Year-round warm weather, plenty of rainfall, adequate sun and great soil; Hawai’i has the ideal climate for growing fruit. Depending on where in Hawaii you are talking about, almost any fruit can grow here, from Apples to Mangoes.
When the Hawaiians first migrated to Hawaii, they brought with them plants that would ensure their success in their new homes. A few of the fruiting plants they brought with them were Coconut, Breadfruit, and Mountain Apple.
That tradition has continued, as migrants to Hawaii throughout the centuries have introduced dozens of fruiting trees, increasing the diversity of what is grown here.
How do you choose which one is best? Popularity? Ease of growth? Taste?
Related: Are you looking to grow tropical fruit trees, like Abiu? Youʻre in luck. Homesteadinʻ Hawaii has just opened a seed store, where we ship super fresh tropical tree seeds straight to your door. We have fruits like abiu, surname cherry, ice cream bean, rollinia and more! Check out the store today!
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In this post, Iʻm going to try and break down 12 of the best fruit trees to grow in Hawaii.
Iʻm going to try and include the best windward side trees, the best leeward side trees, best to grow by the beach, best to grow up mauka, eventually getting to 12 awesome fruit trees you should be growing
Are you ready?
Letʻs Go.
12 Of Best Fruit Trees to Grow in Hawaii
| Windward | Leeward | Makai | Mauka |
| Avocado | Mango | Coconut | Persimmon |
| Lychee | Dates | Abiu | Apples |
| Breadfruit | Dragonfruit | Sapote | Mountain Apples |
Best Windward Trees
- Avocado
The best way to find out what will grow well where you live is to see what grows wild. In the windward tropics, Avocado grows wild almost everywhere. It is a great crop, high in fat and proteins and can be a good source of cooking oil to come from the garden. Learn more about growing Avocados in this post. - Lychee
Who doesnʻt love Lychee? And if you have your own tree, even better!! Lychee grows really well in the wet tropics and produces prolifically. Plus, freshly picked Lychee is the best! Learn more about growing Lychee in this post. - Breadfruit
A plant that will keep you fed. Breadfruit is an important plant for any homestead to help ensure their food supply. Breadfruit produces prolifically and is a high source of calories for when times get lean. Learn more about propagating this amazing plant in this informative post.
Best Leeward Trees
- Mango
The best Mangos come from the dry sides of the islands, there is no doubt. Mangos are one of the tastiest fruits on this planet. I do not understand why there are people who live on the leeward side and donʻt have a mango planted in their yard. Really? - Dates
Did you know that Dates can grow in Hawaii? Sure enough, they do, in the driest parts of the leeward side of the islands. Spencerʻs Beach Park on Hawaii Island has a century old Date grove planted long ago before the area became a county park. Iʻve had them and they were delicious!! - Dragonfruit
The word is out, Dragonfruit is delicious! Everyone wants one. And if you live on the leeward side, and even the wet side to some extent, you could be growing dragonfruit. Build a little trellising, stick a section of it in the ground, and watch it grow!
Best Makai Trees
- Coconut
One of the most useful trees in the world. It provides water, milk, oil, roofing material and more. No wonder the Polynesians brought coconut trees on the canoe. - Abiu
The Abiu is my favorite tree that grows at my homestead. It thrives in the lower elevations on the windward side. It is a heavy producer, most people love the fruit, but it does not keep well, so best to enjoy at home. That means you should learn how to grow your own by reading this post. - Sapote
Thereʻs black sapote, green sapote, chico sapote, mamey sapote, there are so many sapotes, and they all grow well down by the coast up to 800ʻ. These trees produce well and grow very easily once established.
Best Mauka Trees
- Persimmon
You may think of Persimmon as a fall crop in a colder climate, but it actually thrives in the higher elevation areas of Maui and Hawaii Island. Iʻve seen trees in Kula on Maui and Waimea on Hawaii Island loaded with persimmon. Great trees to grow higher up. - Apples
You read that right! Apples do grow in Hawaii, as long as you choose the right variety. Anna and Bevery Hills are 2 apple varieties that do well in warmer climates. At higher elevations, they can thrive. I had delicious apples from a grove up Mauna Kea. - Mountain Apples
I include mountain apples here because they can thrive in the upcountry, but they also do well down by the coast. Mountain apples grow really easily, have almost no pests, and produce prolifically.
The Best Way To Grow Fruit Trees In Hawaii
You cannot grow a jackfruit tree the same as you grow an avocado tree. You have to learn each tree’s needs in order to grow a healthy tree that produces plenty of fruit. Some of the things you have to consider when growing fruit trees in Hawaii (or anywhere on planet Earth, for that matter) are: soil, sunlight, shade, pruning, and pollination-type to obtain plentiful harvests.
You also must consider the best way to start off your fruit trees. Below, I’ve broken it down according to the best way to plant each fruit tree in Hawaii: from seed, from a grafted seedling, or through cuttings.
From Seed
Fruit trees that grow well from seeds include:
- Avocados grow well from seeds, although not true to seed, and prefer well-draining soil and full-sun for them to grow best. Patience is key, as it can take 8+ years before you get fruits. If you want to see fruits faster – plant a grafted seedling.
- Soursop is a tree that is commonly planted from seeds. The seeds germinate quickly and trees prefer well-draining soil and partial shade for best growth.
- Jackfruit is another tree that is typically planted from seed. The best method is to propagate seeds indoors and plant initially in a pot, as the plant is fragile. Move the seedling tree out of the pot before 4 leaves have sprouted on the seedling. Learn more about planting Jackfruit here.
- Pomegranate trees are fast-growing, so they are a good option for growing from seed. They also work as ornamental trees, if you want to grow them near your house.
- Mountain Apple (also known as the Malay Apple, or locally called Ohi’a ’ai) grows well from seeds, and you can expect fruits after approximately 5 years. They make great ornamental trees, too. Alternatively, you can grow Mountain Apples from cuttings.
- Papaya trees are best grown from seedlings. They require full-sun and if you, unfortunately, get a male plant (which does not produce edible fruits) there is a trick called “topping” that can help you get fruits. Learn more at this post.
- Starfruit is a finicky plant, and its roots are slow-growing. For this reason, it’s best to grow from seeds or cuttings (mentioned below).
From Grafted Seedlings
- Lychee is slow growing when planted by seed so most people do air layer or grafted seedling.
- Rambutan can be grown from seed or grafted seedlings, but I think seedlings save a bit of time. These trees grow very large, so plant them far apart. Also, you will need several in order to guarantee cross-pollination. Check out my post all about growing Rambutan.
- Avocado is regularly grown from graft to ensure the variety grown will be a good one. It does not mean one grown from seed will not do well. I have one and itʻs delicious!
From Cuttings
- Breadfruit trees are commonly grown from cuttings and young trees do well with plenty of shade, but mature trees can have full-sun (approximately 5 years of growth to reach maturity).
- Papaya can also be grown from cuttings, which can help ensure you have a plant that will grow edible fruits. However, the plant will be older and you won’t get as many years of fruit from a cutting as you will from a seedling.
- Starfruit may grow well from cuttings, but you will definitely need to apply root hormones to help them get a decent root system started.
- Lychee trees do not grow true-to-seed, and for this reason, many homesteaders prefer to grow these slow-growing trees (10 yrs +) from cuttings or via air layering. I have a whole in-depth post about air layering.
- Guava Trees : Just like lychees, guavas do not grow true-to-seed and are usually grown from cuttings or via air layering to ensure the best fruit. Guavas prever full-sun and moist soil.
- Avocados are fun to grow from seeds, but it can take a long time before you see fruits. A faster method is grafting, which can reduce the time it takes to get a harvest of fruit to only 3 years.
- Citrus Trees (Orange, Lime and Lemon) these citrus trees grow well in Hawai’i, but it’s advised to grow them from cuttings or via air layering, to encourage varieties that are resistant to disease and have adapted well to the conditions of Hawai’i for the highest-quality fruits. Sandy, wet soil is not ideal for citrus trees – if you are at a higher elevation with drier soil, your lemon, lime and orange trees will grow much better.
What To Consider When Growing Fruit Trees In Hawaii
We’ve got excellent sun, ideal warm weather – what more could a tree need? Well, you do have to consider a few things when growing fruit trees in Hawai’i, like sun exposure, wind, pruning and watering.
Sun or Shade
- Rambutan and lychee trees need some shade as seedlings or young trees, but full-sunlight is best for mature trees
- Avocado trees need full sun as they grow, but partial sun is okay for mature trees
- Mango trees need full sun
- Citrus trees need some shade or partial sun to grow best
Wind
- Mountain Apple trees can be damaged by strong winds, so ensure they have some wind protection if planting at higher elevations where they may be exposed to strong wind.
- Coconut trees, grown close to sealevel are more likely to be exposed to high-winds, especially during monsoon seasons. Make sure to harvest ripe coconut fruits prior to expected high winds
- Avocado trees might be able to withstand strong winds, but the sensitive fruits are easily damaged. Planting avocado trees near other trees to help reduce wind strength is a good idea.
Pruning
- You should regularly prune a jackfruit so that sunlight can reach its trunk, where the fruit grows
- Breadfruit and guava trees produce well with regular pruning
- You should prune lemon, lime and orange trees annually
- Starfruit trees should be pruned when they are young, in order to encourage proper growth and fruits
Learn more about pruning tropical fruit trees on this post.
Water
- Be careful not to overwater Soursop (Custard Apple) and starfruit trees. Try mixing sand into the soil to increase drainage and reduce risk of flooding during rainy seasons
- Papaya trees can easily be overwatered, consider digging some irrigation rings around trees to help move water away from the roots
- Mountain apple and pomegranate trees love water! Give them plenty, especially during dry periods
Fruit Trees That Do Not Grow Well In Hawaii
While there are plenty of fruit trees that will thrive in tropical weather, there are a few that will not. Here are some fruit trees that do not grow well in a tropical locale like Hawaii:
- Crab apple
- Apricot
- Cherry
Why don’t these types of fruit trees grow well in Hawaii? Because these require a cold spell to help the tree produce the next year’s harvest.
The brief rest the trees receive over a cool ‘winter’ helps them to produce the signals to start growing new blossoms for new fruits once warmer weather arrives. Because Hawai’i doesn’t get cold enough to help trigger the trees, they won’t flourish here.
This doesn’t mean an apricot or plum tree won’t grow in Hawaii – they can grow, but they aren’t the best fruit trees for a tropical climate, and you shouldn’t expect plentiful harvests year after year.
This is not an exhaustive list of fruit trees to grow in Hawai’i, but it shows some of the best fruit trees that grow in our tropical climate and the easiest ways to start off your new trees. Here’s to growing our own food!
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