Tampa Bay sits right on the edge of the tropics, and that's what makes it such an interesting place to grow fruit. Many tropical trees that struggle in Orlando can thrive in a warm St. Petersburg yard, while the occasional winter freeze keeps everyone humble. With the right varieties and a little planning, you can grow an impressive backyard orchard anywhere around the bay.
Here's our guide to the best fruit trees for Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Brandon and the surrounding area.
Know your microclimate
Most of the Tampa Bay area falls roughly in USDA zones 9b to 10a, but temperatures vary a lot over short distances. Neighborhoods near the Gulf and the bay, especially much of Pinellas County, stay warmer on cold nights. Inland areas of Pasco, eastern Hillsborough and Polk can be noticeably colder. Before you plant tropicals, look up your address on the USDA hardiness map and watch where frost settles in your own yard.
A few rules help everywhere: plant tender trees on the south or southeast side of a building, near pavement or water that holds warmth, and out of low spots where cold air pools.
Easy, reliable trees for any Tampa Bay yard
Mulberry
If you want fruit with almost no fuss, start here. Mulberries handle cold well, grow fast in sandy soil and produce sweet, blackberry-like fruit. Expect to share some with the birds. Our Everbearing Mulberry is selected for a long fruiting season and ships well.
Figs and pomegranates
Both are cold-hardy, deciduous fruits that do well throughout Tampa Bay. Figs need steady moisture and thick mulch in sandy soil, where root-knot nematodes can be a problem. Pomegranates are tough and drought-tolerant once established, although our humidity can bring fruit diseases in wet years.
Tropical trees that do well with a little protection
Starfruit
Carambola is one of the best tropical choices for Tampa Bay. Established trees can usually handle a brief light freeze with some leaf damage, and they can bear more than one crop a year. Cover young trees on cold nights. The Arkin Starfruit is Florida's classic sweet variety. Read our full starfruit care guide.
Guava
Guavas grow fast and fruit young. A hard freeze can damage or kill a guava, so plant it in a protected spot or keep it in a large container in colder neighborhoods. Ruby Supreme Guava is a sweet, pink-fleshed variety.
Mango
Mangoes do grow and fruit around Tampa Bay, especially in warm coastal neighborhoods. Young mangoes are vulnerable to frost, so protect them for their first several winters. Compact varieties make that much easier, because a small tree is simple to cover. Pickering is our top pick for the region: it's naturally dwarf, bears young and does well in a large container you can move into shelter. See growing mango trees outside South Florida for details.
Papaya
Papayas grow fast and can fruit within their first year or so from a healthy young plant. They're very cold-sensitive, so think of them as short-lived plants that may need replacing after a hard freeze.
Trees that need extra care in Tampa Bay
- Avocado: West Indian types like Catalina are cold-tender. In Tampa Bay, cold-tolerant hybrids with Mexican ancestry are a better bet. Learn more in our guide to avocado varieties.
- Tamarind, cacao, soursop and jackfruit: these are best in containers or in the warmest coastal spots, with frost protection every winter. Cacao in particular is very cold-tender and should come inside on chilly nights.
- Citrus: still a Tampa Bay classic, but citrus greening is widespread. Buy certified trees from a registered Florida nursery, and read citrus greening signs and what to do before planting.
Sandy soil and summer fertilizer rules
Much of Tampa Bay has sandy soil that drains fast and holds few nutrients. Mulch generously, water new trees regularly and feed young trees with small, frequent doses during the growing season. Several counties and cities in the Tampa Bay area restrict nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer during the summer rainy season, so check your local ordinance. Our guide on fertilizing fruit trees in Florida explains timing.
When to plant
Spring is the best time to plant tropical trees in Tampa Bay. Planting after your last chance of frost gives a young tree the whole warm season to grow roots before its first winter. Hardy trees like mulberry, fig and pomegranate can go in almost any time you can water them.
Plan ahead for cold snaps
Every few winters, a cold front pushes freezing temperatures into the region. Keep frost cloth on hand, water the soil a day or two before a freeze and cover young trees all the way to the ground. Our guide to cold-hardy fruit trees and freeze protection has a full checklist.
Grow your Tampa Bay orchard
I'm Tony, a botanist and arborist, and I run Giardino Fresco with my family in Miami. We grow and ship fruit trees within Florida and nearby Gulf states, packed to travel well. Before you order, our tips for buying fruit trees online in Florida explain what to do when your box arrives.
Ready to plant? Shop the Pickering Mango, Arkin Starfruit or Everbearing Mulberry, shipped to your door. Questions about what will grow in your yard? Call or text us at 786-774-2125.
