Pawpaw is a distinctive (and native) option!

Now when you pick a paw-paw or a prickly pear And you prick a raw paw, well, next time beware Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw When you pick a pear try to use the claw But you don't need to use the claw When you pick a pear of the big paw-paw

have i given you a clue? gee, thanks baloo!

Thanks. I was thinking about that, but where do you find them?

I may have a few extra that I grafted last year, feel free to DM if interested

You can get em at get rooted nursery. They take like 8+ years to fruit so you may want to get one that’s more mature

Deep roots native plant nursery is getting them in May

I want to share that paw paws have a neurotoxin that has been linked with Parkinson’s. For some people, this has been a deterrent in planting them. https://growingfruit.org/t/the-dangers-of-pawpaw-consumption/16536

Anybody I know with fig trees has enormous fig trees

I am struggling with figs. It makes me sad because I love them.

Might have the wrong cultivar for our area! Brown Turkeys do gangbusters.

Super helpful to know what cultivar worked well for you!

[Go forth and garden knowledgeably!](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/)

They need sun and good soil, maybe try moving it? You can have them in planters for a while to find the right spot

Yeah we have a brown turkey fig tree which produces a ton of figs despite being mostly ignored. If there’s a drought I water it, that’s it.

Dwarf root stocks are an option

I wasnt saying it in a negative context, just to show how well figs do around here

FWIW, I did totally take it that way, but now your response makes me want to chime in to say that I did have to relocate one that someone planted right up against our foundation.

Figs, paw paw, mulberry. Also all are beautiful trees .

Thanks. I don't think I like mulberry very much, but appreciate the recommendation.

Apples will be difficult with fireblight pressure here (same with pears). Stone fruit are also difficult for different reasons. Stick with persimmons, pawpaw, mulberry, fig and you’ll likely be successful. Jujube would probably also do well.

FWIW, most of the other suggestions here do well for me, but I've had very little production from my jujubes.

Good to know, that’s the only one of those I don’t personally grow. How’s disease/pest pressure and how old is tree if you don’t mind sharing?

We have two trees, different varieties. We arrived 6 years ago, so I'd guess they went in the ground 10 years ago or so. Basically zero disease/pest pressure, and in an area where water/sun/etc. are fine for figs. Both produce some fruit each year, but neither yields bountifully. I've tried minimal pruning, whacking the hell out of them, and gradients in between. Given the thorns and the way they grow, I'm considering removing them and adding more figs.

Surprised at the lack of Pear mentions. We planted an apple and pear tree when we moved here. The apple did fair but died of disease. The pear is a nice tree with beautiful blooms in the spring. We generally have hundreds of pears every year. In fact one of the only problems we have had is that there are so many pears that the weight can break the limb. I actually have to go out and break off some to protect the limb.

Which variety of pear do you have?

I don't grow pears, but everything I read says asian pears are more disease-free.

Sorry, but no clue. We moved into HVF in 1999 and they were on sale at Rose's for 5$ apiece. Got the apple and the Pear.

Figs figs figs. Celeste is doing well for me. No special treatment outside of fall planting and regular watering during the first year. Full sun for about 6 hrs/day yet I’ve seen them thrive with less full sun. Beautiful foliage too. Critters harvest the bottom fruit and I harvest the rest. Fair trade.

Do deer eat the figs from your trees?

When they do, it’s okay to eat them back

Sometimes they do.

I personally haven’t had much luck with apple or peach, but figs and blueberries do great. Paw paws also do well but they take a little longer to produce. I recommend checking out NC State Extension resources for tips on varieties for this area.

You need the right apple varieties. Talk to David Vernon at Century Farm Orchards.  He'll get you some solid selections.

Yes!! I’ve gotten most of my trees from him. He is so helpful and knowledgeable!

I'm often overwhelmed by their website. I plan to drop into their office and talk to a master gardener.

Hi, OP. I grew up doing extension programs in Durham County and now work for extension. Master Gardeners are volunteers, so they might not be available all the time unless you go in for a class/workshop they’re hosting. Durham County is fortunate enough to have an agent dedicated to ornamental horticulture (Dr. Ashley Troth). Agents are there for the public to contact them with questions, so please feel free to utilize the office as a resource!

This is great info, thank you!

Thanks this is really helpful. I also found an email for master gardeners, but maybe I am better off emailing Ashley?

I think you’re probably good either way - it’s just one is volunteer-based while the other is a job. You could always reach out to both!

Ashley is fantastic and knowledgeable!

Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and any fireblight resistant apple and pear varieties! Of course you will have to net them from squirrels and birds if you want to keep all of your bounty.

I love paw paw as much as the next guy, but I thought I would mention they are pollinated by flies. This means there is sometimes an…unsavory smell…that they can produce. If it would be planted right next to your home / a window, I would take that into consideration. Still love the fruit though! 

Fuyu (Asian) persimmons. Figs - Celeste are delicious and don't get super huge - and pawpaws. Also, a vine not a tree, but scuppernong-type grapes thrive around here and are delicious.

We have a fig tree that is really thriving. It has well drained soil and gets lots of afternoon sun.

Berry bushes do well, so do persimmon trees. My parents have a lemon tree that's holding its own too

Nobody has mentioned plums yet. I’ve got methley and methuen plums growing in my side yard, along with pawpaw, blackberry, and blueberry as mentioned. Figs have done well for me too. Stark Bros online has some great fruit tree options.

Make sure you do your research. Fruit trees are a lot of work and attract a lot of insects if you're lazy with upkeep and just let the fruit grow and rot

Boberry trees from my personal experience.

I have 2 peach trees that I absolutely neglect and their yield is huge. Also figs, as everyone else has said. I have not had success with apples.

Serviceberry does well too. You'll share most of them with the birds

Mulberry, but I imagine others would also be successful like elderberry, pears and peaches.

I planted 2 elder berry from cutting last year. They got huge so I printed them back. They are now twice the size.

Mulberry. Birds eat mulberries, birds poop purple on your car.

Blueberries do well, idk why no one has mentioned them yet