Growing fruit trees in the Houston area is very doable when you choose the right varieties. The key is understanding chill hours and selecting trees that match our climate.
What are chill hours? Chill hours are the number of hours per year that temperatures stay between 32°F and 45°F. Fruit trees need a certain number of these cold hours during winter to break dormancy and produce fruit in the spring. A tree that requires more chill hours than your area provides will either fail to bloom, produce poorly, or not fruit at all.
How many chill hours does Houston get? The Houston area averages approximately 400-600 chill hours per year, with Willis and Montgomery County typically landing in the 500-600 range. However this varies significantly year to year — choosing trees rated for 400 hours or less gives you a reliable buffer.
Our selection includes figs, low-chill peaches and plums rated at 400 hours or less, and pears like Kieffer and Orient that handle our heat and humidity better than most.
Houston fruit tree tip: Figs are almost foolproof in our area. If you've never grown fruit before, start with a fig — you'll be hooked.
The Golden Delicious apple is a variety of sweet, juicy apple with a yellow-green skin and a crisp flesh. It is known for its sweet flavor and is often used for eating fresh, cooking, and making apple sauce and cider.
$49.00
Tree, 12–15' tall. Chill hours: 200–300. Ripens mid-June to early July. Large pale golden apple, crisp sweet-tart flesh. Developed in Israel for low-chill climates. Self-fertile; heavier crops with Anna or Dorsett Golden. Zones 6–9.
$49.00
Fuji Apple: Medium tree, 15–20' tall & wide. Chill hours: 200–400. Ripens mid-Sept–Oct. Large, crisp, honeyed sweet apples with red-orange skin & creamy flesh. Excellent storage. Cross-pollination required. Heat tolerant. Zones 5–9.
$49.00
Tree, to 15' tall. Chill hours: 400–500. Ripens late July–August. Very large conical apple, yellow skin with red blush, crisp sweet-tart flesh. Stores up to 10 weeks. Cedar-apple rust resistant. Excellent pollinator. Requires a pollinator. Zones 5–9.
$49.00
The 'Black Mission' Fig is a classic 3-gallon variety needing 100-200 chill hours. It produces large, deep purple fruit with a sweet pink interior. A reliable, high-yielding choice for Willis and Houston gardens.
$29.95
The 'Brown Turkey' Fig is a hardy 3-gallon variety needing 100-200 chill hours. It produces medium-to-large, copper-skinned fruit with a sweet, mild flavor. A highly versatile and reliable producer for Willis and Houston gardens.
$29.95
The 'Ischia' Fig is a prolific 3-gallon variety needing only 100-200 chill hours. It produces sweet, skin-thin green fruit with a rich strawberry-red center. A reliable, heat-loving performer for Willis and Houston gardens.
$29.95
The 'Italian Honey' Fig (Lattarula) is a 3-gallon variety needing 100-200 chill hours. It produces large, amber-fleshed fruit with a honey-sweet flavor. A heat-tolerant, reliable producer for Willis and Houston gardens.
$29.95
The 'Little Ruby' Fig is a dwarf 3-gallon variety requiring only 100-200 chill hours. It produces sweet, maroon fruit with a strawberry center. Its compact size is perfect for patio pots in Willis and Houston.
$29.95
The 'LSU Purple' Fig is a prolific 3-gallon variety needing 100-200 chill hours. It produces medium, dark purple fruit with a sweet, caramel flavor. Specifically bred for the heat and humidity of Willis and Houston.
$29.95
The 'Olympian' Fig is a cold-hardy 3-gallon variety needing 100-200 chill hours. It produces massive, purple-skinned fruit with a very sweet, red interior. A reliable, high-yielding choice for Willis and Houston gardens.
$29.95
Japanese Loquat. Medium evergreen tree, 15-25 ft. No chill hours required. Bears fruit late winter to early spring, February–April. Small orange-yellow fruit, sweet-tart juicy flesh. Excellent fresh or jellied. Ornamental year-round. Zone 8-10.
$49.95
Smooth Zest One Nectarine: Medium to large tree, ~8' tall. Chill hours: 200–250. Ripens early to mid-May. Firm, white-fleshed clingstone with tangy-sweet flavor. High yield. Self-fertile. Texas A&M release. Ideal for Gulf Coast. Zones 8–11.
$49.00
Smooth Zest Two Nectarine: Medium to large tree, 11–12' tall & wide. Chill hours: 200–250. Ripens early to mid-May. Firm, yellow-fleshed clingstone with tart-sweet flavor. High yield. Self-fertile. Texas A&M release. Zones 8–11.
$49.00
Tree, 10–15' tall. Chill hours: 250–275. Ripens early May. Large semi-clingstone fruit, brilliant red over yellow skin. Sweet juicy yellow flesh, melting texture. Bacterial spot resistant. UF/IFAS release. Self-fertile. Zones 8–9.
$49.00
The Rio Grande Peach is a reliable 12–15' tree for Houston. It produces large, yellow-fleshed fruit with excellent flavor, ripening late May to June. Ideal for mild winters, it requires only 400 or fewer chill hours for an abundant harvest.
$49.00
Flordacrest Peach — tree, 12–15' tall. Chill hours: 350–400. Ripens mid-May. Medium fruit, red blush over yellow skin, sweet melting flesh. Semi-clingstone. UF release. Excellent pollinator for other peaches. Self-fertile. Zones 6–10.
$49.00
Flordagrande Peach: Medium tree, 10–20' tall. Chill hours: 100. Ripens mid-May to early June. Large, sweet freestone peaches with orange-red skin & juicy yellow flesh. Low acid. Self-fertile. UF release. Ideal for warmest climates. Zones 8–11.
$49.00
The 'Flordaking' Peach is a reliable 3-gallon variety needing 450 chill hours. It produces large, flavorful, clingstone fruit with a classic red blush. An excellent, early-season producer for Willis and Houston gardens.
$49.00
Flordaprince Peach: Medium tree, 12–15' tall & wide. Chill hours: 150. Ripens mid-May. Large, firm yellow-fleshed peaches with 80% red blush. Sweet, melting flesh. Semi-clingstone. Self-fertile. UF release. Ideal for mild winters. Zones 8–10.
$49.00
Gulf King Peach: Medium tree, 12–15' tall & wide. Chill hours: 350–400. Ripens late April–May. Large, firm yellow-fleshed peaches with bold red blush. Sweet with hint of acidity. Self-pollinating. Disease resistant. Zones 7–9.
$49.00
The 'Texas Prince' Peach is a high-quality 3-gallon variety requiring only 450-550 chill hours. It produces large, attractive fruit with firm, yellow flesh and an excellent sweet-tart balance. A vigorous, dependable performer for Willis and Houston orchar
$49.00
Tropic Zest Three Peach: Medium to large tree. Chill hours: 150–250. Ripens late May. Medium to large yellow-fleshed peaches with classic tart-sweet flavor. High productivity in low-chill zones. Texas A&M release. Self-fertile. Zones 8–9.
$49.00
Orient Pear — tree, 15–25' tall. Chill hours: 300–400. Ripens late Aug–Sept. Large round fruit, yellow skin, firm creamy flesh, mildly sweet. Outstanding fire blight resistance. Partially self-fertile; heavier crops with a pollinator. Zones 5–9.
$49.00