The climate of Louisiana is classified as humid subtropical, characterized by long, hot summers and short, mild winters. Temperatures remain warm for much of the year, and freezing conditions are rare in many parts of the state. High humidity is common, especially during summer months.
Louisiana receives abundant rainfall throughout the year, with frequent thunderstorms and occasional tropical storms or hurricanes. The combination of warmth and moisture creates a long growing season, allowing plants and fruit trees plenty of time to grow and produce. However, excess moisture can sometimes increase plant diseases.
Because winters are mild, many fruit trees do not experience deep dormancy. This benefits warm-climate varieties but can challenge trees that require long periods of cold weather to produce fruit. Gardeners often select trees adapted to low chilling requirements to ensure successful flowering and fruiting.
Fruit trees that grow well in Louisiana are typically heat-tolerant and able to handle humid conditions. Trees suited to subtropical climates perform best, especially those resistant to fungal diseases caused by high moisture levels. Good air circulation and sunlight are important for maintaining healthy growth.
Proper orchard care is essential due to the state’s climate. Planting trees in well-drained soil helps prevent root problems caused by heavy rains. Regular pruning improves airflow, while mulching helps maintain soil moisture and protects roots from extreme summer heat.
Fruit Trees That Grow Well In Louisiana
Citrus Trees
Citrus trees thrive in southern Louisiana, particularly in coastal parishes where freezing temperatures are rare or brief. Satsumas are the most cold-hardy and reliable citrus for Louisiana, tolerating temperatures to the low 20s°F. Meyer lemons, kumquats, and sweet oranges also succeed in protected locations and along the Gulf Coast.
Louisiana citrus develops exceptional sweetness, and during occasional hard freezes, containerized trees can be protected. Southern Louisiana’s climate is ideal for homegrown citrus that produces abundantly with minimal care.
Fig Trees
Fig trees are exceptionally well-suited to Louisiana’s climate and are among the most reliable fruit trees for the entire state. Celeste, LSU Purple, LSU Gold, Brown Turkey, and Tiger (LSU Everbearing) varieties thrive in Louisiana’s heat and humidity. Figs typically produce two crops annually—a small early crop and abundant main crop in summer.
These low-maintenance trees tolerate Louisiana’s heavy soils, require minimal pest management, and produce abundantly even during hot, humid summers that challenge many other fruits.
Peach Trees
Peach trees grow successfully in northern and central Louisiana when low-chill varieties requiring 150-550 hours are selected. Varieties like Flordaking, Gulfcrimson, Junegold, Harvester, and La Feliciana (bred specifically for Louisiana) perform well.
Southern Louisiana’s insufficient chill hours limit peach production there, but central and northern parishes can produce excellent peaches. Disease pressure from humidity requires careful variety selection and management, but Louisiana’s warm springs allow early harvests of sweet, flavorful peaches.
Pear Trees
Pear trees, particularly Asian pear varieties and low-chill European types, succeed in Louisiana with proper selection. 20th Century, Shinseiki, and Orient Asian pears perform well, while Pineapple, Hood, and Kieffer are reliable European types for Louisiana.
Fire blight resistance is absolutely critical given Louisiana’s hot, humid springs that favor the disease. Pears adapted to Louisiana conditions can produce well, though they require more disease management than figs or citrus in the state’s challenging climate.
Plum Trees
Plum trees grow successfully throughout Louisiana when low-chill Japanese and hybrid varieties are selected. Methley, AU-Rosa, Bruce, and Crimson varieties requiring 250-550 chill hours thrive in Louisiana’s climate.
These early-blooming plums can produce well though late winter warm spells followed by cold snaps occasionally damage blossoms. Japanese plums handle Louisiana’s heat and humidity reasonably well, and proper variety selection ensures reliable crops of sweet, juicy plums throughout most of the state.
Persimmon Trees
Persimmon trees, both native American and Asian varieties, thrive throughout Louisiana with minimal care. Native American persimmons grow wild in Louisiana and are exceptionally well-adapted, while Fuyu and other Asian varieties succeed with proper selection.
Persimmons tolerate Louisiana’s heat, humidity, heavy soils, and occasional flooding while being virtually pest-free. They provide sweet fall fruit, attractive foliage, and require almost no maintenance, making them among the easiest and most reliable fruit trees for Louisiana gardeners.
Pomegranate Trees
Pomegranate trees thrive in Louisiana’s heat, particularly in northern and central regions, though high humidity can cause fruit splitting. Wonderful, Louisiana Red, and Salavatski varieties perform well in the state. Pomegranates are drought-tolerant once established, handle Louisiana’s heat exceptionally well, and produce beautiful flowers and antioxidant-rich fruit.
While fruit quality may not match that from arid regions due to humidity, pomegranates are still productive and low-maintenance options for Louisiana landscapes.
Mayhaw Trees
Mayhaw trees are native to Louisiana’s wetlands and represent a traditional Louisiana fruit perfectly adapted to the state’s conditions. These small trees produce tart, cranberry-like fruits used for making famous Louisiana mayhaw jelly. Mayhaws thrive in Louisiana’s wet, heavy soils where most fruit trees struggle, and they’re exceptionally well-suited to the state’s climate.
The trees bloom early in spring with white flowers and produce fruit in May, representing an important traditional Louisiana crop experiencing renewed interest.
Loquat Trees
Loquat trees thrive in southern Louisiana’s subtropical climate, producing sweet, tangy fruit in early spring. These evergreen trees bloom in fall and winter, with fruit ripening in March through May before most other fruits produce.
Loquats tolerate Louisiana’s heat, humidity, and occasional mild freezes, though hard freezes can damage flowers and developing fruit. In coastal and southern Louisiana, loquats are reliable producers of unique early-season fruit with minimal care requirements.
Jujube Trees
Jujube trees are exceptionally well-suited to Louisiana’s climate, tolerating extreme heat, humidity, heavy soils, and drought. Varieties like Li, Lang, and Shanxi Li produce crisp, apple-like fruits that can be eaten fresh or dried like dates. Jujubes are virtually pest-free, require minimal water once established, and thrive in Louisiana’s challenging conditions where many fruits struggle.
These adaptable Asian fruits are gaining popularity as Louisiana gardeners discover their exceptional heat tolerance and low-maintenance characteristics.
Mulberry Trees
Mulberry trees thrive throughout Louisiana, tolerating the state’s heat, humidity, heavy clay soils, and variable moisture with remarkable resilience. Pakistan, Illinois Everbearing, and native red mulberries all grow vigorously and produce abundant sweet berries.
These fast-growing trees begin fruiting within a few years, require virtually no pest management, and tolerate Louisiana’s challenging growing conditions better than almost any other fruit tree. Mulberries produce prolifically from spring through summer and are among the most reliable fruits for Louisiana.
Banana Plants
Banana plants grow vigorously in southern Louisiana and produce fruit in favorable years, though hard freezes can kill tops. Cold-hardy varieties like Rajapuri, Ice Cream, and Orinoco tolerate brief freezes and regrow from roots even if damaged. In coastal Louisiana and protected locations, bananas can fruit regularly, producing tropical fruit within 9-18 months of planting.
While challenging in northern Louisiana, bananas are increasingly popular in southern parishes where their tropical appearance and edible fruit make them attractive landscape plants.
Muscadine Grapes
Muscadine grapes are native to Louisiana and represent the state’s most successful grape type for both fruit and wine production. Carlos, Noble, Scuppernong, and Ison varieties are perfectly adapted to Louisiana’s heat, humidity, and diseases that devastate European grapes.
Muscadines require minimal spraying, tolerate Louisiana’s wet springs and hot summers, and produce sweet grapes from late summer into fall. These vigorous vines are low-maintenance and reliable producers of fruit for fresh eating, juice, and distinctive Southern wines.
Avocado Trees
Avocado trees can grow in extreme southern Louisiana along the Gulf Coast where hard freezes are rare. Cold-hardy varieties like Mexicola Grande, Brogdon, and Lila can tolerate brief dips to the mid-20s°F and succeed in protected coastal locations.
Avocados in Louisiana are at the northern edge of their range and require well-drained soil and freeze protection, but dedicated growers in favorable microclimates can produce these subtropical fruits. Container culture with winter protection indoors extends avocado growing possibilities further north.
Paw Paw Trees
Pawpaw trees grow in northern Louisiana’s forests and can be cultivated throughout the state, producing tropical-tasting fruits despite cold-hardiness. These understory trees prefer partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, and they require cross-pollination from genetically distinct trees.
Pawpaws take several years to begin fruiting but produce unique custard-like fruits. Northern Louisiana’s climate suits pawpaws better than the extreme south, but they can succeed throughout the state with proper site selection providing afternoon shade and moisture.
Satsuma Mandarin
Satsuma mandarins deserve special mention as Louisiana’s most reliable and commercially important citrus crop. These cold-hardy mandarins tolerate temperatures to 15-20°F when fully dormant and thrive in southern Louisiana parishes. Varieties like Owari, Brown Select, and LSU Early produce sweet, easy-to-peel fruit from October through December.
Satsumas are grafted onto cold-hardy rootstocks like trifoliate orange, and they represent a significant Louisiana agricultural industry, particularly in Plaquemines Parish, producing fruit of exceptional quality in the state’s subtropical climate.
Japanese Persimmon
Japanese persimmons, particularly Fuyu variety, deserve emphasis as exceptionally well-suited to Louisiana beyond native persimmons. These Asian varieties produce large, seedless fruits and thrive in Louisiana’s climate with minimal care. Fuyu persimmons are non-astringent and can be eaten crisp like apples, making them more versatile than native types.
Louisiana’s mild winters don’t damage the trees, and the hot summers support excellent fruit development, making Japanese persimmons increasingly popular among Louisiana fruit growers seeking reliable, low-maintenance production.