Wondering which fruit trees you can grow indoors? Here is a list with some of our favorites.
Have you considered having a colorful fruit tree growing indoors as your lovely houseplant? If you haven’t, now may be the right time to do so!
These trees which have beautiful foliage, not to mention the additional benefits: all sorts of fresh fruits. Depending on which fruit tree you choose you could have fresh citrus fruits such as oranges or limes or even exotic fruit like passion fruit.
Indoor fruit trees require proper care and conditions to prosper, however, do not let this intimate you.
Fruit trees typically are native to perpetually sunny conditions; nonetheless, the dwarf fruit trees we are listing here will do just fine in the cozy, big pot in your living room, next to the glass door/window. If you don’t get much light, you can always supplement with a grow light.
For indoor keeping, we recommend dwarf variety trees which are under 2.5 m (8 feet) tall.
Table of Contents
Best Fruit Trees You Can Grow Indoors
We have compiled this list of wonderful fruit trees you can grow indoors, accompanied with tips on how much sunlight, water, and the conditions they require to grow and bloom into lovely, indoor trees.
Meyer Lemon Tree
The well-known, popular Meyer lemon tree is adored and preferred by many due to its compact size and delicious, smaller lemons which are sweeter than the traditional lemons. Moreover, this tree self-pollinates..
Much like the rest of the citrus trees, the Meyer lemon tree also requires well-draining soil which stays moist loamy (meaning using equal amounts of sand and silt, with less clay).
This fruit tree also loves bright sunlight all year round and needs at least 6 hours of sun per day, so you should place it by a sunny window or use full-spectrum grow lights to help it thrive.
Calamondin Orange Tree
Orange trees are one of the best choices for the first foray in growing fruit trees indoors, especially the Calamondin orange tree. Here’s why: this tree requires very little to grow: a nice, big pot that is slightly bigger to get a chance to develop good roots, filled with fast-draining soil which is slightly more on the acidic and loamy side.
Like any other indoor fruit tree, the Calamondin orange tree should be watered when the top of the soil feels dry, and it also requires a couple of hours of direct sunlight daily.
The fertilizing needs to be done during the spring and summer months, with a citrus-specific formula or the slow-release fertilizers that all the acid-trees love. And that is pretty much it. You’ll be enjoying Calamondin oranges before you know it.
Arbequina Olive Tree
Arbequina olive tree is one of the best fruit trees to grow indoors due to being one of the least needy, self-pollinating, indoor fruit trees; and yes, it may sound confusing to mention olive trees as fruit trees, but technically speaking, olives are considered stone fruits, much like peaches, mangoes and dates – hence their rightful place on our list!
Arbequina olive trees have narrow, grey-greenish leaves which have furry undersides and look really attractive giving the indoor spaces a graceful, elegant, luxurious note.
Additionally, these trees tolerate dry air, and dry soil, so you can get away with forgetting to water them once in a while. These trees also require at least 6 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight daily, and good drainage.
Be careful when choosing your olive tree since many cultivars are purely ornamental and will not have fruits; if you want the fruit, then you should go with the Arbequina olive tree or the Picholine olive tree!
Nagami Kumquat Tree
One of the most interesting fruit trees, the Nagami kumquat tree is anything but boring and ordinary.
This quirky, little citrus fruit can be eaten whole, and there is a plot twist: the meat of this fruit is sour, while skin is really sweet with strong citrus flavor. Therefore, there is an explosion of various tastes in your mouth when you take a bite!
So what do you need to get this beauty to enrich your indoor space and your dishes? These beauties require plenty of sunlight so you need to place them next to windows or glass doors for at least 6-8 hours daily.
Make sure that they have a pot that is large enough for them to grow and develop strong roots; moreover, their soil needs to be moist and watered more frequently, as the nagami kumquat tree asks for higher humidity.
Goldcot Apricot Tree
Only a few things can compare to the beauty of the indoor blooming apricot tree!
Looking at the showy, gorgeous, tiny white flowers of Goldcot apricot trees in spring makes you feel like you have brought spring inside your living room! No wonder they are one of the most popular flowering trees adored by millions all over the world!
To grow these lovely trees, you need a large pot filled with slightly acidic, loamy soil mix; when you are choosing the pot, make sure it is well-draining.
Later on, when you are watering them do not save on water – you should pour until you literally see the excess dripping out of the bottom of the pot!
Aubique Noire Fig Tree
Aubique Noire Fig Tree, also known as ‘Brown Turkey’ is a wonderful choice for all indoor fruit tree lovers!
Besides having incredibly delicious sweet fruit whose flavor is candy-like, the Brown Turkey Fig Tree is also incredibly decorative.
A little secret worth sharing about them: they will grow as big as the pot you put them in – so if you opt for a smaller tree, go with a smaller pot; however, if you want more of the delicious fruits, you will need a larger pot!
As for growing, this fruit tree is self-pollinating, ideally thriving in a loamy soil mix of clay and sand, and requires watering roughly once a week. Its leaves can grow quite tall but do not worry, it can tolerate heavy pruning, so that wouldn’t be an issue.
These trees are fine with indirect sunlight.
Super Dwarf Cavendish Banana Tree
Banana tree? Indoors? Yes, it is possible!
The Super Dwarf Cavendish banana tree which blooms in beautiful rosy flowers hidden behind its large, tropical leaves is an amazing indoor fruit tree!
There are both ornamental and edible banana plant versions, therefore, when buying it, ask for your preferred one. These trees thrive in indirect, bright sunlight, and you should regularly rotate it to make sure all leaves get some of that sunshine.
In summer months you can take them outdoor, just make sure that you don’t take them too early or leave them outside too late into autumn when there is still frost in the mornings/at night.
Needless to say, they require a larger pot, and the soil should be airy, light, and peaty. Being tropical plants, they require water, but their soil needs to fully dry out between the watering. For this reason, you should consider misting the leaves to provide more humidity to the enormous leaves.
Dwarf Everbearing Mulberry Tree
Vibrant green leaves and rich-red fruit, these pretty trees do not grow too tall, which makes them an excellent choice for windows.
You will love them because they are not too picky: they thrive in regular potting soil with regular watering.
The only request they have is to give them plenty of space (so aim for larger pots) and time (they are slow-growing). Warm environments, with direct exposure to sunlight, are their preferences, so in the summer throughout early autumn you can have them outdoor on your balcony or yard to give them the warmth they need.
Make sure you harvest their tiny blackberry-like fruits as soon as they are ripe!
Aurantiifolia Key Lime Tree
And where can we go without the “key” indoor fruit tree for every household?
The Aurantiifolia Key Lime tree is another citrus tree worth the hype – is not only incredibly pretty with lush, deep-green leaves which give off that tropical vibes, but it also produces petite, sour limes which would really go well in a key lime pie!
To grow them nice, strong, and beautiful, you will need to place them in a medium pot, with good drainage and a slightly acidic mix of soil. Of course, the Aurantiifolia key lime trees also love some sunshine, so make sure you place them on a window facing southern light, which will give them the warmth they need!
Gwen, Whitsell, or Wurtz Avocado Tree
Fan of Guacamole? How about making it from home-grown, delicious avocados? Yes, please!
The Gwen avocado tree is an interesting tree, which can be grown even from seed; in fact, most people do tend to prefer this method. But keep in mind, that if you chose this, then it will take longer to get the delicious fruits so to make sure you get a delicious fruit get a grafted starter plant that has some tissue from the avocado tree.
Requiring at least 6 hours of sunlight, the avocado indoor tree ideally should be placed on a window facing direct sunlight, in a fast-draining pot filled with sandy loamy soil which is loose and well-aerated.
Just like fig trees, the indoor avocado trees grow large leaves and will require pruning and stake to support the weight of their leaves.
Final thoughts on growing fruit trees indoors
Decorative and edible, the world of indoor fruit trees is definitely something that can spice up your space inside.
Most of the indoor fruit trees require daily sunlight for at least 6 hours. Before buying, make sure you find the right place in your home for it, ideally next to a glass door/window which offers the required sunlight.
Make sure you learn more about the fruit tree you plan on buying, as some require chill hours or other special care.
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