These 8 Fruit Trees Will Grow in Any Climate and Survive—Even Through Rough Winters

Nothing beats baking fresh fruit tarts from a tree you cultivated in your backyard orchard. But what if you live in a chilly location? Will the harsh weather mean poor growth and pitiful harvests?

Fortunately, there are a fair few cold-hardy species to choose from. These expert-recommended fruit trees that grow in cold climates are a good place to start.

Meet the Expert

• Allen Tate is an ISA-certified arborist and tree healthcare manager with Blooma Tree Experts.
• Renae Moran is a professor of pomology and extension tree fruit specialist at the University of Maine.Honeycrisp Apple TreeMalus pumila is a compact, cold-hardy, and fast-growing fruit tree. It produces sweet, crisp apples that ripen around September. Renae Moran, professor of pomology, explains that you should expect winter injury in colder regions, even with the hardiest apple tree varieties.
  • USDA Grow Zone: 3 to 8
  • Mature Size: 8 to 15 ft. tall
  • Sun Needs: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained
  • Coldest Temperature: -35°
  Wolf River Apple TreeThe large apples of the Wolf River Apple Tree, which can grow to be one pound, are ideal for using in sauces and cooking.“This variety is especially resistant to disease and cold temps,” says arborist Allen Tate. “It requires 800-1000 chilling hours, which makes it perfect for Northern climates.”
  • USDA Grow Zone: 3 to 8
  • Mature Size: 12 to 20 ft. tall
  • Sun Needs: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained
  • Coldest Temperature: -35°F
  Toka Plum TreeThis easy-to-grow and heavy-producing tree is ideal for cooler climes, as it requires 800 to 1000 chilling hours to break dormancy and produce good fruit yields.“This variety is also known as the ‘bubblegum plum’ due to its flavor notes,” Tate says.
  • USDA Grow Zone: 3 to 8
  • Mature Size: 15 to 20 ft. tall
  • Sun Needs: Full sun or part shade
  • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • Coldest Temperature: -40°F
  September Ruby Apple TreeThis versatile variety, which is good for cooking, eating fresh, and juicing, is one of the only apple trees that can grow successfully in USDA hardiness Zone 2—and possibly even Zone 1.“It is dubbed the King of the North due to its cold hardiness,” Tate says. “The apples are very shelf stable as well, lasting as much as 3-4 months with proper storage.”
  • USDA Grow Zone: 2 to
  • Mature Size: Up to 20 ft. tall
  • Sun Needs: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
  • Coldest Temperature: -50°F
  Contender Peach TreeThis is one of the few cold-hardy peach trees suitable for growing in northern regions. It ripens in mid-August and produces large, firm fruit. Plus, this small flowering fruit tree will reward you with pretty spring blossoms.“To improve tree longevity and flower bud survival in winter, plant them at higher elevations than the surrounding territory in regions with hilly terrain to take advantage of the air drainage during radiational freezes,” Moran suggests.
  • USDA Grow Zone: 4 to 8
  • Mature Size: 12 to 15 ft. tall
  • Sun Needs: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Well-drained
  • Coldest Temperature: -35°F
  Redhaven Peach TreeNot as cold-hardy as the Contender variety, the Redhaven is still relatively cold-hardy for a peach tree. They produce delicious, sweet fruit, and you can pick the peaches as they ripen in July.However, Moran cautions that you should expect a shorter life span when growing peach trees in cold climates.“Their average life span is about 8 years, but they can live less than or longer than this depending on local conditions,” she says.
  • USDA Grow Zone: 5 to 8
  • Mature Size: 8 to 15 ft. tall
  • Sun Needs: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained
  • Coldest Temperature: -15°F
  Carmine Jewel Sour Cherry TreeMoran recommends Carmine Jewel for growing in colder areas like Zone 3. These dwarf fruit trees are ideal for small yards and have high ornamental value.
  • USDA Grow Zone: 3 to 8
  • Mature Size: 6 to 8 ft. tall
  • Sun Needs: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained
  • Coldest Temperature: -30°F
  North Star Sour Cherry TreeNot as cold-hardy as Carmine Jewel, the heavy-producing North Star variety is one Moran recommends for growing in Zone 4. However, she warns that it might not be the best choice if you experience widely fluctuating winter temperatures.“Cherries are notorious for ‘waking up’ too soon in late winter,” she says. “Warm weather followed by very cold weather can damage trees and shorten their life span.”
  • USDA Grow Zone: 4 to 8
  • Mature Size: 12 to 18 ft. tall
  • Sun Needs: Full sun
  • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained
  • Coldest Temperature: -30°F