The Easiest Fruit Trees To Grow in Melbourne

We're really lucky that in Melbourne we can grow many varieties of fruiting trees. How blessed we are to wander out into our gardens, pick an orange and enjoy it fresh from the tree.

Part of our culture (almost accidentally) is neighbours leaving an abundance of excess fruit in boxes on their verge for lucky passersby to take. Boxes of plums, lemons, oranges, figs, passionfruit, whatever is in season that they want to share.

A Melbourne resident putting lemons into a box to give away

Fruit trees have been consistently popular choices for homes. Their blossoms, which can range from delicate pinks to vibrant whites, create a stunning visual display in applicable seasons, adding a burst of colour and fragrance to a garden.

The trees supply lush green foliage and the gradual emergence of colourful fruits. Their branches often form picturesque shapes and add architectural interest, making them a charming and attractive focal point in garden landscapes.

Not to mention their delicious fruit!

After COVID and our two tough lockdowns, a healthy trend blossomed (pun intended) to ‘grow your own’. It continues today, and we often consult with clients and landscapers about which fruit tree varieties we recommend and what can work for their next project.

Some fruit trees are trickier than others. Perhaps they’re high maintenance or require a male and female to cross-pollinate. To help you make a decision about which fruit tree could be right for you, we want to provide this helpful list of the easiest fruit trees to grow in Melbourne.

Let’s go…

The Easiest Fruit Trees to Grow in Melbourne

Citrus

OK, we’re cheating a little because citrus isn’t one fruit but many varieties. Thanks to our dry, sometimes hot climate, citrus fruit grows really well here. You just need to look around your neighbourhood to know they are easy-growing!

Some examples are:

• Lemons
• Oranges
• Mandarins
• Limes
• Grapefruit

Whatever your preference, there is a citrus fruit that will work for you. Citrus trees create glorious, lush foliage, sweet-smelling flowers and vibrant, delicious fruit. You can even select a species like Meyer Lemon that produces medium-sized lemon fruit all year round (for those curious, it’s a cross between lemon and orange. The fruit is less acidic and sour). Just watch out for those pesky gall wasps!

When to plant citrus: Traditionally late winter to early spring, specifically from August to October.
When to harvest citrus trees: it depends on the tree:

Lemons: Eureka and Lisbon lemons can produce fruit year-round, with peak production in late winter to early spring.
Oranges: Navel oranges typically fruit from late autumn to winter, while Valencia oranges fruit from late spring to summer.
Mandarins: Varieties like Imperial mandarins fruit in winter, usually from June to August.
Limes: Tahitian limes fruit in late summer to early autumn, around February to April.
Grapefruits: Ruby Red and Marsh grapefruits typically fruit from late winter to early spring.

A lime tree growing in Melbourne

Peach

Peach trees thrive where the climate provides the necessary chilling hours in winter and warm temperatures for fruiting. They are relatively easy to grow in Melbourne but require a super sunny spot, well-draining soil, and regular watering.

Visually, peach trees are stunning, with fragrant pink or white blossoms in spring, lush green foliage, and velvety fruits that turn from green to a warmer hue as they mature. Harvest season is from January to March.

When to plant peach trees: Late winter to early spring, specifically from July to September
When to harvest peach trees: Late summer to early autumn, usually between January and March.

Apricot

A stone fruit tree with many similarities to peaches, apricot trees thrive in Melbourne. They’re easy to plant, grow and enjoy. Many are self-pollinating so you only require one tree to produce fruit.

When to plant apricot trees: Late winter to early spring, specifically from August to October
When to harvest apricot trees: Late spring to early summer, usually between November and December

An apricot tree growing in a Melbourne garden

Olive

As Melbourne’s climate is similar to a Mediterranean one, olives naturally thrive here. They’re drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, making them a great choice for residential properties. Their fine silvery green foliage is sought after in landscape design–great for contrast planting.

They do require a little pruning to keep them looking tidy, but also to improve air circulation and produce a rich yield of fruit.

When to plant olive trees: Late winter to early spring, specifically from August to October
When to harvest olive trees: Late spring to early summer, usually between November and December

For landscaping designs, we recommend Tolley’s Upright or Swan Hill varieties, as they are considered low fruiting.

Olives are a popular choice for Melbourne gardens

Fig

Fig trees provide an abundance of harvests in Melbourne. Our state’s fruit bats certainly can’t get enough. If you’re after a fig tree, they like sunny spots, are open-minded about their soil, and are drought-tolerant. We would recommend a little pruning every year, but it’s not essential.

When to plant fig trees: Late winter to early spring, specifically from August to October
When to harvest fig trees: Late summer to early autumn, usually between February and April

What About Avocado Trees?

Can you plant an avocado tree in your garden and sit back as the profits roll in? Avocados can be challenging. They require a warm, subtropical climate with minimal frost—usually OK in Melbourne. They prefer well-draining soil and a sunny location, as they are sensitive to waterlogged conditions.

Additionally, avocado trees can take several years to produce fruit, often requiring a grafted tree to ensure better and faster fruiting.

Another challenge is their unique pollination process. They have both male and female reproductive organs within the same flower but exhibit "protogynous dichogamy," where the female and male parts of the flower open at different times. While a single tree can theoretically produce fruit, planting both Type A and Type B trees nearby enhances cross-pollination and results in a more abundant harvest.

Regular maintenance, such as proper watering, fertilising, and protection from pests and diseases, is essential.

It’s not a tree we typically recommend.

Looking for something different?

Try your hand growing Feijoa (Acca Sellowiana). Feijoa, or pineapple guava, is a small tree producing a sweet, green-skinned fruit, that funnily enough, tastes like pineapple, apple, and mint! It is self-pollinating.

Feijoa trees grown from seed can take longer to fruit, so if you are in a hurry, select a grafted variety for a quicker return on your investment.

Shop Feijoa Trees

Feijoa Trees are great for fruit and contrast in the garden

Fruit trees for commercial properties

From a landscape point of view, a landscaper or landscape architect is more likely to recommend a fruiting tree as a feature tree for a residential project. 

Fruit in the public realm can be problematic, for example, for councils, as they need to care for it differently. If it is subject to insect attack, e.g., Fruitfly, they must take action to rectify or remove it, attracting a higher maintenance and business cost.

Therefore, the majority of commercial properties tend to avoid fruit trees.

Our fruit trees are typically grown in Benalla and brought down to Melbourne, but the climate here is just as good.

We have a helpful collection of fruiting trees you can peruse here. And, even if your favourite isn’t on our list, that doesn't mean it won’t be perfectly suitable for growing here in Melbourne.
 

We have spent decades growing, nurturing, and researching trees in Melbourne, including fruit trees. If you would like help on a project or want to discuss fruit trees for your Melbourne home, business, council, or other, please get in touch with our team. We are only too happy to discuss all things trees.