Citrus and Fruit Trees in Arizona

Arizona’s climate—especially in the low desert regions like Phoenix and Tucson—is ideal for many citrus and fruit trees, provided they are suited to the intense sun, heat, and occasional frost. Here’s a helpful guide:

🌳 Best Citrus Trees for Arizona

These thrive in full sun and require well-drained soil:

✅ Easy to Grow:

• Navel Oranges – Sweet, seedless, great for eating.

• Valencia Oranges – Juicy, ideal for juice production.

• Eureka or Lisbon Lemons – Prolific producers, great for cooking.

• Mexican (Key) Lime – Smaller tree, grows well in pots too.

• Grapefruit (Rio Red, Oro Blanco) – Sweet and juicy, needs some space.

🌿 Care Tips:

• Plant in early spring or fall.

• Use deep watering (2–3 feet deep, less frequent).

• Protect young trees from frost (especially in December–February).

• Fertilize 3x/year: Feb, May, Sept with citrus fertilizer.

🍑 Best Non-Citrus Fruit Trees for Arizona

🌞 Low Desert Favorites (Phoenix, Yuma, etc.):

• Fig – Heat-loving, easy to grow. ‘Black Mission’ is popular.

• Pomegranate – Drought-tolerant, thrives in heat. ‘Wonderful’ is common.

• Date Palm – Requires male & female trees, loves dry heat.

• Persimmon – Does well with some shade, e.g., ‘Fuyu’.

🌸 Stone Fruits (require chill hours; may struggle in low desert):

• Peaches – ‘Desert Gold’ or ‘Florida Prince’ are low-chill varieties.

• Plums – ‘Santa Rosa’ is a good choice.

• Apricots – ‘Katy’ is more heat-tolerant.

• Nectarines – Similar needs to peaches, e.g., ‘Panamint’.

🍎 Other Great Options:

• Apple – Low-chill types like ‘Anna’ and ‘Dorsett Golden’ work.

• Mulberry – Fast-growing shade and fruit tree. White mulberry is non-staining.

• Loquat – Attractive evergreen, tasty fruit, but frost-sensitive.

💧 General Growing Tips for Arizona:

1. Water Deeply: Every 7–14 days depending on season and tree age.

2. Mulch Heavily: Helps retain moisture and cool the roots.

3. Sun Protection: Young trees benefit from shade cloth in the first summer.

4. Soil: Amend clay soils with compost; ensure good drainage.

🚫 Fruit Trees That Struggle in Arizona:

• Cherries (need cold)

• Blueberries (acidic soil they won’t get here)

• Standard apples/pears (require too many chill hours)

Arizona Fruit Tree Planting Calendar

Here’s a fruit tree planting calendar for Arizona, tailored to low desert regions like Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma. Timing is crucial due to the intense summers and occasional winter frosts.

🌱 Arizona Fruit Tree Planting Calendar

🛠️ Key Planting Tips

• Plant in early morning to reduce transplant stress.

• Mulch around base (not against trunk) to retain soil moisture.

• Stake young trees if needed (especially in windy areas).

• Use shade cloth for spring/summer plantings to prevent sunburn.

• Bare-root trees (like stone fruit) must be planted during dormancy (Jan–Feb).

🌳 Suggested By Type

🍊 Citrus Trees

• Best planting: March or October

• Avoid planting June–August

🍑 Stone Fruit (Peach, Plum, Nectarine, Apricot)

• Best planting: January–February (bare root)

• Choose low-chill varieties for Arizona

🍎 Apples & Pears (Low-chill only)

• Best planting: January–February

• Varieties: ‘Anna’, ‘Dorsett Golden’, ‘Hood’

🌴 Tropical/Subtropical (Fig, Pomegranate, Loquat, Date Palm)

• Best planting: March–April or September–October

• Avoid planting during peak summer or winter

✅ Arizona Fruit Tree Planting Checklist

📅 Before You Plant

• Choose the Right Season

  • Deciduous trees (peach, plum, apple): Jan–Feb (bare root)

  • Citrus and subtropicals: Mar–Apr or Sept–Oct

• Pick Low-Chill Varieties (esp. for apples, peaches)

• Check Your Space

  • Full sun? (6–8+ hours/day)

  • Room for mature width and height?

  • Away from walls or other trees?

🛠️ Site Prep

• Clear Weeds/Grass in a 3–5 ft radius

• Loosen Soil 2–3 ft wide, 1.5 ft deep

• Amend Soil if needed (compost for clay or sandy soils)

• Test Drainage: Hole should drain within 24 hours

• Soak Bare Root Trees Overnight (if planting Jan–Feb)

🌳 Planting Day

• Dig Hole 2x as wide as rootball, same depth

• Place Tree with root flare above soil line

• Backfill with native soil, tamp lightly

• Water Thoroughly right after planting

• Add 3–4″ Mulch Ring, 6″ away from trunk

• Stake Tree if needed (windy areas or tall whips)

💧 Watering Schedule

• Weeks 1–3: Water every 2–3 days

• Weeks 4–6: Water every 4–5 days

• After 6 weeks: Deep water every 7–14 days (adjust for season)

• Check Soil Moisture 6–8” deep with finger or probe

☀️ Protection & Support

• Install Shade Cloth for spring/summer plantings

• Wrap Trunk of citrus to prevent sunburn

• Protect from Frost (young trees: use frost cloth if temp < 32°F)

🌿 First-Year Care

• Fertilize 3x/year (Feb, May, Sept) – citrus & pomegranate

• Prune in summer (light) or dormant season (heavy) for shape

• Inspect for Pests monthly (especially aphids, borers, leaf curl)

• Thin Fruit (if overloaded) to avoid limb breakage

The Difference Between Fruit Trees and Citrus Trees in Arizona

In Arizona, fruit trees and citrus trees share many growing needs (like full sun and deep watering), but there are key differences between them—especially in terms of climate tolerance, soil needs, pruning, and maintenance.

Here’s a clear breakdown:

🌳 Fruit Trees vs. Citrus Trees in Arizona

🍑 Common Arizona Fruit Trees

• Deciduous: Peach, Plum, Apple, Nectarine, Apricot, Fig, Mulberry

• Subtropical: Pomegranate, Date Palm, Loquat

🍊 Common Arizona Citrus Trees

• Orange (Navel, Valencia)

• Lemon (Eureka, Lisbon)

• Lime (Mexican/Key Lime, Bearss)

• Grapefruit (Rio Red, Oro Blanco)

• Tangerines, Mandarins

🧭 Summary:

• Citrus trees are evergreen and more sensitive to cold but love heat and sunshine.

• Fruit trees (especially deciduous ones) can handle more cold but may need winter chill and extra pruning.

• Both types thrive in Arizona’s sun with deep watering, mulch, and soil prep—but have slightly different maintenance rhythms.

A&P Nursery Sells Citrus Trees in Arizona

A&P Nursery is excited to help you enhance your outdoor areas with citrus trees in Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Tempe, and the rest of the East Phoenix, Arizona. Contact us, today!