, White Genoa, Osborne Prolific, King (aka Desert King), Italian Everbearing (Note: light-colored figs such as White Genoa, Panache, Osborne Prolific and King often escape the notice of birds and squirrels; White Genoa is good for cooler coastal locations and ripens when other varieties won’t).
Loquat – Gold Nugget, MacBeth
Quince – Van Deman
Peach – Bonita, Babcock
Pear – Comice, Hood, Seckel, Bosc
Persimmon – Izu, Fuyu, Hachiya, Giant Fuyu, Coffee Cake
Plum – Santa Rosa, Satsuma, Burgundy (Japanese); Green Gage (European) Pluot – Dapple Dandy, Flavor Grenade
Pomegranate – Wonderful (cool marine climate-loving)
Click here to download a printable information sheet.