Many dwarf variety fruits are self-fertile, which means that they don’t rely on another tree to cross-pollinate with them in order to produce fruit. Before making a purchase, confirm with your grower or vendor if the tree or shrub is self-fertile. That is, does it require a second tree or shrub of the same variety or a different variety for cross-pollination to occur. A small garden might not have room for two fruit trees. Whether you intend to plant your tree in the ground or in a container, be sure to choose a location with full sun and good drainage. This small tree grows to eight to ten feet in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 to 6. Bright red fruits ripen in September with white flesh that is sweet, crispy, and juicy. ‘Cameron Select’ requires a second apple tree of a different variety to achieve pollination. Apple trees are among the hardiest of fruit trees but, like most fruit trees, they are susceptible to insect pests and diseases. Look for a variety with some disease resistance. Peaches, apricots, cherries, peaches, and plums are called “stone fruits” because the edible flesh grows around a hard pit or seed. Many varieties of dwarf plum trees, including shrubs, bear edible fruit. The Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa), is a shrub that grows to up to eight feet tall and thrives best in the warmer climates of USDA zones 9 to 11. In colder climates, grow the beach plum (Prunus maritima), which is hardy to zone 3. The beach plum is a six-foot bush that inhabits the sand dunes along the Atlantic Ocean. The dwarf Cavendish banana (Musa acuminata) matures at eight to ten feet tall and grows best in USDA zones 9 to 10. The fruit is small at just three to six inches long but is sweet like its bigger cousins. The large tropical leaves lend interest to the landscape and can be grown in pots indoors. Banana plants are self-pollinating. Meyer lemon trees grow four to six tall and are self-pollinating with fragrant white flowers. This tree is suited to USDA zones 9 to 10, but does very well as a potted plant in colder zones. However, move them indoors during the colder months. The orange tree citrus x sinensis is native to China. Many people wonder whether the fruit or the color first received the name, “orange.” The fruit came first. Fig trees grow especially well in containers because the roots do best in a tight space. Keep this in mind if you think it’s time to repot your fig tree. The word pomegranate means “seeded apple” in Latin. Early Romans observed that the fruit looked like an apple from the outside but had many seeds inside.
