Best Fruit Trees to Grow in San Francisco

If you’ve ever dreamed of picking fresh fruit from your own backyard in San Francisco, you may have wondered which trees actually thrive in our unique coastal climate. Unlike inland California and most of the US, San Francisco rarely experiences frost, which means many traditional fruit trees don’t get the “chill hours” they need to produce.

The solution? Low chill fruit trees and varieties that are perfectly adapted to San Francisco’s mild, foggy microclimates. With the right selection, you can enjoy a backyard orchard in San Francisco that produces fruit year after year.

At Fyrn Landscapes, we specialize in landscaping and fruit tree care in San Francisco, and here are our top picks for the best fruit trees to grow locally.

Best Fruit Trees for San Francisco Yards

🌸 Plums

Ornamental plum trees are everywhere in San Francisco, and edible varieties grow beautifully here too. The ‘Santa Rosa’ plum, developed by local plant breeder Luther Burbank, is one of the best options for our climate. Juicy, sweet, and tangy—it’s a top choice for Bay Area gardeners.

🌸 Pluots

A plum-apricot hybrid, pluots were created in California and thrive in coastal gardens. Their unique flavor and reliable production make them a smart addition to a San Francisco edible landscape.

🍎 Apples

Yes, you can grow apples in San Francisco! Low chill apple varieties like Fuji, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, and Pink Lady all perform well in our climate. Planting apple trees is a great way to create a low-maintenance fruit garden in San Francisco.

🍐 Pears

While ornamental pears are common street trees here, fruiting varieties perform just as well. Bartlett pears are common, but we recommend Comice pears for their rich, sweet flavor.

🌿 Figs

Figs are one of the best fruit trees for San Francisco’s Mediterranean climate landscaping. They require little maintenance and reward you with sweet fruit that can be enjoyed fresh, dried, or cooked. You can also cook with fig leaves, which have a coconut flavor.

🍊 Persimmons

Persimmons ripen in late fall, bringing bright color and delicious fruit to the garden. These beautiful deciduous trees are striking in winter time with vibrant orange fruits hanging like ornaments.

🍊 Loquats

Loquats are an evergreen fruit tree that thrive in San Francisco’s foggy neighborhoods. Their tangy orange fruit is both ornamental and edible, making them a great choice for small urban gardens.

🍋 Lemons

A classic San Francisco backyard tree, lemons are incredibly productive here. Eureka lemons are the traditional variety, while Meyer lemons are sweeter and aromatic. Both thrive in our coastal climate and provide fruit nearly year-round.

🫐 Blueberries

While not technically a tree, blueberries deserve a spot in any San Francisco edible garden. The variety ‘Sunshine Blue’ grows especially well in Bay Area soils and produces abundant fruit.

Growing a Backyard Orchard in San Francisco

All fruit trees need a few years to establish before producing heavily, but once they do, they can provide decades of harvests. Proper planting, seasonal pruning, and the right fertilization are key to long-term success.

At Fyrn Landscapes, we offer fruit tree planting, pruning, and maintenance services in San Francisco. Whether you want a single backyard lemon tree or a complete San Francisco orchard design, our team can help you choose the right varieties and keep them healthy year after year.

👉 Contact us today to learn more about our San Francisco fruit tree services and start enjoying homegrown harvests from your own yard.