Central Florida gardeners get the best and the trickiest of both worlds. Summers are long, hot and wet enough for tropical growth, but winters bring regular frosts and the occasional hard freeze that can knock back a mango or kill a papaya to the ground. The secret to a productive orchard in Orlando, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Sanford or The Villages is choosing trees that match your winters, then adding a few tropicals where you can protect them.
Know your zone and your yard
Much of the Orlando area falls in USDA zone 9b, with some warmer urban pockets and colder rural spots. Look up your address on the USDA hardiness map, then watch your own yard on a cold morning. Frost settles first in low, open areas. The south side of a house, a spot near a lake or a corner shielded by buildings can stay several degrees warmer.
Central Florida soils are mostly sand. They drain well, which fruit trees like, but they hold little water or nutrients, so mulch, regular watering and light, frequent feeding are part of the routine.
Reliable fruit trees for Central Florida
Mulberry
Mulberries are one of the most dependable fruit trees you can plant here. They're cold-hardy, fast-growing and productive, with sweet, dark berries that are great fresh or in jam. Our Everbearing Mulberry is selected for a long fruiting season and ships well. Give it room, or keep it pruned to a manageable size.
Figs
Figs are deciduous, cold-hardy and well suited to Central Florida. The main challenge in sandy soil is root-knot nematodes, tiny soil pests that stunt roots. UF/IFAS recommends a thick layer of mulch and steady moisture to help figs cope. The Brown Turkey Fig is a classic, and ours are air-layered from productive mother plants.
Pomegranate
Pomegranates are tough, drought-tolerant once established and cold-hardy throughout the region. They lose their leaves in winter and bloom with beautiful orange-red flowers in spring. Our humid summers can bring fruit diseases in wet years, so give them full sun and good air circulation. Try the Azadi Pomegranate.
Other Central Florida favorites
Loquats, persimmons, low-chill peaches and blueberries bred for Florida, and muscadine grapes all do well in much of Central Florida. UF/IFAS has developed varieties of peaches and blueberries specifically for Florida's mild winters, and your county Extension office can point you to the right ones for your area.
Tropical trees: worth it with protection
You can grow tropical fruit in Central Florida. You just need a plan for cold nights.
- Starfruit: established trees can usually take a brief light freeze with some damage, and they bounce back well. Young trees need covering. It's also a great container tree. See our starfruit care guide.
- Mango: mango is risky in the ground in most of Central Florida, but compact varieties in large containers work well. Move them into a garage or porch during freezes. Read growing mango trees outside South Florida.
- Guava: guavas grow fast and fruit young, but a hard freeze can kill them back. Plant in your warmest spot or keep in a container.
- Papaya: fast and productive, but very cold-sensitive. Treat it as a short-lived plant you may need to replace after a freeze.
- Cacao, soursop and jackfruit: these are very cold-tender. In Central Florida, grow them in containers you can bring indoors or into a heated space on cold nights.
What about citrus and avocados?
Central Florida was once the heart of citrus country, and many homeowners still grow it. Citrus greening is widespread, though, so buy only certified trees from a registered Florida nursery and know what to watch for. Our guide to citrus greening signs covers it.
For avocados, the most cold-tolerant choices are Mexican-type hybrids. West Indian types like Catalina are better suited to South Florida. Read more in our avocado variety guide.
When to plant in Central Florida
Plant tropical and semi-tropical trees in spring, after the danger of frost has passed. That gives them a full warm season to root in before their first winter. Hardy deciduous trees like figs, mulberries and pomegranates can be planted from late winter through spring, and container-grown trees can go in almost any time you can keep them watered.
Be ready for freezes
Keep frost cloth and a few stakes in the garage. Before a freeze, water the soil, cover tender trees all the way to the ground and remove the covers once temperatures rise. Our guide to cold-hardy fruit trees for Florida freezes has a full checklist.
Feeding on sandy soil
Sandy soil means nutrients wash out fast. Feed young trees lightly and often during the growing season, and stop by late summer so new growth hardens off before winter. Some Central Florida counties and cities restrict nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer in summer, so check your local rules. Our guide on fertilizing fruit trees in Florida has the details.
Start your Central Florida orchard
I'm Tony, a botanist and arborist, and I run Giardino Fresco with my family in Miami. We ship fruit trees throughout Florida and to nearby Gulf states, packed to arrive healthy. Our tips for buying fruit trees online explain what to do the day your box arrives.
Ready to plant? Shop the Everbearing Mulberry, Brown Turkey Fig or Azadi Pomegranate, shipped to your door. Questions about your yard? Call or text 786-774-2125.
